1,000 Psychiatric Alternatives and Wellness Center Patients with Aetna May Be Out Of Network December 1

As of December 1, 2025, individuals insured by Aetna commercial insurance plans may no longer be in network for mental health care services at Psychiatric Alternatives and Wellness Center (PAWC) in California, despite more than six months of active negotiations. These talks sought to secure appropriate reimbursements that reflect the current health care environment, help create long-term sustainability for the health care provider and avoid any care disruptions for PAWC patients.

“At Psychiatric Alternatives and Wellness Center, we are focused on providing every patient with access to high-quality mental health care services delivered by compassionate, collaborative providers,” said John Schick, PhD, PAWC president and founder. “We have been working with Aetna over the last six months to establish a fair and sustainable agreement that ensures patients can continue to see their chosen providers, while also allowing PAWC to fulfill our mission of service for years to come.”

Aetna’s current provider reimbursements have not kept up with inflation and are inadequate to account for the rising costs of providing care. By not offering fair reimbursements, Aetna is putting access to trusted mental health care providers in jeopardy at a time when this care is needed more than ever.

Patients with an Aetna commercial insurance plan can continue to see their PAWC providers in network through November 30. Unless an agreement on a new contract is reached, beginning December 1, PAWC psychiatrists and therapists in California will no longer be in network with Aetna.

Patients impacted by these negotiations were notified by letter over the last week and encouraged to explore all options during this fall’s open enrollment period. PAWC is in network with many other major insurance providers across the state.

“Nothing is more important than the relationships we have with our patients,” said Dr. Schick. “PAWC is doing everything we can to avoid any care disruption, and we want to continue to negotiate with Aetna to ensure patients have access to critical services. I encourage impacted patients to call Aetna at the number on their insurance card and let them know how important it is to keep PAWC providers available and in network.”

For more information about Psychiatric Alternatives and Wellness Center, visit https://psychiatricalternatives.com/index.php.