Best online therapy that takes insurance overall: TalkspaceBest online therapy and medication that takes insurance: BrightsideBest online for specialized care: MDLiveBest online therapy for children that takes insurance: LiveHealth Online
Session Types
Talkspace offers two session formats to choose from: messaging and live therapy.
Messaging Therapy
With the messaging therapy plan, you will be matched with a therapist and provided with a private chatroom where you can send text, audio, and video messages. The room is open at all times, and you can send a message whenever you feel the need. Your therapist is required to monitor the room and to respond according to a set schedule five days a week, but they may not do so outside of these scheduled hours. If you message them outside of this schedule, you may have to wait up to 24 hours for a response. If you want real-time interaction with your therapist, you can schedule a live audio, video, or chat session for an additional $65 per session. Talkspace isn’t transparent about how quickly its therapists respond to messages. It states that therapists are quick to respond but that messages sent outside of scheduled hours or late at night may not receive a response until the morning. Additionally, therapists are only required to respond five days a week, which may be a roadblock for someone hoping for a response to a message outside of their therapist’s schedule. Nonetheless, you can send as many messages as you like, even outside of your therapist’s working hours, which may be convenient for people who prefer to get things off their chest as they come up.
Video Plus Messaging Therapy
The video therapy with unlimited messaging subscription offers the same features as the messaging therapy plan, with the addition of four 30-minute live therapy sessions per month. You can access live therapy sessions through the platform via video, audio-only, or live chat.
Video Plus Messaging Plus Workshops
The “video plus messaging plus workshops” subscription gives you access to the same features as the “video plus messaging therapy” subscription, with the addition of live online workshops. Talkspace workshops are live group classes led by licensed therapists during scheduled times on Mondays through Fridays via Zoom. The workshops are not group therapy classes and instead are intended to provide additional guidance on a variety of common issues, such as those related to parenting, relationships, and work stressors, for example. The BBB gives Talkspace a B rating, yet customers who reviewed Talkspace on the BBB gave it 1.09 out of 5 stars.
Cost and Payment Options
Talkspace pricing varies, based on where you live and the availability of therapists who are licensed to practice in your state of residence. Here’s what you can expect to pay without insurance, depending on the subscription you choose:
Messaging Therapy Text, video, and audio messaging starting at $69 per week, $276 per month; discounts for paying quarterly (10 percent) and biannually (20 percent)Video Plus Messaging Therapy Four 30-minute live therapy sessions per month starting at $99 per week, $396 per month; discounts for paying quarterly (10 percent) and biannually (20 percent)Video Plus Messaging Plus Workshops Text, video, and audio messaging plus four 30-minute live therapy sessions per month starting at $109 per week, $436 per month; discounts for paying quarterly (10 percent) and biannually (20 percent)Teen Therapy (Ages 13 to 17) Text, audio, and video messaging for $65 per week, $260 per monthPsychiatrist Sessions $249 for the first consultation, $125 for follow-up visits
What Insurance Does Talkspace Accept?
Talkspace partners with a lengthy list of insurance providers, employer-based insurance plans, and employee assistance programs. Enter the name of your insurance company on the Talkspace partners page to see whether the company accepts your insurance. Read our expert review of the Talkspace online therapy platform for more information. Use Talkspace promo code “EVERYDAYTS” for $100 off your first month.
Session Types
Brightside only offers video therapy. If you choose a plan that includes it, you will have 30-minute sessions every week. Every Brightside therapist uses a CBT approach to therapy, which has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for issues like depression, anxiety, substance use, and eating disorders according to the American Psychological Association. You can schedule your therapy appointments at times that work for both you and your therapist, and you can contact them at any time between appointments through the unlimited messaging feature.
Cost and Payment Options
If you use insurance to pay for your Brightside membership, your exact cost will depend on your individual plan. To confirm the exact amounts you’ll be expected to pay, you should contact your insurance provider to confirm your benefits. If you don’t use insurance, Brightside costs between $95 and $349 per month, depending on the plan you choose. You can pay with Visa and Mastercard credit cards or FSA or HSA dollars. Brightside will charge you monthly from the date you first activate your plan. Here are the three Brightside plan options:
Therapy
Costs $299 per month without insuranceIncludes four 30-minute therapy sessions per month and unlimited messaging to your therapistIncludes access to 10 self-care videos
Medication Management
Costs $95 per month without insuranceMeet with a provider for a comprehensive evaluation to determine if medication is the right fitIncludes unlimited messaging with your psychiatric providerMedications cost $15 if shipped to your door, or the amount of your pharmacy copay if filled at your local pharmacy
Therapy and Medication Management
Costs $349 per month without insuranceIncludes all of the benefits of the therapy and medication plans
What Insurance Does Brightside Accept?
Brightside accepts insurance nationwide for Aetna and Allegiance, and accepts Cigna in all states except Minnesota. It currently only accepts Anthem in California, and is rolling out nationwide coverage for Optum/United Healthcare. During your Brightside sign up process, you can input your insurance information to check your coverage. For more in-depth information, read our Brightside review. Use Brightside promo code “EDH60” for $60 off your first month of cash plans. Consumer ratings also set MDLive apart from other online therapy platforms that take insurance. Consumer review site Trustpilot gives MDLive a TrustScore of 4.2, which is considered excellent. A TrustScore is the overall measurement of reviewer satisfaction based on all the service and location reviews a business receives on Trustpilot on a scale of 1 to 5. MDLive users appreciate the convenience of the therapy, with one Trustpilot review stating, “I’ve always wanted to try therapy but found it difficult to fit into my schedule. I have high hopes for success moving forward because MD Live makes it easy.” We also looked at the BBB ratings, which are based on information that the BBB obtains about a business, including complaints received from the public. The BBB gives MDLive an A+ rating, although it averages 1.05 out of 5 stars from 39 customer reviews. In contrast, the BBB gives Talkspace a B rating and 1.09 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. LiveHealth Online isn’t BBB-rated.
