Online Therapy And Insurance: Coverage, Costs, And How To Get Started

Online therapy can be a convenient, affordable, and accessible way to get mental health support from home. If you're wondering whether your insurance can help cover the cost, the good news is that many plans now offer some coverage for virtual mental health services. Coverage does depend on your specific plan and the platform you choose, so it can help to understand a few basics first. Below is an overview of how to check your coverage, what online therapy with insurance may cost, how BetterHelp's pricing options work, and what alternatives exist if your plan doesn't cover care.

Does insurance cover online therapy?

Many insurance plans may cover online therapy, though coverage can vary based on your plan type, your state, and the platform you use. In some cases, insurance might cover all or part of the cost of online therapy sessions. It often depends on the online therapy platform you use and your specific health insurance plan.

Mental health parity laws require most insurance plans to not place more restrictions on mental health coverage than on medical coverage. This helps explain why many plans now include telehealth mental health services, even if the details differ from one plan to the next.

When it comes to online therapy, BetterHelp is one option to consider. BetterHelp accepts insurance with 125+ insurance plans, and co-pays average about $23 per session for eligible members. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability.

BetterHelp now also offers psychiatry services through UpLift, an additional care option available alongside therapy. When you're ready, you can fill out the BetterHelp onboarding questionnaire to learn more about available payment options.

How to check if your insurance covers online therapy

Before starting online therapy, it can be important to verify what your plan covers so you can avoid unexpected costs. The process is usually straightforward, and taking a few minutes to confirm the details can give you peace of mind. Here are some steps you can take to check your coverage:

1. Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your mental health and telehealth benefits.

2. Log in to your online insurance portal to review plan documents and coverage details.

3. Ask specifically whether telehealth or virtual therapy sessions are covered under your plan.

4. Verify which online therapy platforms or providers are considered in-network.

5. Confirm your copay amount, any deductible requirements, and whether there are limits on the number of covered sessions.

Once you know what your plan covers, you can make a more informed decision about which option fits your needs and budget.

Questions to ask your insurance provider

When you call your insurance company, having a short list of questions ready can help you get clear answers quickly. Consider asking the following:

• Does my plan cover telehealth or virtual mental health services?
• Which online therapy platforms or providers are in-network under my plan?
• What is my copay for a therapy session?
• Do I need to meet a deductible before therapy is covered?
• Are there limits on the number of therapy sessions covered per year?
• Does coverage require a diagnosis or a determination that care is "medically necessary"?

With these answers in hand, you'll have a clearer picture of what to expect before your first session.

Which insurance plans typically cover online therapy?

Major insurers increasingly offer coverage for virtual mental health services, but keep in mind that coverage always depends on your individual plan, so verifying the details directly with your insurer remains the most reliable approach.

Understanding insurance terms for mental health coverage

If your insurance plan does cover individual therapy, defining a few basic terms may help you better understand your coverage.

In-network vs. out-of-network providers

Knowing whether a provider works with your insurance can make a meaningful difference in your costs. The two main categories are:

• An in-network provider is one with which your insurance company is contracted, meaning the company may cover some or all of the costs of care with that provider.
• An out-of-network provider is one that your insurance company is not contracted with, meaning the company will typically not cover the cost of care with that provider.

Understanding copays and deductibles

A few key terms can shape how much you actually pay out of pocket for online therapy. Here are the ones that come up most often:

• Out-of-pocket refers to the amount you'll have to pay for a healthcare service that your insurance plan will not cover. This may take the form of a copay, the total cost when insurance doesn't cover a service, or leftover costs after insurance has covered a portion.
• A copay is an out-of-pocket fee you pay in order to use your insurance to get care from a covered provider. Your insurance company will typically cover the rest of the cost of that care.
• A deductible is the minimum out-of-pocket amount you must spend on healthcare costs through your insurance in a year before your coverage will apply. For example, a person may have to meet a $3,000 yearly deductible before the cost of therapy will be partially or totally covered.
• Reimbursement is when you pay the full cost of a healthcare service up front and your insurance company sends you a check to pay you back for all or part of the cost later on.

