The 8 Best Online Psychiatry Services That Take Insurance

When choosing an online therapy provider, we recommend that you read the company’s privacy guidelines before you sign up to better understand whether it is HIPAA-compliant and whether it shares any private information with third parties. There have been some concerns raised by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and several government officials about what user health information online therapy providers collect and what they do with any information they collect.

Psychiatric care can be expensive—up to $200 per session or more out-of-pocket—which is why, even when people need mental health medication, they sometimes do not seek treatment. In fact, in the U.S., 55% of people living with a mental illness do not receive treatment. The good news is that if you have health insurance, you might be able to use those benefits if you find an in-network provider. “Psychiatric services can get expensive when you are paying out-of-pocket, and finding someone who is in network with your plan can offset costs significantly,” says Amy Marschall, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist at Resiliency Mental Health.

That said, it isn’t always easy to find a psychiatrist who takes insurance—even when looking online. According to one study, while about 89% of doctors in other specialties take insurance, only around 55% of psychiatrists do, making the search for psychiatric care that much more difficult. To help you find the very best online psychiatry platforms, we worked with three subject matter experts to evaluate 55 online therapy companies and 27 directories, surveying 100 users at each. We also tried and tested each service ourselves. Here are the ones we recommend that not only accept different insurance plans but also are flexible, inclusive, and family-friendly.

Our Online Therapy Methodology

Curious about the extensive work we did to research and evaluate online therapy companies? Take a look at our online therapy methodology.

Compare Our Top Picks
Most Comprehensive Talkiatry	Most Comprehensive Talkiatry	View on talkiatry	See Retailer	Most Comprehensive	Depends on your insurance	Yes. BCBS, Optum, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Medicare, and others	Yes	Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry	Video Chat	Full Review
Best for Depression Talkspace	Best for Depression Talkspace	View on talkspace	See Retailer	Best for Depression	$69 per week for asynchronous text-only therapy, billed as a monthly subscription ($99 to $109 per week for subscriptions with live sessions)	Yes	Yes	Couples Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling	Messaging	Full Review
Best for Anxiety Brightside	Best for Anxiety Brightside	View on brightside	See Retailer	Best for Anxiety	$95-$349 per month, billed as a monthly subscription	Yes	Yes	Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling	Messaging, Video Chat	Full Review
Best for Co-Occurring Conditions Teladoc Health	Best for Co-Occurring Conditions Teladoc Health	View on teladoc	See Retailer	Best for Co-Occurring Conditions	Up to $119 per therapy session, $299 for initial psychiatry appointment and $129 per follow-up	Yes	Yes	Couples Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry	Audio, Video Chat	Full Review
Best for Bipolar Disorder LiveHealth Online	Best for Bipolar Disorder LiveHealth Online	View on livehealthonline	See Retailer	Best for Bipolar Disorder	$85-100 per therapy session; $185 or less for an initial psychiatry session; $80 per follow-up	Yes	Yes	Children’s Therapy, Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling	Video Chat	Full Review
Best for PTSD Doctor on Demand	Best for PTSD Doctor on Demand	View on doctorondemand	See Retailer	Best for PTSD	$129 – $299 per session	Yes	Yes	Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling	Audio, Video Chat	Full Review
Best for Substance Use Mindful Care	Best for Substance Use Mindful Care	View on mindful	See Retailer	Best for Substance Use	$50-$175 for substance use; Individual therapy: $50 for 20-minute sessions, $100 for 40-minute sessions; $35 per group session; $75-$175 for psychiatry session	Yes	No	Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling	Audio, Video Chat	Full Review
Best for OCD LifeStance Health	Best for OCD LifeStance Health	View on lifestance	See Retailer	Best for OCD	Varies by insurance	Yes	Yes	Children’s Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling	Video Chat	Full Review

Guide to Choosing the Best Online Psychiatry That Takes Insurance

Are Online Psychiatry Services Right for for You?

Online psychiatry can help children, teens, and adults with mental health conditions control or diminish their symptoms using psychotropic medication. “Psychiatry is an important component of mental health treatment for many,” says Dr. Marschall. “Psychiatric appointments are typically shorter than therapy sessions and focus on medication management.”

People who are experiencing difficulties with stress, anxiety, grief, anger, or trouble focusing may benefit from seeing an online psychiatrist. If you face barriers to psychiatric care, such as a busy schedule or financial stress, telepsychiatry might be right for you, especially if you need to use insurance to pay for care.

What If I’m Having Thoughts of Harming Myself?

If you are in severe distress or are having thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, online psychiatry is not the right option for you. Instead, call the U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.

The following resources may also help you or someone you know:

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 or reach out via chat or on WhatsApp to talk with a volunteer crisis counselor.
The Trevor Project: Young LGBTQ people can call, chat, or text with a trained crisis counselor.
FindTreatment.gov: Find behavioral health and substance abuse treatment centers in your area with this database compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Online Psychiatry?

Online psychiatry refers to psychiatric care and/or medication management services delivered virtually, typically via video. Your provider may be a board-certified psychiatrist or another licensed prescriber, such as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. They may prescribe medication, which can be delivered to your home or a local pharmacy.

Is Online Psychiatry That Takes Insurance Effective?

Research suggests that online psychiatry can be helpful for people with a wide variety of mental health conditions. For example, telepsychiatry has been found to be effective in treating selected patients with depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Also, studies suggest that online psychiatry can be effective for geriatric (older) patients as well as children and teens facing mental health concerns.

What Are the Benefits of Online Psychiatry That Takes Insurance?
There is evidence that online psychiatry can help to overcome many barriers to mental health care. These barriers may include:
- High costs
- Physical inaccessibility
- Mental health stigma
- Transportation difficulties
- Living in a remote area
- Communication differences
- Busy schedules

What Is the Cost of Online Psychiatry That Takes Insurance?

The cost of online psychiatry varies widely by insurance provider, the type of healthcare provider you’re seeing, and your location. With some Medicare plans, for example, you’ll be expected to pay 20% of the costs of each visit. Without insurance, an initial psychiatry consultation may cost $300 to $500 per visit, followed by $100 to $200 per hour for every follow-up visit.

With insurance, your copayment will vary, but may be in the range of $20 to $40 per visit.

Can Online Psychiatrists Prescribe Controlled Substances?
Yes, qualified online psychiatrists can prescribe controlled substances to treat medical conditions, including mental health conditions. However, not all online mental health platforms allow their providers to prescribe controlled medications, so availability may be limited.

Examples of controlled substances used to treat mental health conditions include:
- Hypnotics, such as Ambien (zolpidem)
- Stimulants, such as Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) and Ritalin (methylphenidate)
- Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan (lorazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam)

What Should You Expect From Online Psychiatry?

An online psychiatry session works similarly to a face-to-face session with a psychiatric care provider. Usually, you’ll sign in through a secure online portal and meet with your provider at an appointed time via video. Your psychiatrist may ask you about your current symptoms, your medical history, and any medications you’re taking, as well as what you’d like to get out of your session.

Methodology

To compile this list, we researched, evaluated, and tested 55 different online therapy and psychiatry companies, specifically focusing on which companies offered psychiatric services as well as which accepted insurance. We further evaluated these companies based on specialty (treatment for specific mental health concerns or specific demographics), the number of insurance plans accepted, availability (number of states), flexibility in scheduling, which medications can be prescribed (such as controlled substances for anxiety or ADHD), and the type of provider available.

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The 8 Best Online Psychiatry Services That Take Insurance