Best Online Therapy Platforms That Take Insurance in 2024
Dr.Mental already tested and compared providers to help you make the best decision.
In 2024, several top-rated platforms not only offer exceptional therapy services but also accept insurance, making mental health care more accessible and affordable. Here, we review the best online therapy platforms that take insurance, helping you decide on your mental health needs.
Does Health Insurance Cover Therapy
Initially, health insurance doesn’t sell standalone mental health plans, but often includes coverage for therapy to an insurance policy, as a part of its benefits program. Insurance rarely covers all the therapy session costs but reduces its value from $200 to $30 per session on average. This ensures that individuals can seek help from licensed therapists without the burden of prohibitive costs.
Mental health insurance can cover services like talk therapy, inpatient hospitalization, partial hospitalization, substance abuse treatment, emergency care: or so-called crisis intervention, and medication treatment.
The most common insurance providers that partially or fully cover mental health treatment are:
- Cigna,
- Optum,
- Humana,
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- United Health Care
- Aetna
- Medica
- Emblem Health
- Regence
Online Therapy Platforms Covered by Insurance
Talkspace
- Wide range of therapy options
- Flexible communication methods
- Extensive insurance coverage
- Some users report variability in therapist quality
- Text-based therapy might not suit everyone
Working on a subscription-based model, Talkspace provides a flexible communication model that includes messaging only, messaging with video calls, and a different number of therapy sessions per month.
The platform design and registration process are pretty simple and user-friendly. To start with Talkspace, you must register by choosing your login and password, completing a survey, and providing some basic information about yourself and your issue.
Talkspace can help individuals with issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, mood disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, anger management, and family conflicts.
Talkspace works with several major insurance providers to facilitate users’ reimbursement for therapy sessions.
Accepted Insurance: Cigna, Optum, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Grow Therapy
- Personalized therapist matching
- Variety of therapeutic approaches
- Extensive insurance partnerships
- Limited to certain states
- Initial setup can be time-consuming
The company’s mission is to make therapy accessible for US individuals by providing insurance coverage for mental health services. The platform itself is user-friendly and has a simple yet stylish and intuitive design.
The offline therapy option is the company’s feature that sets it apart from competitors. You can schedule an in-person session and enjoy classic eye-to-eye contact with a counselor.
Grow Therapy partners with a broad range of insurance providers, ensuring that many clients can access their services at minimal cost or for free.
Accepted Insurance: Aetna, Cigna, Optum, United Health Care
Cerebral
- Focus on medication and therapy integration
- Affordable subscription plans
- Insurance acceptance simplifies payment
- Emphasis on medication might not suit everyone
- The subscription model may feel restrictive to some
It offers a subscription-based model with various plans to suit different needs. Cerebral combines two essential mental health features: therapy sessions and medication management. The company partners with medication providers and offers a full-cycle service—from prescription to delivery straight to your door.
When you enter the platform, you will also have a wide range of self-help tools at your disposal, in addition to the features listed above. Firstly, you’ll get a detailed therapy plan. To track the progress of your treatment, you can get assessments, use a mood tracker, and complete Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) worksheets.
Cerebral accepts several insurance plans, reducing users’ out-of-pocket costs.
Accepted Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare
Online Psychiatrist That Takes Insurance
Amwell
- High-quality video sessions
- Broad insurance coverage
- Wide range of telehealth services
- Insurance does not cover all types of visits.
- Therapist availability can vary
Alongside mental health services, Amwell provides hybrid care technology that includes urgent, primary, and chronic care in one holistic application. With one account, you can access multiple services and track your overall mental and physical health.
Amwell is an online therapy platform with insurance coverage and a pay-per-session payment model. Depending on your insurance provider, state, and type of therapy you seek, session costs can be reduced to zero.
Amwell works with a wide array of insurance providers, which significantly reduces the financial burden on users seeking mental health treatment.
Accepted Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medica, Aetna
Teladoc
- 24/7 access to care
- Comprehensive healthcare services
- Wide insurance acceptance
- Limited therapist selection process
- Sessions are often shorter than traditional therapy
Teladoc accepts insurance from most providers in the US and collaborates with major EAP providers, so if you fall under one of these coverage programs, sessions with a therapist will be free or at minimal cost.
Teladoc is in-network with many insurance providers, making it a cost-effective option for many clients.
Accepted Insurance: Emblem Health, Aetna, Cigna, and Optum
MDLIVE
- Quick appointment scheduling
- User-friendly platform
- Wide insurance network
- Limited therapeutic modalities
- Shorter session durations
MDLIVE’s mental health services are extensive, offering therapy and psychiatric care for conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, and more.
One of MDLIVE’s notable features is its 24/7 availability, which ensures that users can receive care whenever they need it, even during evenings and weekends. As with other comprehensive telehealth solutions, MDLIVE works with major insurance providers, covering the bulk of its clients’ overall session costs.