Therapy is often an HSA/FSA-eligible expense, which can be another way to manage these out-of-pocket costs.

Using HSA or FSA for therapy

Tax-advantaged accounts can be a helpful way to pay for care your plan doesn't fully cover. Two common options include:

• A health savings account (HSA) is a type of savings account that allows a certain amount of pre-tax contributions. You can then use this money only for qualified healthcare expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, and others.
• A flexible spending account (FSA), sometimes referred to as a flexible spending arrangement, is a type of savings account set up through a person's employer. It's similar to an HSA, but the list of eligible expenses is usually broader, often including prescription medications, medical devices, and even over-the-counter supplies like sunscreen or cough medicine.

Once you understand these terms, it can be easier to picture how online therapy with insurance actually works in practice.

How online therapy with insurance works

If your insurance covers online therapy, the way it works can vary depending on your plan and the therapy platform. In many cases, the process is similar to using insurance for in-person therapy. In general, it may involve:

1. Finding a therapist through a directory from your insurance company or an online therapy platform.

2. Confirming details with your chosen provider and your insurance company to understand any possible caveats or restrictions.

3. Scheduling your first appointment with your chosen provider.

4. Paying out of pocket for your copay, if applicable, when attending each session.

Depending on your unique situation, additional steps may also be required. If you'd like to see your options quickly, the BetterHelp onboarding process can show pricing details during signup when you get started.

What does online therapy with insurance cost?

What insurance plans may cover in terms of mental health care can vary widely, and out-of-pocket costs can vary depending on many factors, too. It can be uncommon for a person's insurance plan to cover the full cost of therapy with no copay, and the amount you pay can depend on your deductible status, plan type, and provider. Marketplace health plans and employer benefits may also have different coverage and requirements, and details can vary even between two plans from the same insurance company.

For more context on rates, the average cost of an in-person therapy session without insurance often falls in the $100–$350 per session range. Understanding these figures can help you weigh which option makes the most sense for your situation.

How to get started with BetterHelp

Getting started is designed to be simple, whether or not you have an eligible insurance plan. When you're ready, you can get started with BetterHelp by following a few steps:

1. Fill out the brief onboarding questionnaire about your needs and preferences in a therapist.

2. Enter your information during signup to view available options, estimated costs, and plan details.

3. Get matched with a licensed online therapist based on your responses.

4. Schedule your first session, choosing between live video, audio, or live chat sessions.

If you're interested in exploring psychiatry services, you can also get started with psychiatry through UpLift.

Benefits and effectiveness of online therapy

Online therapy can offer meaningful benefits for people looking for accessible and affordable care, including convenience and a wider choice of providers. A platform like BetterHelp can help you get matched with the right provider from a network of more than 30,000 qualified therapists, and appointments can happen from the comfort of home through video, phone, or live chat.

For those seeking care with a licensed therapist, this flexibility can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule and, when insurance coverage applies, potentially lower costs at the same time. In addition, a large and growing body of research has shown online therapy to be an effective treatment option for a range of mental health concerns.

Options if your insurance doesn't cover online therapy

If your plan doesn't cover therapy, or if you don't have insurance, BetterHelp's subscription model can still be a cost-effective way to receive virtual mental health care. A BetterHelp subscription ranges from $70–$100* per week, billed weekly or monthly, with costs based on location, referral source, preferences, any applicable discounts, and therapist availability. Discounts or financial aid may be available to non-insured users.

Beyond BetterHelp, there are several low-cost or free options worth considering for mental health support:

• Mental health crisis resources, like the 988 Lifeline, which is free and available 24/7.
• Employee assistance programs (EAP), which some employers provide to help workers find short-term mental health support.
• University clinics, where enrolled students can receive free or low-cost care, or, in some cases, where the public can receive care from supervised trainee therapists.
• Sliding-scale therapy, offered by some providers, where the cost of care is adjusted based on a person's income.
• Support groups, like those available through the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), which can be lower-cost or free ways to get peer support.
• Community mental health clinics, like federally qualified health centers, which may offer comprehensive medical services at a lower cost to underserved communities.