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Looking to use your health benefits to pay for online therapy? HelpGuide’s staff surveyed real users and personally tested the top platforms that accept insurance. Here are our recommendations.
Looking to use your health benefits to pay for online therapy? HelpGuide’s staff surveyed real users and personally tested the top platforms that accept insurance. Here are our recommendations.
We independently test and review all of the services we recommend. When you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our nonprofit mission.
Using insurance to pay for online therapy can substantially lower the cost of mental health care. But with so many different platforms offering therapy services, it can be difficult to know which will accept your insurance plan while also providing the best levels of care. To help you find the service that’s right for you, HelpGuide’s editorial staff researched 51 online therapy platforms that take insurance, surveyed over 900 users of these platforms, and personally tested the nine highest-rated services to rank them on therapist quality, affordability, privacy and security, and overall user experience.
We found that:
Since 1999, HelpGuide has been a trusted non-profit helping millions of people each year improve their mental health. The staff at HelpGuide has always been focused on offering accurate, well-researched information that can actually help our readers. We decided to bring those same principles to reviewing online therapy providers.
HelpGuide’s editors, writers, and support staff spent hundreds of hours over three months gathering data on 51 online therapy services that take insurance, conducting user surveys, and personally testing nine platforms for at least one month each. We also consulted with mental health experts on our Professional Advisory Council about what to look for and the pitfalls to avoid in assessing online therapy platforms, including those that accept insurance.
We gathered and analyzed data on 51 reputable online therapy platforms that take insurance (as well as some online therapist “directories”). The HelpGuide team’s analysis included aspects such as pricing models, cancellation policies, platform certifications, and HIPAA compliance. This helped us identify the online therapy services that offered both the best value for money and safest user experience.
We also examined important factors such as how widely available a platform was across the United States, the different types of therapy it offered, and whether it catered to people with different needs and cultural backgrounds. Once we accumulated and compared all the data, we then set about hand-testing the online therapy platforms with the highest ratings.
HelpGuide is supported by many different types of mental health professionals. We consulted with licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists to help inform our evaluation criteria and how we scored platforms for things like therapist quality, overall care, and ethical standards. We used the input of these mental health professionals to ensure that our reviews truly reflect the issues that matter in a therapeutic setting, such as emotional safety, professional integrity, and clinical effectiveness.
We spent months extensively surveying over 900 real online therapy users who paid using insurance. We quizzed them about their experiences using insurance or paying out-of-pocket on a platform, how empathetic and helpful they found their therapists, how easy to use the platform was, how protected they felt their private information was, and their overall satisfaction.
We also asked users if they experienced any technical problems, how their experiences compared to in-person therapy, how much a platform had helped them make progress towards their personal goals, and whether they’d recommend a service to others. This detailed user feedback helped us develop an online therapy scoring methodology and ensure our recommendations were appropriate for a broad and diverse group of users.
At least one HelpGuide staff member hands-on tested each of our nine highest-rated platforms that accept insurance for four weeks to get a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks. HelpGuide staff experienced each platform as regular users, without disclosing what we were doing or who we worked for.
Each staff tester went through the intake and matching process for every platform and then booked and attended weekly therapy sessions. In the course of our testing, we evaluated how easy the platform was to use, the protocols in place to help users in crisis, and the quality of the therapists. We messaged our therapists between sessions, contacted customer support to gauge their response times, and explored how well a platform protected the privacy of our data and health information. For those platforms that offered extra features, such as group sessions, video lessons, or meditations, we tested them all.
We also went through the process of switching providers, since many users need to try out more than one to find the right fit. At the end of the month of testing, we closed our accounts and noted how billing and refunds are dealt with.
As we tested each platform, our staff members kept weekly journals recording their experiences and completed in-depth questionnaires to help us accurately compare and contrast different online therapy platforms. We then matched notes, shared experiences, and compared our experiences to the users we surveyed.
