Online therapy that takes insurance

Many health insurance plans include mental health benefits that may cover online therapy, also called telehealth or virtual therapy. BetterHelp accepts many insurance plans, helping more people access therapy with licensed providers online. Federal mental health parity laws generally require many plans that offer mental health benefits to treat them comparably to medical benefits. 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 to view available options, estimated costs, and plan details.

To find a therapist who takes your insurance, check your insurance company's online provider directory, call the number on the back of your insurance card, and ask how your plan covers online therapy. With BetterHelp, if insurance is available as a payment option, we'll help match you with available licensed providers who are in network with your plan. When signing up for BetterHelp, insurance may appear as a payment option depending on your state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. If insurance is available, you will be able to review available provider options during signup.

Yes. BetterHelp accepts insurance through major insurance plans. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. Eligible members’ average copay is $23 per session. For a full breakdown of how BetterHelp works with insurance plans, see our detailed guide on BetterHelp insurance coverage.

BetterHelp accepts insurance through many major insurance plans, including Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Curative, UnitedHealthcare, and several state-specific Blue Cross Blue Shield plans such as Anthem, CareFirst, and Highmark. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability.

BetterHelp is actively working with additional carriers to expand access. If your plan isn't available at this time, our flexible subscription model starting at $70 to $100* per week is a quality alternative. Additionally, members may be able to use HSA and FSA funds to help pay for therapy services. *Subscription pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply.

We're actively expanding our network of licensed therapists who accept insurance on the BetterHelp platform. If you don’t see insurance as a payment option during signup, it may not be available based on your state, plan, provider network, or therapist availability at that time. In the meantime, BetterHelp’s flexible subscription plan remains available as another way to access care. BetterHelp also accepts HSA/FSA cards and is recognized as an eligible medical expense by most providers.

Yes. BetterHelp accepts select Cigna and Evernorth behavioral health plans. Cigna is available through BetterHelp, with in-network provider availability varying by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. Eligible members’ average copay is $23 per session. Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability.

Yes. BetterHelp accepts select UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plans. UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest insurers in the U.S. and is one of the insurance carriers available through BetterHelp, with provider availability varying by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability. Eligible members’ average copay is $23 per session.

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. Eligible members’ average copay is $23 per session.

Yes. Many providers on BetterHelp accept Aetna insurance for online therapy. Availability may vary by plan, location, and other factors. Eligible members’ average copay is $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.

During signup, you may be prompted to choose between using insurance or paying out of pocket, if insurance is available as a payment option. Insurance availability, coverage, and costs vary based on factors such as your state, insurance plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status. Existing members may also be able to switch to insurance as a payment option through their account settings in the BetterHelp app, where available.

Some insurance plans may cover outpatient mental health services, such as individual therapy. Depending on the plan, benefits may also apply to certain family, couples, or psychiatric services when medically necessary. Coverage for online therapy or telehealth varies by plan and state. Contact your insurance provider directly for details about your specific benefits.

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 you have out-of-pocket therapy costs, options may 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 may have lower out-of-pocket costs, depending on your plan. Out-of-network therapists do not have contracts with your insurer. If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may pay the full session fee upfront and submit a claim to request partial reimbursement. 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 then submit a claim to your insurance company to request partial repayment. The amount you receive may depend on your annual deductible, your coinsurance rate, your plan's allowed amount for therapy, and how many 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. If available, you may be able to request documentation to submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement.

The right option depends on your mental health coverage, therapist availability, and total cost of care. Insurance may be a good fit if your plan includes online therapy benefits, your deductible is low, and an in-network provider is available. The subscription plan may be more cost-effective if you want faster access, more flexibility, or if your deductible hasn't been met yet. Out-of-network benefits may help if your plan reimburses part of the cost. Total cost can vary since deductibles, copays, and reimbursement rules all affect what you actually pay.

Yes. Existing members can switch to insurance payment where this option is available within the BetterHelp app, go to account settings to switch your payment option to insurance. If you're a new member, you may be able to select insurance as a payment option during the signup flow if providers are available in your state for your insurance plan.

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.

Pricing is based on factors like your location, source, preferences, and therapist availability, and any applicable discounts or promotions.

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.

Eligible members’ average copay is $23 per session. Insurance availability, coverage, and cost may vary by state, plan, provider network, therapist availability, and deductible status. 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.