Online Therapy That Takes Insurance

Many health insurance plans cover online therapy, also called telehealth or virtual therapy, including sessions delivered through licensed providers on BetterHelp. Under federal mental health parity laws, insurance plans that offer mental health benefits must provide comparable coverage to medical services. Coverage depends on your specific health plan, whether your therapist is in-network, and your deductible, copay, or coinsurance. To confirm whether your plan covers online therapy, contact your insurance provider or check your member portal.

Start with the Summary of Benefits document for your plan, which you can usually find in your insurer's member portal or by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. Look for the section labeled "Outpatient Mental Health" or "Behavioral Health Benefits."

Key things to check:

• Whether telehealth or virtual therapy sessions are covered
• What your copay or coinsurance is for mental health visits
• Whether you need to meet your deductible first
• Whether prior authorization is required

When signing up for BetterHelp, you can enter your insurance information directly in the flow to check your eligibility and estimated costs.

Check your insurance company's online provider directory, call the number on the back of your insurance card, and ask whether online therapy is covered. Confirm whether the provider is in-network before booking. When signing up for BetterHelp, you can check whether providers in your state accept your specific insurance plan. BetterHelp's therapist directory lets you filter by insurance carrier to find in-network providers available in your state.

Yes. Many providers on BetterHelp now accept major insurance carriers. In 30+ states, many therapists on BetterHelp may be in-network with select insurance plans. Coverage depends on your plan, provider, and availability. When sessions are covered, members who have a copay typically pay an average of about $23 per session. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see our detailed guide on is BetterHelp covered by insurance.

Many independent providers on BetterHelp accept insurance from major carriers, including Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Curative, UnitedHealthcare, and several state-specific Blue Cross Blue Shield plans such as Anthem, CareFirst, and Highmark. Coverage varies by state and by provider availability. BetterHelp is actively working with additional carriers to expand access. If your plan isn't yet available, our flexible subscription model starting at $70 to $100* per week is a quality alternative. *Subscription pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply.

Yes. Many providers on BetterHelp accept Cigna insurance, including Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth behavioral health plans. Cigna is one of the more broadly available carriers on BetterHelp, with in-network providers across multiple states. When sessions are covered, members typically pay an average copay of about $23 per session. Coverage depends on your plan, provider, and therapist availability.

Yes. Many providers on BetterHelp accept UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plans, including employer-sponsored plans and individual marketplace coverage. UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest insurers in the U.S. and covers behavioral telehealth in most states where BetterHelp operates. When sessions are covered, members typically pay an average copay of about $23 per session. Coverage depends on your plan, provider, and therapist availability.

Yes. BetterHelp providers accept several regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, including Anthem, CareFirst, and Highmark. Because BCBS operates as a network of independent regional plans, coverage varies significantly by state. Always verify your specific BCBS plan during sign-up. When sessions are covered, members typically pay an average copay of about $23 per session.

Yes. Many providers on BetterHelp accept Aetna insurance across select states. BetterHelp is actively expanding Aetna coverage. If it's not yet available in your state, the flexible subscription plan ($70 to $100 per week) remains an option while coverage expands. When sessions are covered, members typically pay an average copay of about $23 per session.

At this time, providers on BetterHelp do not directly accept Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE. These government-sponsored plans often have specific network requirements for behavioral health and telehealth services. Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health services, including telehealth sessions with approved providers. For the most current information on Medicare telehealth coverage, visit medicare.gov. Medicaid coverage for online therapy varies by state. Visit medicaid.gov to check your state's telehealth benefits. If you have one of these plans and need additional support finding care, contact your state Medicaid office, Medicare plan, or TRICARE regional contractor.

You can check your eligibility through the signup flow. If insurance is available in your state, you'll see it as a payment option and can enter your insurance information. We'll run an eligibility check and show your estimated cost before you decide whether to continue. Existing members can also switch to insurance payment in states where this option is available through account settings in the BetterHelp app.

Insurance often covers individual therapy, family and couples counseling when deemed medically necessary, and psychiatric services including medication management. Online therapy and telehealth sessions are covered by many plans at the same rate as in-person care. Please note that providers on BetterHelp do not prescribe medications. Contact your insurance provider directly to verify your specific coverage.

You may have copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses depending on your plan. Reviewing your insurance coverage can help you understand these costs.

If insurance doesn’t fully cover therapy costs, there are options that include:

• Using health savings accounts (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Seeking providers who offer sliding scale fees or payment plans
• Exploring community mental health resources
• Checking with your employer to see if they offer EAPs that provide free or low-cost therapy sessions to employees and their families

In-network therapists have contracts with your insurance company and typically offer lower out-of-pocket costs. Out-of-network therapists do not have contracts with your insurer. You may pay the full session fee upfront and submit claims for partial reimbursement if your plan includes out-of-network benefits. Out-of-network reimbursement depends on your plan's deductible, reimbursement rate, and session limits.

Out-of-network reimbursement means you pay for therapy upfront and submit a claim to your insurance company for partial repayment. The amount you receive may depend on:

• Your annual deductible
• Your coinsurance rate
• Your plan's allowed amount for therapy
• How many therapy sessions your plan covers

Before starting therapy, contact your insurance provider and ask whether your plan covers out-of-network online therapy, what claim forms you need, and what documents are required for reimbursement.

• Insurance may be best if your plan covers online therapy, your deductible is low, and your therapist is in-network.
• Out-of-pocket therapy may be best if you want faster access to care, more flexibility, or more predictable pricing.
• Out-of-network benefits may help if your plan reimburses part of the cost of therapy.
• Total cost matters more than sticker price, since deductibles, copays, and reimbursement rules can change what you actually pay.

Yes. Existing members can switch to insurance payment in all states where this option is available, subject to plan coverage and eligibility. Within the BetterHelp app, go to account settings to switch your payment option to insurance. If you're a new member, select insurance as a payment option during the signup flow if it's available in your state.

If your insurance plan doesn't cover BetterHelp, our flexible subscription model is a quality option for accessing care from our extensive therapist network, with subscriptions starting at $70 to $100 per week. In-person therapy can cost $100 to $350 per session without insurance, making online therapy a more affordable alternative for many people. If insurance isn't an option right now, there are still ways to get support. See our guide to affordable therapy without insurance.

Without insurance, BetterHelp typically costs $70 to $100 per week, billed weekly or monthly. That includes messaging with your therapist, in-app features like a digital journal and worksheets, and live sessions. Subscription pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability, and any applicable discounts or promotions.

Insured members using BetterHelp typically pay an average copay of about $23 per session. Typical copays for online therapy covered by insurance generally range from $20 to $50 per session, depending on your specific health plan and insurance provider. Some plans offer lower copays for in-network therapists. Check your insurance coverage details to understand your exact copay amounts and any session limits.

Yes. Many people can use Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to pay for BetterHelp, since therapy is generally considered a qualified medical expense. Eligibility may vary, so check with your plan administrator to confirm. Learn more about using HSA or FSA for BetterHelp with our guide.

EAPs are employer-sponsored mental health benefits that often cover a set number of free therapy sessions per year. BetterHelp does not currently accept EAP programs directly. If your EAP benefit has been used or doesn't apply, our subscription plan is designed to be one of the most affordable ways to access licensed therapy online. To find out whether your employer offers an EAP, check your HR portal or benefits documentation, or call the number on your health insurance card and ask about behavioral health benefits.

Yes, and the research supports this. Studies consistently show that online therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person care for many of the most common reasons people seek support, including anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship challenges. On BetterHelp specifically, 72% of members experienced a meaningful reduction in symptoms within 12 weeks. The format is different, but the care is real.