Payment options

Hi Allie, 

Great question!  The cost of counseling can be an investment that can feel cost-prohibitive. Like any investment it is important to consider the value of the investment. The ability to have healing, better well-being, a chance at recovery, and better functioning that are provided with access to counseling is priceless. The ability to protect our mental health is not only essential to reaching our full potential, but is something that everyone should have the opportunity to engage in.  Sometimes changing your mindset around where you put your value and your investments can make counseling feel more affordable. Oftentimes, the idea of investing in ourselves may seem hard, but the payoffs of doing so can be so rewarding!

Other times income truly is a concern and choosing between meeting your basic needs and paying for mental health care should not be a barrier. Everyone needs and deserves access to affordable mental health care. Betterhealth does offer financial aid for subscribers that are low income or experiencing financial challenges to make getting this needed support more affordable. You can apply for financial aid from your individual settings to explore how this might make access to counseling more affordable on this platform. Many BetterHelp therapists are now accepting certain insurance carriers (state-limited), and you may be eligible for insurance coverage depending on your plan, provider, and therapist availability. 

Outside of BetterHelp, many communities have free walk-in mental health clinics to meet this need. These clinics typically offer a few counseling sessions with no charge. Although it is not a long-term option, it can be a starting place for many people needing this support. Many of these clinics have expanded to telehealth options during the pandemic so they are able to reach more communities. 

I would also encourage you to look into any employment sponsored mental health resources that might be available to you. The pandemic has opened up many new resources for employee assistance options to seek mental health support that were not previously available. These may include options for trainings, counseling, or even other resources to fill gaps for individual needs.

Whatever option you consider to make counseling more affordable, I hope that you are able to get the mental health support you are needing at this time because you are worth the investment. 

Best, 

Kelsey Place, LICSW

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does BetterHelp take insurance?

Yes, many therapists on BetterHelp now accept major insurance carriers. In many states, certain therapists on BetterHelp may be in-network with certain insurance plans. Coverage depends on your plan, provider, and availability. 

What costs should I expect when using insurance for therapy?

If your insurance covers therapy, you may still expect to pay copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket expenses, depending on your plan. You can talk to your insurance carrier to learn what expenses you may need to pay.

If the cost of insurance is still too high, you might consider options like:

• Using your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA)
• Working with providers who utilize sliding scale fees based on your income
• Utilizing community mental health resources
• Talking to your employer to see if they offer EAPs that provide free or low-cost therapy sessions to employees

Is online therapy covered the same as in-person therapy?

Yes, many insurance plans cover online therapy at the same level as in-person therapy sessions.

Under federal laws like the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, insurance companies are required to provide comparable coverage for mental health care delivered via telehealth.