Best Online Psychiatry That Takes Insurance

Talkiatry offers comprehensive, personalized psychiatry and medication management services to people of all ages, including children as young as five years old, and accepts most major insurance plans—which is highly unusual in the world of psychiatry. The company’s providers treat a wide variety of mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, substance use disorder (SUD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Talkiatry’s extensive range of services, types of patients treated, and the sheer number of insurance plans accepted stand it apart from its competitors in the online psychiatry field.

Co-founded by a (then-frustrated) patient and a triple-board-certified psychiatrist, Talkiatry’s goal is to make it easier for patients to access affordable psychiatric care that is covered by their insurance. The company website asserts that its practitioners only see patients whose insurance they accept, though there are a small number of plans that aren't in network. It’s easy to check whether Talkiatry accepts your insurance: Just visit the insurance section on the company website and enter your provider and plan information. 

After filling out an online assessment, you’ll be matched with one of Talkiatry’s 300 board-certified psychiatrists and meet with them regularly via video chat on a HIPAA-compliant digital platform. In between visits, you can message your psychiatrist through Healow, a third-party app.

Most Talkiatry patients can have their first appointment (typically one hour for the first session, followed by 30 minutes per follow-up visit) in five days or less. If medication is necessary to treat your condition, your prescriptions can be shipped to your local pharmacy. If your psychiatrist believes that you’d benefit from talk therapy, they can refer you to one of Talkiatry’s licensed therapists for additional ongoing support.

The prices at Talkiatry vary widely because the company doesn’t allow patients to pay out-of-pocket. If you’d like an estimate of your potential copay, Talkiatry suggests that you contact your insurer directly.

Talkiatry is in-network with over 60 insurers, including:

• Aetna
• Beacon
• Bind
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• ComPsych
• Human
  
• Medicare
  
• Oscar
  
• United Healthcare
  

However, Talkiatry doesn’t accept Medicaid plans at this time. 

Among the 105 users we surveyed, impressions of Talkiatry were overwhelmingly positive. Ninety-five percent of Talkiatry users rated the service positively (as good, very good, or excellent). 

Eighty-one percent of users said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the company’s available providers, and 91% rated their qualifications as good to excellent. Finally, the majority of users (59%) said they were likely to continue seeing their Talkiatry psychiatrist for 12 months or more. 

Our reviewer of Talkiatry was “overwhelmingly impressed with the quality of the providers at the company,” specifically noting that it “is very focused on delivering accessible, affordable care, but also quality care.” In particular, the thoroughness of the service stood out to him, as “both the intake and the sessions at the company are long and thorough, allowing your psychiatrist the time to really get to know you and diagnose you accurately.”

Talkspace is one of the largest and most popular online mental health platforms that accepts insurance, and offers psychiatry and medication management services to adults ages 18 and up. With its wide range of psychiatrists, it’s easy to find a provider who specializes in depression—in fact, the very first question on Talkspace’s intake assessment for its psychiatry services lets you indicate that you are specifically seeking help for depression. Right off the bat, you're guaranteed to be connected with a provider who will meet your needs—and who accepts your insurance.

After completing the assessment, you’ll be matched with one of Talkspace’s licensed prescribers, which include both psychiatrists and nurse practitioners. You can meet with the same provider every time, scheduling video sessions with them directly through a HIPAA-compliant portal. You can also book a psychiatry appointment as soon as two days after signing up for a Talkspace account. Between sessions, it’s easy to reach out to your provider at any time through the Talkspace app or website. 

In addition to depression, Talkspace’s providers treat many other common conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, social anxiety, and panic disorder—all of which often accompany depression. You can book multiple sessions at a time, up to three months in advance, which may help you to build a stronger therapeutic relationship with your psychiatrist while you work together to treat your depressive symptoms. Talkspace also offers talk therapy, which may complement your psychiatric care and medication management services in treating depression. 

Talkspace works with over 100 insurers, including:

• Aetna
• Allegiance Benefit Plan Management
  
• Cigna
• Gatorcare
  
• Northwest Venture Partner Insurance
  

If you’re not covered by insurance, Talkspace also accepts HSA/FSA payments. 

Without insurance, an initial psychiatric evaluation at Talkspace costs $299, followed by $175 per appointment. Discounts for new clients are available for bundled psychiatry sessions at the following out-of-pocket prices:

• Initial evaluation and 1 follow-up visit: $435
• Initial evaluation and 3 follow-up visits: $735
  

Existing clients can purchase the following discounted packages:

• 3 follow-up visits: $475
• 6 follow-up visits: $890
• 9 follow-up visits: $1,260

In our user survey, 90% of Talkspace customers rated their overall experience with the company as good, very good, or excellent. Meanwhile, 90% of users rated the platform’s psychiatry and medication management services positively (as good or better).

