Does Medicare Cover Online Therapy?

Put simply, yes: Medicare covers online therapy under Part B (Medical Insurance). Medicare Part B offers coverage for a range of outpatient mental health services, including individual and group therapy, and current telehealth rules allow Medicare patients to receive mental health services remotely, including from home.

For therapy to be covered, it must be provided by certain types of Medicare-enrolled mental health professionals, such as clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or mental health counselors.  

How Medicare covers online therapy

For many people, traveling to in-person therapy appointments on a regular basis can be challenging to begin with. However, for many people covered by Medicare, additional barriers like health challenges and mobility limitations can make seeking in-person care even more difficult.

As a federal health insurance program, Medicare provides coverage to 68 million people, including 61 million aged 65 or older and 7 million under age 65 with certain long-term disabilities. For some of the millions of people with Medicare, online therapy may be a more accessible way to get the mental health support they need, and being able to find online therapy covered by Medicare becomes paramount.

To find online therapy that takes Medicare, it’s important to first understand exactly how Medicare covers it.

We’ll dig into more of the specific rules on online therapy, Medicare-covered telehealth services, and the latest requirements later in this article. 

Licensed professionals who may provide Medicare-covered therapy

For therapy to be covered by Medicare, one requirement is that the services must be provided by certain types of Medicare-enrolled licensed professionals. With Medicare, you can get mental health services from the following types of providers: 

• Psychiatrists or other doctors
• Clinical psychologists
• Clinical social workers
• Clinical nurse specialists 
• Nurse practitioners
• Physician assistants 
• Marriage and family therapists 
• Mental health counselors 

It’s worth noting that marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) were recently added to this list, effective January 1, 2024. Since then, MFTs and MHCs can bill Medicare independently for their services in diagnosing and treating mental disorders.

Video and audio-only therapy sessions

Telehealth, as covered by Medicare, includes medical or health services that you receive from a healthcare provider using audio and video technology, with audio-only calls allowed in some cases. In the context of therapy, this means you may be able to have video sessions or audio-only phone sessions, depending on what you prefer and what your provider offers.

For some people, phone sessions may feel more comfortable than having to appear on screen and talk with a provider over video.

Medicare telehealth therapy rules for 2026 and beyond

In recent years, the Federal government has taken steps to preserve and expand access to telehealth services. 

Currently, telehealth policies allow Medicare patients to receive home-based telehealth services for non-behavioral/mental health care through December 31, 2027. For mental health services, Medicare patients may be able to permanently receive telehealth services for behavioral/mental health care in their home, according to recent updates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition, through December 31, 2027, having an in-person visit within six months of an initial Medicare behavioral/mental telehealth service is not required. 

Understanding the latest rules and policies for Medicare coverage can help you make the most of your benefits and find the types of care that work best for your needs. Be sure to confirm the policy details for your specific plan. 

What online therapy with Medicare may cost

For many people, cost can be a significant concern when it comes to mental health support. In fact, according to recent BetterHelp research, 52% of Americans surveyed mentioned cost as a barrier to therapy. Getting a handle on typical costs for online therapy can help you plan ahead and know what to expect. 

For online therapy and other outpatient mental health services covered by Medicare, you typically have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, after you meet the Part B deductible. Here’s what that means: 

• The “Medicare-approved amount” is the payment amount that Original Medicare sets for a covered service. When a provider accepts that amount (known as “assignment”), you won’t be billed for more than just your Medicare deductible and coinsurance (20% in this case).
• In 2026, the Part B deductible is $283 for the year. So, after you meet this amount, you will pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the service.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans

So far, we’ve focused on coverage under Original Medicare (which includes Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B). An alternative to Original Medicare is Medicare Advantage, also known as Part C. With Medicare Advantage, you get benefits through a private health plan that Medicare approves. 

In terms of coverage, Medicare Advantage plans must cover all medically necessary services that Original Medicare covers and may offer additional telehealth benefits. However, keep in mind that referrals, prior authorization, and network rules may apply. Before booking an appointment, you may want to confirm that a therapist is in-network with your plan and review your plan details to learn more about specific rules, requirements, and benefits.

Medigap and Medicaid may help with remaining costs

For some people, there may be additional options available that can help with remaining costs. 

For instance, you may be able to buy extra insurance known as Medicare Supplement Insurance (or Medigap) from a private health insurance company to help you pay for your share of out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, like the 20% coinsurance for therapy. In addition, people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid may have extra coverage through their state. (Note that Medicaid eligibility varies by state.) 

While Medicare covers a wide range of healthcare services, it’s important to note that there are some services it may not cover. 

Services Medicare may not cover

As with any type of health insurance, understanding what is and isn’t covered can help you make informed decisions around your care and avoid unexpected expenses. 

Mental health services that Medicare typically does not cover include: 

• Transportation to or from mental healthcare services
• Support groups that bring people together to talk and socialize (these are different from group therapy sessions, which are typically covered) 
• Training or testing for job skills that aren’t part of your mental health treatment

Other general services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover include massage therapy, concierge care, non-medical long-term care, and covered services that are delivered by a provider who doesn’t participate in Medicare (unless there is an emergency). 

How to find online therapy that takes Medicare

When you’re trying to figure out what online therapy takes Medicare in your area, it may feel a little confusing and even intimidating at first, but once you know where to look, it can be a fairly straightforward process. 

To find online therapy that accepts Medicare, you can follow the steps detailed below: 

• Visit the Medicare.gov website and navigate to the provider search and compare tool.
• Select the “Doctors & clinicians” tab.
• Enter your location details (street, ZIP code, city, or state). 
• Enter the type of provider, specialty, or service you’re looking for (e.g., marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, depression, psychotherapy, etc.).
• Select “View all filters” at the top of the results.
• Under the filter titled “Telehealth services,” check the box that says “Only show clinicians that provide telehealth services” and click “Apply.” 

This will give you a map and a list of results showing clinicians in your area who accept Medicare and offer care virtually.

Once you’ve found a therapist, you may want to ask them a few questions before booking to confirm that they’ll fit your needs and budget: 

• Do you offer online therapy? 
• What type of license do you hold, and are you licensed to practice in my state? 
• Do you participate in Medicare, and do you accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for covered services? 
• What mental health concerns do you specialize in? 

Options when a provider doesn’t take Medicare

If you find a provider you want to work with who doesn’t take Medicare, or if you’re having difficulty finding a Medicare-enrolled therapist who’s a good fit for your needs, there are several other options you can explore. 

One such option is online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, which offers affordable pricing, discreet appointments, proven results, and a massive network of more than 30,000 qualified providers. Subscription plans typically range from $70 to $100 per week. Pricing is based on factors such as location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply.

Other options include asking therapists about sliding-scale fees and looking into mental health community centers or federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) in your area. You can also explore resources like findsupport.gov to help you find treatment that fits your budget.