Therapist quality and matching accuracy
Pricing and value for money
Session types and communication options
Ease of use and platform navigation
Insurance coverage and payment options
Privacy and security
Customer service experience
| Talkspace summary: | Quick insurance check, hour-long appointments, quality providers |
| Average copay: | $15-30 |
| Insurance plans accepted include: | Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, Regence, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield |
| Medicare/Medicaid accepted? | Medicare |
| Therapy types: | Individual |
| Session formats: | Video, audio, and text messaging |
| Time to first session with therapist: | 1-3 days |
| Psychiatry services: | Yes |
We surveyed 100 Talkspace users across the United States and had one of our in-house staff test Talkspace. In our survey results we found that Talkspace scored well on user satisfaction and the quality of therapy. Users described the platform as professional, informative and helpful, reliable and trustworthy, and a great experience overall.
“This was the first therapist I actually trusted and would recommend.”
Survey respondent
“I just needed an outlet to get some of the wilder thoughts out of my head and understand who I truly was.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“I could verify therapy would be covered by insurance before having to create an account, which I really appreciated.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
“Instantly told me what my copay would be ($15).”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Talkspace’s sign-up takes 10 – 20 minutes for most people (80 percent), but getting your insurance approved can take just moments. Here’s how it works:
Enter insurance details (no need to create an account).
Receive approval within minutes, along with insurance copay, if any.
Create an account and begin the sign-up process.
Tested by: Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Talkspace is one of the largest online therapy platforms that accepts insurance, with therapists available all across the United States. The platform is also available in other countries, such as Canada and the UK, although insurance requirements may differ. In the U.S., Talkspace accepts insurance from major providers such as Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, Regence, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. It also accepts Medicare (parts B and C) along with some employee assistance programs (EAPs). If your insurance plan isn’t listed, you may still be able to use Talkspace as an out-of-network provider.
In our May 2025 survey of Talkspace users, more than 70 percent of respondents used insurance to pay for therapy on the platform. While the average copay was $30 or less, 25 percent of our survey respondents had a copay of $0. Not surprisingly, 95 percent of our survey respondents rated Talkspace’s value for money from reasonably good to very good.
Our staff member who tested the platform appreciated that he was able to check his insurance coverage without first having to create a Talkspace account. Some services make you sign up before you even know if your plan is accepted and what your copay would be, which makes comparison shopping much more time consuming. But Talkspace allowed our staff member to enter his insurance details without an account—and then instantly told him he was covered and his copay would be $15 per session. Most of our survey respondents had an equally seamless experience when submitting their insurance details, with only 14 percent rating it as anything less than easy.
If you decide to move ahead after checking your coverage, the sign-up process is similarly straightforward. Some of our survey respondents complained about the length of the questionnaire and the clarity of the questions, but our staff tester disagreed. He felt that the questions about his symptoms, medical background, and therapist preferences were all necessary for accurate matching with a suitable provider.
After signing up, our staff tester was matched within eight hours and was booked his first therapy appointment within two days. This was reflected in our survey of Talkspace users: 65 percent scheduled their first appointment within three days and 90 percent within six days. When you’re struggling with a mental health issue and desperate to talk to someone, the waiting game can be hard, so we appreciate how quickly Talkspace is able to schedule most users.
The first therapist our staff member saw was a very good fit. He felt his therapist was empathetic and nonjudgmental and their sessions were helpful and productive. In our survey, 83 percent of users were also satisfied or very satisfied with their first match. Only 23 percent felt the need to switch therapists at any time, with the majority of those (85 percent) finding the process quick and simple. When switching, you have the opportunity to revise any of your preferences about the type of therapist you’re looking for. The platform then offers you a list of matching therapists to make your selection from.
Data privacy is a valid concern of most online therapy users. In our survey, 79 percent of respondents felt confident or very confident that Talkspace would protect their personal information—but it can take some effort to achieve. After closing his account, our staff tester had to contact customer support and fill out multiple forms to have his information deleted. This could feel challenging when you’re also dealing with a mental health problem. This is a process that Talkspace could make much easier.
Our total score
Based on expert testing and real user feedback
Talkspace allows you to check your insurance coverage and find your copay amount before creating an account. It accepts insurance plans from major providers, and accepts Medicare. It has nationwide coverage and scores highly in user satisfaction.
Bottom line:
Being able to check your insurance coverage without having to first sign-up means Talkspace is always worth exploring when shopping around for the best online therapy platform that takes insurance.
| Brightside Health summary: | Focuses on depression and anxiety, short appointment wait times |
| Average copay: | $0-30 |
| Insurance plans accepted include: | Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter |
| Medicare/Medicaid accepted? | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Therapy types: | Individual, teen |
| Session formats: | Video and messaging |
| Time to first session with therapist: | 1-2 days |
| Psychiatry services: | Yes |
We surveyed over 100 Brightside Health users across the United States and had two of our in-house staff test the platform. In our survey results we found that Brightside’s strengths included value for money and compassionate therapists. Users described Brightside as a platform that has your back and is professional, convenient, and very efficient.
