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Online addiction counseling and therapy have virtually exploded in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic began. While the pandemic, unfortunately, created its own mental health crisis, it also highlighted the growing need for more accessible mental health and substance abuse care. Even though in-person therapy has resumed, it seems that virtual therapy is here to stay.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of apps and online health platforms offering some form of therapy. The services provided range from standard counseling to receiving prescriptions from licensed psychiatrists.

Some prominent online therapy providers include:

Talkspace
Online-Therapy.com
Teen Counseling
AmWell
ReGain Counseling
BetterHelp

Fortunately, insurance companies have responded and expanded their coverage to include most of these apps and platforms. Many of the most popular online mental health services forums are covered partially or entirely by major insurance companies.

Why Should I Try Online Therapy?

Online therapy has both pros and cons, but one of the main pros is that it’s made therapy significantly more accessible to people with tight schedules, people with disabilities, and people in more rural areas. Some other benefits include:

you can attend therapy at home, school, or even at work
no need to deal with transportation
limited or no wait times for appointments
lower costs than traditional therapy
therapists are available at all times of the day

How to Find Out if You’re Covered

The first step is to check out the online therapy platform of your choosing and see if they have a link discussing insurance. Some major platforms, like BetterHelp, do not accept any insurance and function entirely on a subscription model. You can, however, try getting reimbursed by your insurance for using this service. Other online therapy providers like Talkspace do accept most major insurances. Some employers even provide this as a benefit.

If you’re seeking virtual therapy through a local therapist’s office, the easiest way to find out if your insurance will cover sessions is to call them and ask. They can also give you pricing ranges for consultations and regular sessions with counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

Once you have an idea of which therapist or platform you may be interested in, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance provider directly. You can use this opportunity to find out if you have benefits or coverage for online therapy and whether you can expect any copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs. Your insurance provider can also tell you if there are any specific therapists that are in-network to help you avoid out-of-network fees.

Here are some of the major health insurance providers that cover online therapy:

Aetna currently covers telehealth for mental health problems
Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Anthem, covers video telehealth sessions
Cigna plans vary, but most cover virtual health visits for mental illnesses
Humana covers most or all of online therapy costs
Tricare fully covers all virtual mental health services
United Healthcare is currently covering online therapy at the same rates as in-person therapy, though this may end soon

If you have Medicaid or Medicare, you’re in luck — almost every state has expanded their coverage to include online therapy. There are a few who still may not cover certain services though, so call the number on your insurance card to verify coverage before scheduling an appointment.

The Next Step

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, so breaking it down into a step-by-step process can be helpful. Getting your insurance sorted out and choosing a therapist is half the battle. Once that’s over, you can focus on what truly matters: achieving your mental health goals and getting on track to a healthier, happier life.

We all know that we need healthcare coverage. But a lot of us don’t know much beyond that. Really, it isn’t our fault. This is an industry full of very specific terminology, complex policy language, and gobbledygook jargon.

What exactly does all this stuff mean? Do most people really even know? Or are they just pretending and faking it to sound smart?

If you’ve ever found yourself asking these questions, don’t worry. You are not alone. Millions of other people don’t understand all these terms and phrases either.

Frankly, if you tried to learn them all, you wouldn’t have time for anything else. So it isn’t actually necessary to become the world’s foremost expert. Yes, the more info you have, the easier it will be to get the absolute best health insurance for your needs. But if you just start by learning the following six key terms, you will be able to obtain great coverage for the first time or switch to a new plan that works for you.

1. Premium

In practical terms, premium is another word for price. This is how much you will pay at regular intervals, usually every month, to maintain a policy and continue having coverage under any health insurance plan. For most people, it is the biggest cost factor to consider.

2. Deductible

Within most health insurance plans, you are responsible for paying some initial costs each year — up to a point. This amount is known as a deductible. If you coverage has a $1,000 annual deductible, for example, this means that you will personally have to pay for the first $1,000 before your coverage kicks in to pay for anything above that (as long as it’s covered by the policy). Some plans have no deductibles, but these are less common and usually come with higher premiums.

3. Copayment

A copayment is the charge you incur for certain services even after your deductible is met. It is typically a relatively small fee, such as $30 for each doctor’s visit and perhaps twice that figure to see a specialist. Copays are often referred to as “out-of-pocket” costs and mean that you typically pay more if you seek care more often.

4. Enrollment Period

Most health insurance providers have certain times — sometimes only once per year — when you can obtain a policy, switch plans, or make substantial changes to your current coverage. These enrollment periods, or open enrollment periods, can differ from plan to plan. Some will be based upon the calendar and allow you to enroll in the fall, for example, while programs like Medicare have an enrollment period surrounding your 65th birthday.

5. Eligibility

Some types of plans are only available to certain groups. This can be based upon factors like your location or demographic. Medicare eligibility, for example, is typically reserved for U.S. citizens and certain other residents who are at least 65 years old or who have been diagnosed with specific chronic conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

6. Medicare Advantage

While everyone eligible for Medicare can enroll in what is known as Medicare Part A and Part B — the two components of “Original Medicare” — there are also supplemental coverages offered by a range of leading providers. These are often called Medicare Advantage plans and fall under Medicare Part C and Part D. In addition to offering patients access to more doctors across a wider network, many Medicare Advantage plans allow you to see a specialist directly without a referral and cover the full cost of pharmaceuticals.

Knowing is Half the Battle

Health insurance can be confusing. There will always be some things that we don’t understand. If we’re being honest, even the people who write the policies might not know it all. But the important thing to remember is to not get bogged down in all the details.

The biggest factors to consider before obtaining any plan are the ones that will affect your coverage the most. For most people these will be the cost considerations, including premiums, deductible, and copays, as well as key policy terms like eligibility, enrollment periods, and supplement coverage options in the form of Medicare Advantage plans.

You should always try to know as much as possible about your plan before you actually sign the paperwork and enroll. If might help to talk to an expert in the field. But if you start by comparing these headline factors as you look for the right plan, you will be able to start narrowing down your options and find one that is best for you.

Does Insurance Cover Virtual Therapy?

6 Terms You Need to Know About Health Insurance Before Switching Plans