Talkspace users seemed particularly impressed with the user-friendliness of the service: Seventy-six percent of users said the sign-up process was easy or very easy. Similarly, 82% of users described the website as easy or very easy to navigate. Forty-five percent of the 105 users we reviewed sought out services through Talkspace specifically for depression.

Our reviewer of Talkspace was impressed by the convenience of the service, noting that you can access a provider within a day or two after signing up—and explaining that this is “a huge benefit if you have been struggling for a while with your depression or anxiety.”

Available in all 50 U.S. states, Brightside stands out from many of its competitors because of its tailored focus on anxiety. This growing telehealth company offers customized care plans to people ages 18 and over with mental health conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, social anxiety, and panic disorder. It is also in-network with some of the country’s biggest insurance companies, making treatment for your anxiety all the more accessible.

Start your Brightside journey by completing an online assessment and then get matched with a qualified provider (a physician, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or licensed therapist) who will work with you one-on-one to craft a treatment plan that may include medication, talk therapy, or both. To treat symptoms of anxiety, Brightside’s providers often prescribe medications like serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—antidepressants that have been proven effective in the treatment of anxiety. 

However, it is important to note that Brightside cannot prescribe controlled substances such as benzodiazepines, which are often used to treat anxiety, because these medications can be habit-forming and require a higher level of supervision than Brightside’s online services can provide. 

Brightside is also unique in that it offers specialized crisis care to people experiencing severe distress and/or suicidal ideation. This program, available in a limited number of states, is only payable through insurance.

Brightside is HSA/FSA-eligible and works with the following insurers:

• Aetna
• Allegiance
• Anthem CA
• Cigna/Evernorth
• Optum/United Healthcare
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
• PEHP

Users seeking specialized crisis care can only pay through their insurance. 

Self-pay Brightside users can purchase one of the following plans:

• Medication only: Diagnosis, mediation, and treatment plan for $95 per month
• Therapy only: Weekly therapy sessions and unlimited messaging for $299 per month
• Medication and therapy: $349 per month

Most of the users we surveyed rated Brightside highly, especially when it comes to medication management and psychiatry services. 

Ninety-three percent of Brightside users said they would rate the company’s medication management and psychiatric care as good, very good, or excellent—this percentage was among the highest across the 55 different online therapy and psychiatry companies whose users we surveyed. Likewise, 83% of users rated the qualifications of their licensed prescriber as good to excellent, and 74% rated their prescriber’s bedside manner positively. Sixty percent of our surveyed users turned to Brightside for help with anxiety, speaking to the company’s specialization and expertise in this area.

Our reviewer of Brightside thought both therapists they met with offered outstanding care, explaining that “they were kind and responsive, and my first therapist used the chat feature accessible in the portal to send me helpful worksheets on issues we had discussed after our session”—resources that can be especially helpful to those with anxiety who need to practice coping skills between sessions. 

Available in all 50 U.S. states and Canada (as well as internationally through the Global Care program), Teladoc is a telehealth platform with a truly comprehensive approach to care. Talk therapy with licensed therapists is available for adults and teens ages 13-17, while psychiatry and medication management services are available for people ages 18 and over with board-certified psychiatrists. Teladoc is in-network with a slew of insurance plans, making its services even more accessible to those seeking care. You can search directly on the Teladoc website to see if it accepts your plan, so you know immediately if Teladoc is right for you.

According to the Teladoc website, the most common mental health conditions treated by the company’s providers include depression, ADHD, anxiety disorders, phobias, adjustment disorders, trauma, PTSD, and OCD. Outside of mental health, the company’s offerings include primary care, pediatric care, dermatology, and nutritional counseling. This means that people with co-occurring (comorbid) or chronic conditions—whether mental, physical, or both—can work with Teladoc Health to access ongoing care in a variety of areas. 

Teladoc is more versatile and convenient than many of its competitors. The company’s wide network of providers allows for flexible availability, including nights and weekends. You can also switch providers and cancel or reschedule appointments easily on the Teladoc website or app. Users can choose from video or phone sessions, making it a good option for people who prefer not to meet face to face. 

Teladoc works with many major insurance providers, including Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield. However, it doesn’t list all the insurance plans it works with upfront; you’ll have to sign up and enter your insurance information to find out if you’re covered.

Teladoc Health is also HSA/FSA-eligible and works with many Medicaid managed care and Medicare Advantage plans. 