“My experience with this platform was very positive.”
Survey respondent
“I worked through all the personal struggles and problems I was having.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“Very good experience, the platform was easy to navigate and the therapists were knowledgeable and goal driven.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
“Easy to get insurance approved.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Brightside’s sign-up takes under 20 minutes for most people (83 percent), but you can’t check if your insurance will be accepted without creating an account and taking a mental health assessment first. Here’s how it works:
Enter name and zip code.
Complete sign-up and mental health assessment.
Enter insurance details.
Tested by: Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
Tested by: Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Brightside Health is an online therapy platform specializing in depression and anxiety, as well as related disorders such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and insomnia. The service is available in all 50 states and Washington D.C. and accepts major insurance plans such as Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Ambetter. It also accepts some Medicare and Medicaid plans.
Brightside’s website allows you to see which plans are accepted in your state, although you’ll need to create an account to confirm your specific plan covers care and what your copay will be for each session. If your insurance doesn’t cover you on Brightside, the service can provide you with an itemized bill to send to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
74 percent of our May 2025 survey of real Brightside Health users paid for their therapy on the platform using insurance and nearly half of them had no copay. Two of our members of staff tested different services on the platform, one paying out of pocket, one using his insurance. The latter was able to have his insurance coverage and copay per session confirmed very quickly. Our survey respondents had a similar experience with more than three-quarters (82 percent) of those using insurance rating the simplicity of submitting their plan information on Brightside somewhere between “somewhat easy” and “very easy.”
Our staff member who tested therapy on Brightside found that the assessment during the sign-up process was lengthy but thorough. “The intake questions were typical common questions about medications, physical health, family history, and past mental health issues,” he noted. “The intake questions were multiple choice . . . and there were a few opportunities to freely type out what you’re hoping to gain from therapy.” While we saw the comprehensiveness of the intake questionnaires as a positive, not all of our survey respondents agreed. Some were unhappy with the number of questions, the clarity of the wording, and the lack of an option to skip certain questions and return to them later.
Another common complaint was the lack of upfront information about the providers—something that our staff tester also found extremely frustrating. Rather than being matched with a single therapist or a list of possible matches, he was offered a list of available appointments from suitable therapists. By clicking on an appointment time, he could see the provider’s name and their type of license, but was unable to read their bio or any other information about them until after booking an appointment. “It looked like it was designed so that you don’t know anything about your therapist until after you schedule the appointment,” our staff tester noted.
There is a way around this: you can copy and paste the therapist’s name into a search engine to find their bio online. But this is far from a convenient solution. More than 10 percent of our survey respondents identified this as the main aspect of the sign-up process they’d like to see improved.
Our staff member testing therapy on Brightside found his sessions to be a rewarding experience. Despite his first therapist being a good fit, he switched therapists to test how easy the process was—he rated it 5/5 for simplicity. His second therapist was an equally good fit, caring, understanding, and knowledgeable. 85 percent of the Brightside users we surveyed found the right therapist for them within two attempts.
The Brightside Health platform scored high for ease of navigation with our members of staff and our survey respondents (79 percent rated it easy or very easy to navigate). However, our staff member did experience some technical issues during a video session with his second therapist. The therapist’s camera was glitching so badly the session effectively “became a phone call.” Similarly, 17 percent of our survey respondents experienced technical issues on one occasion, 28 percent on multiple occasions. The most common problems were poor video quality and audio issues.
Brightside Health is certified for information security by HITRUST and you can request restrictions on how your protected health information is used and disclosed. However, as with Talkspace, it isn’t an easy process with directions buried in the notice of privacy practices. Overall, though, 86 percent of the users we surveyed, as well as our staff members who used the platform, would use Brightside Health again in the future.
Our total score
Based on expert testing and real user feedback
Brightside Health focuses on depression and anxiety treatment. As well as many major insurance plans, it also accepts Medicare. Same- or next day appointments are often available and the site is HITRUST-certified for security. Transparency about providers could be better, but the platform scores well in overall user satisfaction.