Session Types
MDLive offers sessions by both phone and live video chat. This includes counseling and medication services.
Cost and Payment Options
MDLive charges $108 for a counseling session. For medication management, it charges $284 for the first visit with a psychiatrist and $108 for follow-up appointments. Insurance will lower the cost of therapy, but specific pricing depends on your insurance.
What Insurance Does MDLive Accept?
MDLive accepts most insurance plans, including Cigna, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna. To find out whether MDLive accepts your insurance, you can register for a free account and input your insurance information. Keep in mind, however, that online therapy isn’t for everyone. “While many therapists have successfully engaged children in online therapy, especially during the pandemic, and have done so with much success, it may be harder for kids to remain engaged online,” says Sarah Epstein, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Dallas.
Session Types
LiveHealth Online provides therapy via live video sessions with a therapist or a psychiatrist. Simply sign up using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Once registered, you’ll be able to choose from a list of therapists and doctors who are licensed in your state and schedule an appointment. It’s free to sign up, and there are no monthly subscription fees.
Cost and Payment Options
Without insurance, an initial video session with a LiveHealth Online psychiatrist is $175, with follow-up visits costing $75 each. Video sessions with online therapists are $80 each, and video sessions with online psychologists are $95 each. Insurance will lower the cost of therapy, but specific pricing depends on your insurance.
What Insurance Does LiveHealth Online Accept?
LiveHealth Online’s video sessions are covered by several insurance plans. These include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Empire Blue Cross, and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans. Other plans may cover some of the cost but aren’t considered in network, according to LiveHealth Online.
Do Online Therapy Providers Take Medicare or Medicaid?
Under the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, Medicare plans are required to include online therapy. Medicare Part B will cover online therapy and charge the same for it as in-person therapy. Different states have different rules about covering online therapy under Medicaid, so you need to check your state’s Medicaid plan to see if you could get online therapy with it. If your plan does cover online therapy, the platform you’re interested in using will usually indicate on its website whether it accepts either Medicaid or Medicare.
Other Ways to Save on Online Therapy
If your insurance doesn’t cover online therapy, check with your employer. They may offer an employee assistance program that covers some visits with an online therapy provider. Many online therapy platforms offer a free trial of their services or a monthly subscription plan that may save you money. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also offers various resources for those who are having trouble affording therapy, such as a list of prescription assistance programs for psychiatric medications. Additionally, your local NAMI affiliate may be able to connect you with housing resources and support. In addition, online therapy is not for individuals who have thoughts of hurting themselves or others, as they need immediate professional care. Individuals with severe mental health issues such as mania, psychosis, and traumatic stress response may consider consulting with a professional before engaging in online therapy, since telehealth for people in distress can be challenging, according to an article published in January 2020 in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. In case of an emergency or plans to harm yourself or others, call 911. Some aspects of online therapy and in-person therapy are universal. “The most important factor to know before choosing a therapist, online or otherwise, is fit, both in terms of personality and their approach to treatment,” says Aaron Weiner, PhD, a licensed, board-certified psychologist and master addiction counselor in Chicago. “The biggest difference between online therapy and in-person therapy is that it’s easier to be distracted or disengaged online — all the normal distractions in your environment are still there,” he says. Specifically, online therapy can help with a wide variety of conditions and concerns:
StressAnxietyDepressionRelationshipsParentingAddictionsEatingSleepingTraumaSelf-esteem
Be ready to share your medical history. You don’t need to share every single illness you’ve ever had, but you should at least have a basic rundown of your mental health history and past treatment.Check any equipment you’re going to use for your visit beforehand, so you know it is working properly.Find a private space in your home where you can talk to someone without others overhearing.Make a list of the topics you want to cover and refer to it when speaking to your therapist.Likewise, make a list of things you might want to ask your therapist, like how long they’ve been in practice and how much experience they have in dealing with issues like yours.
Engaged in ongoing independent researchMystery shopped each of the brandsContacted the brands’ customer service teams to ask questions and gauge responsivenessBecame customers of online therapy providers ourselvesReviewed academic research into the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapyRead hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Consumer Reports
Learn more about how we researched and evaluated the best online therapy brands via the methodology page. Together, we’ve researched prominent brands through the experiences of real customers collected by trusted third-party reviews sites such as the BBB and Trustpilot. We’ve also consulted with independent psychologists and other mental health professionals to better understand why people seek out online therapy and read the latest research on the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapy. When evaluating each company, we consider the session types they offer, the modes of therapy they specialize in, the credentials of their therapists, their business reputation and reported customer satisfaction, as well as the ease of registration and how easy it is to use the service. Price, payment options, and whether the company accepts insurance are all crucial components to consider. We always try to recommend a range for all budgets, with special consideration for lower budgets. After our experts have selected the best online therapy platforms on the market, a practicing and independent licensed therapist reviews our picks to audit each company as a whole and ensure that every selection we recommend is appropriate for the users we identify. You can also reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). The SAMHSA help line is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-days-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals facing mental or substance abuse disorders.
