Optum is the behavioral health administrator for UnitedHealth Group, including UnitedHealthcare and UMR plans. If Optum manages your mental health or substance use benefits, this page explains what that means for coverage of detox, drug rehab, mental health treatment, and outpatient rehab.
Direct answer
Optum is UnitedHealth Group's behavioral health administrator. Optum-managed plans cover medically necessary detox, drug rehab, mental health treatment, and outpatient rehab following UHC medical necessity criteria and ASAM guidelines. Real Deal verifies Optum benefits before you start.
Optum is UnitedHealth Group's health services division, covering pharmacy benefits (OptumRx), care delivery (OptumCare), data and analytics (Optum Health), and behavioral health administration. Optum Behavioral Health manages mental health and substance use authorization for UHC, UMR, and many self-funded employer plans, using UHC medical necessity criteria and ASAM guidelines.
Optum covers behavioral health at every level of care under federal parity law. Here’s what that means, level by level.
Optum authorizes medically necessary detox for UHC and UMR members using ASAM criteria. Coverage includes withdrawal medications, monitoring, and stabilization.
Typical requirements
Optum authorizes drug and alcohol rehab across levels of care — residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient — for the plans they administer. Coverage follows the underlying plan's benefits.
Typical requirements
Optum manages outpatient mental health authorization and provider networks for UHC and UMR members. Coverage under federal parity includes therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management.
Typical requirements
Optum authorizes PHP and IOP under UHC and UMR plans. Prior auth is required; concurrent review is standard every 7–14 days for PHP.
Typical requirements
Not sure what plan you have? Grab your card and call 469-747-1201. Verification is free and takes about 15 minutes — we’ll tell you your estimated out-of-pocket before you commit.
Free confidential verification. About 15 minutes. We tell you the estimated cost before you start.
Call 469-747-1201
We work with the plans below. If yours isn’t listed, call anyway — we probably still work with you.
“Real Deal is without a doubt the most structured and therapeutic rehab program I have ever attended. It has brought me to one year in sobriety and I don't know what I would have done had I not participated in the program. I highly recommend Real Deal to anyone struggling with alcohol and/or drugs. It's amazing. Just try it and you will see for yourself!”
“Realdeal wellness and therapy will always have a special place in my heart for all the opportunities and care they've provided. They helped pave the way for me to achieve sobriety and build a better life for myself and when I needed them the most they were there in a heartbeat. Extremely grateful for their services and the environment they provide for recovery.”
“Real deal is a truly rare place that has instrumental in my rehabilitation. The staff truly cares deeply about you and wants you to succeed. Also Real Deal is one of not many outpatient rehab places that takes primary mental health cases. Highly recommend this place and thank you to everyone who helped me.”
“I love all of these guys. These guys made me feel better. They made me think better. I don't feel those ways anymore. Before I came here, I was certain I wouldn't be alive for much longer. These guys fixed that.”
“The Real Deal is an incredible program that prioritizes accessibility more than almost any other PHP, IOP, and Housing program. With housing fees at lower price point than a majority of sober livings, the option to have your pet with you, and a supportive recovery community, they really do try to eliminate barriers to care as much as possible.”
“Real Deal is different then the others. It offers flexible support for recovery, allowing you to live at home while attending therapy and counseling sessions. It's designed to fit your schedule and provides tools to maintain sobriety and prevent relapse. The focus on mental health is a great way to get to the root of what's gone wrong time and time again. Cannot recommend enough!”
“Real Deal is full of people who are passionate in helping others obtain and maintain their sobriety. They are always willing to lend a helping hand without judgement. They also have employees with real world experience using their own experiences to help others heal.”
Straight answers before you call.
Optum is not an insurer — it's the behavioral health administrator for UnitedHealthcare, UMR, and many self-funded employer plans. Coverage comes from the underlying UHC or UMR plan.
Yes. Optum authorizes medically necessary substance use and mental health treatment at every level, following the underlying plan's benefits.
Once medical necessity is documented and prior auth is submitted, Optum issues an authorization number that covers a specific number of days/sessions.