Bottom line:
If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, or a related disorder and covered by insurance or Medicare, Brightside Health could be a solid choice.
| MD Live summary: | Solid privacy protocols, accepts major insurance plans as well as some Medicare and Medicaid plans |
| Average copay: | $0-30 |
| Insurance plans accepted include: | Cigna, Humana, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna |
| Medicare/Medicaid accepted? | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Therapy types: | Individual |
| Session formats: | Video, audio |
| Time to first session with therapist: | 1-3 days |
| Psychiatry services: | Yes |
We surveyed 100 MD Live users across the United States and had one of our in-house staff test the platform. In our survey results and hands-on testing we found that the platform rated highly for therapist quality, but we would’ve liked to have been able to message between sessions. Users described the platform as a very good service, an easy and enjoyable experience, and one that served its purpose.
“My therapist is the best and always there for me.”
Survey respondent
“It has been great, it feels like talking to a friend that really understands and wants to help.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“My therapist was great, the intake session was the most relaxed I have done so far.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
“I had no trouble booking appointments, but was slightly frustrated that I could not message providers in between sessions.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
MD Live’s sign-up takes under 20 minutes for most people (79 percent). You’ll need to create an account in order to check your insurance will be accepted. Here’s how it works:
Create account: Name, email, password, date of birth.
Enter insurance details.
If accepted, complete signup.
Tested by: Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
MD Live is a telehealth platform that offers medical care such as urgent care, primary care, dermatology, and mental health care (both therapy and psychiatry) across the United States, including. The platform accepts major health insurance plans such as Cigna, Humana, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Aetna, although it may not accept all plans from these companies. Since out-of-pocket costs for online therapy tend to be higher on MD Live than many other platforms, we weren’t surprised to learn that 76 percent of MD Live users we surveyed in May 2025 used insurance to pay for their sessions (49 percent with a copay, 27 percent with no copay).
Our member of staff who tested MD Live and found the signup process to be straightforward. After creating an account, he set his location and insurance provider, then answered some very basic intake questions about his mood and health history. He’d liked to have seen more in-depth questioning but he, like 36 percent of our survey respondents, completed the signup process in less than 10 minutes (79 percent of users completed it within 20 minutes).
There’s no algorithm to match you with a therapist on MD Live. You simply enter any criteria you’re looking for in a therapist (such as gender or sexual orientation) and then browse a list of available providers. Our staff member found that while some providers had their upcoming appointment times clearly displayed, others required him to request an appointment. Still, he managed to secure his first appointment within three days. In our survey of MD Live users, 19 percent were able to secure same-day appointments and 47 percent within one to three days. Only eight percent of users had to wait a week or more for their first appointment.
Our staff member couldn’t have been happier with his first choice of therapist. He found his therapist to be extremely knowledgeable and put him at ease straight away. “I honestly felt like I was being heard and understood in therapy for the first time,” our tester said. “We went about 10 minutes over the session time, and he seemed very enthusiastic about helping and really was diving deep into complicated topics.” Our tester’s experiences were reflected in our survey results: 87 percent of MD Live users rated their therapist 4/5 or better and only 13 percent felt the need to switch therapists at any point.
While our tester couldn’t fault the quality of his therapist on MD Live, he did experience some technical issues when using the platform, as did 30 percent of the users we surveyed. The most common issues were the app crashing or freezing, audio problems, and trouble connecting for a scheduled session. When our member of staff was unable to log in to his account, he had to contact customer service to deal with the issue. When he was charged a $50 cancellation fee because the platform mistakenly scheduled an appointment for the wrong time zone, he had to contact customer service again. While everything was rectified, he found it to be a slow and frustrating process. Our survey respondents agreed: 49 percent of users who contacted MD Live customer support had to wait at least two days for a response.
Another frustration our staff member experienced was not being able to message his therapist between sessions. It can be useful to update your therapist on your progress or to clarify an exercise or simply let them know you’re running late for an appointment. Unfortunately, MD Live doesn’t offer such a feature.
When it comes to privacy, though, we think MD Live does a much better job. The platform is HITRUST-certified for security and privacy and accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an organization that evaluates the quality of health care. Not surprisingly, 83 percent of our surveyed users felt confident that MD Live would protect their personal information.