MDLIVE partners with several insurance companies, making therapy sessions more affordable for insured clients.
Accepted Insurance: Regence, Cigna, and Optum
Talkiatry
- Access to licensed psychiatrists
- Comprehensive psychiatric care
- Accepts a range of insurance plans
- Limited to psychiatry services
- Initial appointment wait times can be long
The team consists of over 300 psychiatrists, making it one of the largest psychiatric practices in the U.S. This extensive team allows Talkiatry to match patients with doctors who are best suited to their specific needs and ensure timely access to care.
As one of the largest communities of online psychiatrists that take insurance, the platform stands out significantly from the rest. The platform offers a wide range of services for adults and children aged five and older, including treatment for anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), insomnia, PTSD, and ADHD.
Talkiatry accepts various insurance plans, easing the financial burden for many clients.
Accepted Insurance: Cigna, Humana, and Optum
Doctor on Demand
- Comprehensive telehealth services
- High-quality video sessions
- Extensive insurance partnerships
- Limited flexibility in communication methods
- Higher cost for uninsured users
One of the highlighted features of this platform is personalized treatment plans tailored to individual needs. This allows for convenient appointment scheduling, including availability during evenings and weekends. Continuous support is provided through regular follow-ups to ensure effective treatment.
The payment model for Doctor on Demand is flexible, allowing you to pay for each visit individually without the need for a subscription. Many major insurance plans are accepted, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, you may have access to services through your employer’s health benefits plan if you hold one.
Doctor on Demand is in-network with many insurance providers, ensuring affordable care for many users.
Accepted Insurance: Emblem Health, Carelon, My Aetna, Cigna, Optum, and Regence
How we chose
Our website’s information, rankings, and reviews are meticulously crafted through comprehensive analyses conducted by our team. We review each platform, drawing on customer success stories, feedback from other professional therapists, and our own extensive experience.
We evaluate the qualifications, expertise, and effectiveness of the mental health professionals associated with each service.
The range of services offered is thoroughly examined by professional therapists, including different types of therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and specialized treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
We consider user interactions with the platform, assessing factors such as ease of use, the simplicity of the registration process, the effectiveness of the therapist matching system, and overall user satisfaction.
Pricing is carefully analyzed for transparency, the availability of subscription models or pay-per-session options, and overall value for money.
Finally, we ensure that each platform adheres to privacy laws and regulations, such as HIPAA in the U.S., and incorporate aggregated viewpoints from various review websites and user interviews to provide a well-rounded perspective.
Our assessments incorporate customer success stories, feedback from other therapists, and user reviews to offer a thorough and balanced perspective.
What is online therapy and does health insurance cover it?
Online therapy is a type of mental health support provided by licensed counselors via the Internet. It includes all classic therapy instruments and approaches but is more accessible and cheaper than classic offline therapy. Depending on the provider and the specifics of the insurance policy, many online therapy services are covered by health insurance plans. Major online therapy services have insurance coverage and reduce costs from an average of $200-300 to $20-30 per session.
What should I consider when choosing an online therapy platform that accepts insurance?
When choosing an online therapy platform that accepts insurance, consider factors such as the types of therapy offered, the therapists' credentials, the ease of verifying insurance coverage, user reviews, and the platform’s privacy and security measures.
Is online therapy covered by insurance as extensively as in-person therapy?
Insurance coverage for online therapy is increasingly comparable to in-person therapy. Many insurance companies recognize the effectiveness of online therapy and provide similar coverage. The number of online therapy services covered by insurance increases exponentially yearly. However, it is advisable to review your specific plan details to understand the extent of coverage.
Can I see an online psychiatrist that takes insurance for medication management?
Yes, many online psychiatrists accept insurance for medication management and other psychiatric services. Platforms like Teladoc and MDLIVE offer psychiatric care, and you can verify insurance acceptance on their websites or through your insurance provider.
What types of mental health treatment are covered by insurance online?
Insurance often covers various types of online mental health treatments, including individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and psychiatric evaluations. Coverage specifics will depend on your insurance plan and the therapy platform.
How do I verify if my insurance covers online mental health services?
To verify if your insurance covers online mental health services, you can:
- Contact your insurance provider directly.
- Check the online therapy platform’s website for information about insurance coverage.
- Review your insurance policy details regarding mental health services and telehealth coverage.
How do I submit a claim for online therapy to my insurance provider?
Submitting a claim for online therapy typically involves the following steps:
- Obtain a detailed invoice or receipt from your online therapy provider.
- Complete any required claim forms from your insurance provider.
- Submit the documentation through your insurance provider’s website, mail, or mobile app.
- Follow up with your insurance provider to ensure the claim has been processed.