If you or a family member is covered through NYSHIP — the New York State Health Insurance Program — Peace Love Wellness can help you understand your mental health benefits and take a clearer next step toward therapy.
NYSHIP, also called The Empire Plan, is health coverage for New York State employees, retirees, and their dependents. Mental health benefits under NYSHIP are administered through Carelon, which means the path to accessing therapy can look a little different than with other plans. We help clients sort through this before beginning.
NYSHIP mental health benefits are administered through Carelon as a behavioral health carve-out. This means that even though your primary plan is NYSHIP or The Empire Plan, your therapy coverage may follow Carelon's network and authorization processes. We are familiar with these details and can help you navigate them.
Coverage varies by plan, clinician, and benefits. Peace Love Wellness can help you understand your options before beginning, but final coverage is determined by your insurance plan.
We offer individual therapy for adults and couples or relationship therapy when clinically appropriate. If you have NYSHIP coverage — whether through state employment, public school employment, or a related program — we will help clarify which options may be available to you.
We also pay attention to therapist fit, availability, identity-affirming care, relational style, and whether the work feels clinically appropriate for what you are carrying.
You can start with the intake form or read more about the kind of therapy and matching support available at Peace Love Wellness.
You do not need to choose a therapist from a long list and hope the insurance details work out. Share your plan, what you are looking for, and your availability, and we will help guide you toward a clinician who may be a strong fit.
Answers to the most common NYSHIP and Empire Plan therapy questions we hear from prospective clients.
Peace Love Wellness commonly works with NYSHIP-connected benefits, which are administered through Carelon. Coverage varies by plan, clinician, and benefits, and final coverage is determined by your insurance plan.
NYSHIP mental health benefits are typically managed through Carelon as a behavioral health carve-out. This means therapy claims go through Carelon rather than the Empire Plan medical network. If you have NYSHIP, having your Carelon or Empire Plan member information available will help us confirm your options.
Many NYSHIP plans include mental health telehealth benefits, but the specific coverage depends on your plan and enrollment tier. We can help you understand what may apply to your situation before you begin.
Many New York State public employees, including those employed by SUNY, CUNY, and some school districts, have access to NYSHIP. Eligibility and enrollment options vary, so confirm with your HR department what plan you are enrolled in and what your mental health benefits include.