Overall, we feel comfortable recommending MD Live due to its nationwide coverage, acceptance of major insurance plans, and, most importantly, the quality of therapists available on the platform.
Our total score
Based on expert testing and real user feedback
MD Live is available nationwide and accepts major insurance plans as well as some Medicare and Medicaid plans. Both our tester and the users we surveyed were impressed by the quality of the therapists and the privacy protocols in place. While it can be expensive if you’re paying out of pocket, we think MD Live is worth considering if you have insurance.
Bottom line:
Being unable to message therapists between sessions means this platform is not right for everyone, but there’s still plenty to recommend about MD Live if you have insurance, including quality of care.
| Amwell summary: | Fast signup, HITRUST, NCQU, and URAC-accredited |
| Average copay: | $0-30 |
| Insurance plans accepted include: | Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Anthem, UnitedHealthCare |
| Medicare/Medicaid accepted? | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Therapy types: | Individual |
| Session formats: | Video, audio, and text messaging |
| Time to first session with therapist: | 1-3 days |
| Psychiatry services: | Yes |
We surveyed 100 Amwell users across the United States and had one of our in-house staff test the platform. In our survey results we found that most users felt Amwell was likely to protect their personal information and were able to find empathetic and understanding therapists. Users described the platform as a great product, simple, helpful, and a positive experience.
“My experience was really great. The sign up process was super easy and I was able to get an appointment the same day.”
Survey respondent
“It was well worth it. My therapist was very trusting and compassionate.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“Appreciated the patient notes sent after every session—simple but very useful.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
“The therapist had excellent insights.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Amwell’s sign-up takes under 20 minutes for most people (78 percent), and you’re able to check if your insurance is accepted as soon as you’ve created an account—no need to take a mental health assessment first. Here’s how it works:
Enter name, email address, and create a password.
Enter state of residence, date of birth, and gender.
Enter insurance health plan and subscriber ID.
Tested by: Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Amwell is a nationwide U.S. telehealth platform that allows you to consult with medical providers, including online therapists and psychiatrists. Amwell accepts a number of different insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Anthem, and UnitedHealthCare, along with both Medicare and Medicaid.
Our staff member testing the platform described it as a “no frills” platform, simple to use but lacking many of the extra features offered by competing platforms. While he found the choice of therapists limited—resulting in Amwell just missing out on one of our picks for overall Best Online Therapy Platforms—he was impressed by the quality of providers, along with the site’s privacy protocols.
You have to create an account in order to verify that Amwell accepts your insurance or to browse providers. However, there are no mental health questionnaires or detailed onboarding at this stage—that is all done once you’ve booked your first appointment with a therapist. 88 percent of our May 2025 survey respondents felt the signup process was easy or very easy, with the vast majority (78 percent) completing the process within 20 minutes and 64 percent securing their first appointment within three days.
Like an online directory, instead of being matched with a therapist, you get to choose your provider from a list. While providers set their own fees, they are clearly displayed on their profiles, along with information on the therapist’s background and qualifications. Our staff member testing the platform found that most therapists charged $109 per session if you’re paying out-of-pocket. That’s notably more expensive than many subscription-based online therapy services, so we weren’t surprised to learn that 77 percent of our survey respondents paid for therapy on Amwell using insurance. Of those, 40 percent weren’t charged an insurance copay.
When you’re browsing a list of providers in your area, the platform allows you to narrow your choices by filtering the therapists by gender, language, and specialty. However, we suspect that won’t be necessary for most users. Testing in California, our staff member was offered a choice of only five therapists. In states with smaller populations, we suspect there may be even less choice. For our tester, this was the major drawback to Amwell. Despite this limited selection, our staff member found an excellent therapist. Similarly, 86 percent of our survey respondents also reported high satisfaction with their therapist, with most (86 percent) finding the right match with the first or second therapist they tried.
An hour before his first session, the site offered our staff member the chance to test his computer to ensure the camera and mic. were all working, and the speed of his internet connection was fast enough for a live video call. If your connection is too slow, this gives you the opportunity to switch to a phone therapy session rather than endure an interrupted video session. As our tester noted, though, it’s important to join your therapy sessions early on Amwell as you have to complete short questionnaires before each session can start. The platform did send a reminder to start the session about 10 minutes before the appointment time—but didn’t explain why. The questionnaires cover background information, how you’re feeling, and crisis screening. The platform also requires you to list an address and phone number where you’re located for the session. If you experience a crisis during the session, the therapist can summon immediate help.
