Using Motion Picture Health Insurance for Mental Health Care
Navigating Film Industry Insurance: Tips for Accessing Mental Health Services
Film industry insurance often feels like a maze when you need mental health coverage. You're not alone if you've struggled to find clear answers on how to get care that truly supports your well-being.
As a Los Angeles native and Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in primary care psychiatry and mental health—and a current fellow in the UCI Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship—I understand the unique pressures and unpredictability of film and creative work. Whether through Motion Picture Health Insurance (Optum Behavioral Health PPO) or affordable membership options, my goal is to make care accessible, flexible, and stigma-free.
Learn more about my services here.
Understanding Motion Picture Insurance
Basics of Film Industry Coverage
The Motion Picture Industry Health Plan (MPIHP) provides health coverage for many union-affiliated film professionals across Los Angeles County and nearby cities such as Culver City, Burbank, Studio City, West Hollywood and Santa Monica.
Eligibility is typically based on work hours—about 400 hours in a six-month qualifying period for most participants to maintain coverage (some new members may need more hours to qualify). Once eligible, you gain access to medical and behavioral-health benefits that include therapy, psychiatry, and substance-use services.
Optum Behavioral Health for the Anthem PPO Option
If you’re enrolled in the Anthem Blue Cross PPO through the Motion Picture Industry Health Plan, your mental-health and substance-use benefits are administered by Optum Behavioral Health at Liveandworkwell.com (access code MPIPHP). Other MPI options—such as Kaiser or Health Net HMO—use their own behavioral-health networks, so always confirm which plan you have before scheduling.
A key advantage of the Optum PPO is affordability: copays are typically $5–$20 per visit, and for many outpatient visits, the deductible does not apply. (Always verify your own Summary of Benefits.)
Through Optum, you can access:
Psychiatric medication management for anxiety, depression, insomnia, OCD, burnout, ADHD, and alcohol-use concerns
Therapy-informed medical care with providers like myself
Talk therapy with licensed LCSWs, LMFTs, or psychologists
Telehealth visits and 24/7 support
My Approach: Medical Care That Integrates Therapeutic Techniques
I’m not a therapist—I’m a medical provider who diagnoses and treats mental-health conditions, prescribes medications, and integrates evidence-based therapy techniques into every visit.
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), I help patients:
Identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns
Strengthen motivation for change
Build treatment goals aligned with personal values and lifestyle
This blended model—therapy-informed medical management—works especially well for creative professionals managing irregular schedules, emotional strain, and high-pressure environments.
If you’re seeking stand-alone talk therapy, use the Optum Behavioral Health or Motion Picture Health Plan directories to find a clinical social worker (LCSW), marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or psychologist for ongoing sessions. My practice complements that care through evaluation, medication management, and supportive follow-up.
Accessing Mental Health Care in Los Angeles and Surrounding Areas
As a Los Angeles native, I know the toll of production life—from long shoot days in Burbank to post-production sprints in Culver City or Santa Monica. My practice is designed to fit your reality, not disrupt it.
At Be Well Berlin / Be Well Medical Group, I offer:
Telehealth appointments across California (and Alaska)
In-person visits in Beverly Hills, near Culver City and West Hollywood
Comprehensive medication management for anxiety, depression, insomnia, burnout, ADHD, OCD, and alcohol-use disorders
Therapy-informed sessions using CBT and MI
$100/month membership for those between projects or coverage periods
Whether you’re on set in Studio City, editing in West Hollywood, or commuting from Burbank, I make consistent, judgment-free care easy to access.
Conditions I Commonly Treat
Anxiety & panic disorders
Depression & mood instability
Insomnia & sleep disruption
Burnout & work-related stress
OCD & intrusive thoughts
ADHD (evaluation & management)
Excessive alcohol use & harm-reduction care
Gender-affirming & LGBTQIA+ mental health
My inclusive, trauma-informed care model supports creatives, film crew, and professionals across Los Angeles’ diverse communities. Learn more about my approach here.
Practical Steps to Use Your Motion Picture Insurance
Call the number on your insurance card to confirm behavioral-health benefits. Ask:
“What’s my copay for behavioral-health visits?”
“Does my deductible apply to outpatient psychiatry?”
“Do I need pre-authorization for mental-health services?”
Use the Optum directory (access code MPIPHP) to find in-network providers. My office verifies your coverage and explains costs before your first visit.
Why Mental Health Care Matters in the Film Industry
Entertainment work combines long hours, creative stress, and job uncertainty—conditions that make mental-health care essential. Surveys show about 70–90% of film and television workers report significant anxiety, depression, or burnout symptoms related to their work.
Integrated psychiatric care helps you:
Stay focused and calm during long production cycles
Sleep better and recover between projects
Manage alcohol use or stress-related coping habits
Build emotional resilience and career longevity
Meet Isaac Berlin, FNP-C
I’m Isaac Berlin, FNP-C, a Family Nurse Practitioner and Los Angeles native with deep ties to the creative community. I understand how demanding and rewarding entertainment work can be—and how easy it is to put your mental health last.
I’m completing the UCI Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship, which enhances my ability to manage anxiety, depression, insomnia, OCD, ADHD, and substance-use concerns. My care combines medical expertise with empathy, discretion, and a practical understanding of life in and around the film industry.
My practice, Be Well Berlin / Be Well Medical Group, provides in-person care in Beverly Hills and telehealth statewide. I accept Optum Behavioral Health (Motion Picture PPO) and most major insurers, and I offer membership pricing for patients between coverage periods.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re covered under the Motion Picture Industry Health Plan or seeking flexible, stigma-free psychiatric care in Los Angeles, Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, or Studio City—let’s connect.
Schedule your appointment today through our Appointments page.
Your mental health is as important as your craft—and expert, judgment-free care is just a message or video visit away.
FAQ: Motion Picture Health Insurance & Mental Health Care
Q: Does Motion Picture Health Insurance cover telehealth psychiatry?
A: Yes. If you have the Anthem PPO option administered by Optum Behavioral Health, telehealth visits are covered just like in-person appointments. Copays are typically low, and no referral is required.
Q: How do I know if my plan uses Optum Behavioral Health?
A: Check your insurance card—if it lists “Optum Behavioral Health” or “Liveandworkwell.com,” you’re covered under the Optum PPO network. Kaiser and Health Net MPI plans use their own behavioral-health systems.
Q: Can I see both a therapist and a medical provider?
A: Absolutely. Many patients benefit from both. You can see a therapist (LCSW, LMFT, or psychologist) for talk therapy and a medical provider like me for diagnosis and medication management.
Q: What if I’m between projects or don’t currently have coverage?
A: I offer a $100/month membership for affordable, ongoing care between insurance periods—ideal for film and creative professionals with variable work schedules.
Q: What mental-health conditions do you treat?
A: Anxiety, depression, insomnia, burnout, OCD, ADHD, and alcohol-use concerns are the most common. Each visit combines medical treatment with therapy-informed techniques for lasting results.