Our member of staff’s experiences with his providers on the platform were positive. He felt his first therapist in particular was very understanding, empathetic, and helpful. “The therapist had excellent insights and explained some very useful CBT exercises.”
After each session, the platform messaged him a “visit summary” with the therapist’s notes. He found this a very useful tool. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a mental health issue, you don’t need to worry about taking notes during the session and it allows you to check that there was no miscommunication with your therapist. It also works as a reminder of any strategies discussed or homework tasks you were assigned.
When it comes to privacy, Amwell is HITRUST-certified for information security. Two organizations that evaluate the quality of health care, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) have accredited Amwell, further indicating the quality of its health care practices. 84 percent of our survey respondents felt confident or very confident that Amwell would protect their personal information.
Our total score
Based on expert testing and real user feedback
Amwell doesn’t offer as wide a selection of therapists as some other platforms, but the quick sign-up means it’s worth checking out the number of providers in your area. The therapists it does offer seem well-qualified and score highly in user satisfaction. The privacy protocols are as good as any platform we’ve tested and it accepts insurance plans from many different providers, as well as Medicare and Medicaid.
Bottom line:
Therapist selection may be thin in certain states but the quick and easy signup, privacy protocols, and quality of providers means it’s worth checking to see if your insurance is accepted.
We tested a lot of online therapy platforms that we were unable to endorse. However, in addition to the above picks, we also tested another platform that just missed the cut but may be a good choice for certain users.
Thriveworks offers individual therapy, couples counseling, and psychiatry services in the District of Columbia and every state except for Vermont. Out-of-pocket prices can be expensive, ranging from $200 to $240 for the first session and $160 to $195 for follow-up sessions. Thriveworks does accept many major insurance plans, though, including Blue Cross, Anthem, Optum, United, Aetna, Cigna, and Humana. It also accepts Medicare (but not Medicaid). If your insurance is covered, your copay could be much lower, $0 to $55, making Thriveworks one you may want to consider.
Our member of staff who tested the platform liked that he could preview providers before even creating an account. However, he also found that the selection of therapists was very limited, many weren’t accepting new clients, and he had to call customer service in order to book an appointment. In our May 2025 survey of Thriveworks users, we found that 35 percent had to wait at least four to six days (some more than two weeks) for their first appointment.
As with 32 percent of our survey respondents, our member of staff also experienced some technical issues when using the service. There weren’t enough positives in our testing or survey results to make Thriveworks one of our top picks for an online therapy platform that accepts insurance. However, since you can preview available providers in your area, if you find one who looks to be a good fit, accepts your insurance, and has upcoming availability, Thriveworks could still be a good choice.
We believe it’s important to be transparent with our readers when it comes to platforms we tested but didn’t make our list of recommendations. Based on our research and analysis, user surveys, and staff testing, the following platforms that accept insurance didn’t score as well as our recommendations above.
LiveHealth Online is a telehealth service offering both medical and mental health care across the U.S. Since it is owned by Anthem, Inc., it accepts most Anthem medical health plans, such as Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
In our May 2025 survey of LiveHealth users, 87 percent of respondents used insurance to pay for therapy on the platform. Your co-pay may vary according to your plan, but it’s likely to be the same as an in-office co-pay. 35 percent of our survey respondents had a co-pay of $0. Submitting your insurance information on LiveHealth is also straightforward. 74 percent of the users we surveyed rated it somewhat easy, easy, or very easy.
The qualities valued most in a therapist by the LiveHealth users we surveyed were “active listening” and “empathy and compassion.” Our staff member who tested the platform for a month, felt his first therapist offered those qualities, describing him as “caring and a good listener.” However, he felt that was a case of good fortune as he was only offered one therapist to “choose” from. Our tester wasn’t able to search for a therapist by gender, race, or qualifications, which some users may find very restrictive. Our tester also struggled to book a timely follow-up appointment, the only time slot available being three weeks away.
Our staff tester was more impressed by the LiveHealth website and app, agreeing with 84 percent of our survey respondents who rated them easy or very easy to navigate. However, when asked if he’d recommend the platform to a loved one, he responded, “No, I would tell them that there are better online therapy platforms.” Other platforms are covered by a wider selection of health plans, too. However, LiveHealth may still be a convenient option if you have an Anthem health plan.
Telehealth service Doctor on Demand accepts health insurance plans from many different providers to cover the cost of individual, couples, and teen therapy. Since out-of-pocket costs are expensive ($184 for a 50-minute session), it’s no surprise that 82 percent of our May 2025 survey of Doctor on Demand users used their health benefits to pay for therapy. Only 17 percent thought that submitting their insurance information on the platform was hard.
After creating an account and completing the intake form, our staff member testing the platform noted that she had the option to search for a licensed LGBTQ+ therapist. She also appreciated being able to search for a therapist by specialty—ADHD, anxiety, depression, gender identity, or trauma. However, even if you’re struggling with multiple issues—gender identity and anxiety, for example—you can only select one filter.
The first therapist our staff tester chose wasn’t a great fit. She felt the therapist’s empathy and listening skills were inconsistent. She likened the first session to “talking to someone I just met and getting to know them, but not for my own benefit.” When our tester attempted to change therapists, she ran into technical problems—unable to choose a new therapist or book a second appointment with the first therapist. Doctor on Demand’s customer service was unable to help her so she was left feeling very frustrated. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed by a mental health issue, this could be a major obstacle to getting the help you need.
Nearly a third (32 percent) of our survey respondents also reported experiencing technical issues with Doctor on Demand. These ranged from difficulty logging in for an appointment to poor audio or video quality. However, only 18 percent felt the need to contact customer service, and of those, nearly 90 percent had their issues satisfactorily resolved. Still, our overall testing, surveys, and research ranked other platforms above Doctor on Demand.
Cerebral is a subscription-based platform offering individual and couples therapy, as well as medication management. The platform accepts a number of major insurance plans, such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and United Healthcare. Once you’ve created an account on the site, it’s a simple process to check if you’re covered and find out what your co-pay will be. In our May, 2025 survey of cerebral users, 78 percent opted to pay for therapy using insurance—51 percent had a co-pay, 27 percent had no co-pay.
While 83 percent of our survey respondents said they were likely to recommend Cerebral to others, our staff member testing the platform had some concerns. The first batch of “therapist” matches he was offered were in fact “associates” working under the supervision of a fully-qualified therapist—they’d completed the education part of their license and were gaining clinical experience. He felt that Cerebral could have been more transparent about this and offered therapy from an associate at a discounted rate. As it is, Cerebral charges the same fee whether you see a licensed or unlicensed therapist. Our staff member had to contact customer service in order to have his matches upgraded to fully-licensed therapists.
A second concern arose when our tester messaged his provider on the Cerebral platform. He received an automated reply informing him that his message was also being viewed by other undisclosed staff at Cerebral. This took him by surprise as other online therapy platforms ensure that the messages between patient and provider are secure. Cerebral remains a popular platform, but we feel that other platforms are worth considering first when using your insurance to pay for online therapy.
While many insurance companies in the U.S. now cover online therapy, the number and types of limits can vary wildly according to your plan, so it’s important to first check your coverage to avoid any expensive surprises.
You can visit your insurance company’s website or call the number on the back of your card to verify your coverage, copay, and any remaining deductible. Your insurance company should also be able to provide a list of therapists in your network, some of whom may offer online therapy.
If you prefer to use an online therapy platform that accepts insurance, you’ll want to check:
Some insurance plans only cover in-person therapy, in which case your insurance company can provide you with a list of in-network providers.
If your plan doesn’t cover any type of therapy, you haven’t reached your deductible, or you’re struggling to afford insurance co-pays, you may be able to find lower cost care. Some platforms offer affordable self-pay costs, others offer financial aid to lower income users, or first month discounts. You can read our recommendations in our guide to the Best Online Therapy Platforms.
You may also be able to find affordable therapy from these sources:
The following services offer therapists who cater to specific groups. Since they are directories, each therapist sets their own pricing structure, including which insurance plans they accept.
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network provides a directory of mental health practitioners with a focus on the queer and trans people of color (QTPoC) community.
Therapy for Black Girls offers resources for women of color.
Therapy for Black Men lists therapists catering to Black men and boys.
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