Without insurance, a 45-minute psychiatric evaluation at Teladoc Health costs $299, and follow up visits are often shorter. 

Most of the Teladoc users we surveyed had a positive experience with psychiatric care and medication management services, with 91% rating them as good, very good, or excellent. In fact, 89% said they were likely or very likely to recommend the company’s psychiatry and medication management services to someone else. 

Seventy-five percent of Teladoc users described their prescriber’s bedside manner as good or very good, and 72% said their prescriber took the time to really listen to them. Similarly, 82% of users reported that their prescriber “really took the time to evaluate [their] mental health” before prescribing medication. 

Our Teladoc reviewer reported a high level of satisfaction with the care they received, explaining that, “while the therapists I tried were different from one another in their individual styles and approaches, they both felt qualified, warm, caring, and attentive to my needs.” Additionally, she noted that “they were available at times that suited my busy schedule, responded to my messages quickly, and worked to accommodate my needs.”

Unfortunately, many telepsychiatry platforms can’t treat or prescribe medication to people with bipolar disorder and other more serious mood disorders, as these conditions often require a higher level of supervision and care than online companies can provide. LiveHealth Online is an exception, offering many board-certified psychiatrists who specialize in diagnosing and treating people with bipolar I or II. You can choose your own provider, which makes it easier to connect with someone who has directly relevant experience. And LiveHealth Online works with many major insurance providers and plans, making this specialized treatment for those living with bipolar disorder that much more accessible and affordable.

Many people with bipolar disorder need ongoing psychotherapy and medication management services, both of which are available at LiveHealth Online. You can easily schedule visits with the same provider every time via the LiveHealth Online app or website. Users can also supplement their psychiatric care with talk therapy through the platform if needed.

Founded in 2012 through a collaboration between the insurance provider Anthem, Inc. and Amwell (another telehealth company), LiveHealth Online is a comprehensive telemedicine platform that offers urgent care visits with board-certified physicians as well as talk therapy, medication management services, and psychiatric care from qualified providers. 

LiveHealth Online works with a wide variety of insurers, including Medicaid, Medicare, and others including:

• Amerigroup
• Anthem
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Simply Healthcare Plans
• UniCare

LiveHealth Online is also HSA/FSA-eligible. 

The platform’s self-pay costs are also affordable in comparison to many of its competitors. A consultation with a LiveHealth Online psychiatrist costs $175, followed by $75 for every additional follow-up visit. 

Ninety percent of the LiveHealth Online users we surveyed rated their experience with the platform as good, very good, or excellent. When asked if they would recommend the platform to someone else, 87% said they were likely or very likely to do so. Eleven percent of users were seeking treatment for bipolar disorder through LiveHealth.

Many of the LiveHealth Online users in our survey pointed to the company’s convenience and flexibility when asked about its best features. Slightly less than a quarter of users (23%) primarily chose LiveHealth Online because of the availability of evening, weekend, and early morning appointments, and another 24% were looking for online scheduling. Meanwhile, 90% of users rated the platform’s helpfulness in connecting them to a therapist as excellent, very good, or good.

Our reviewer of LiveHealth Online was also impressed with the convenience of this company’s services, and specifically, the ability to change providers if your first isn’t the right fit. “Switching therapists can be difficult and even awkward on other mental health platforms,” she noted, “so I found this step refreshingly easy.” 

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious mental health condition that can make daily functioning extremely difficult. And the last thing you need to worry about when living with PTSD is whether you can afford mental health care. Doctor on Demand lists post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as one of its primary mental health care specialties, and many of the company’s providers have specialized education and experience in treating people with PTSD and/or symptoms related to trauma. The company also accepts a wide range of insurance plans, making affordable PTSD treatment available to almost anyone who needs it.

Many people with PTSD benefit from the type of collaborative care model that Doctor on Demand embraces. This model of care allows various providers—such as primary care providers (PCPs), psychiatrists, and therapists—to share notes and offer recommendations in order to craft a personalized, comprehensive care plan. Unlike many other telehealth platforms, Doctor on Demand also offers family, couples, and group therapy, which may be especially helpful for people who have experienced trauma.

Doctor on Demand, part of Included Health, is a holistic telehealth platform that offers psychiatry and medication management services to patients of all ages, including kids and teens. Talk therapy and 24/7 urgent care visits round out the company’s offerings. The platform’s board-certified psychiatrists and licensed therapists have 15 years of experience on average, and all mental health care providers undergo a thorough vetting process and background check before being hired. 

After signing up for Doctor on Demand, you can easily select your own provider on the company’s website or app and select a time for your first session. To schedule a therapy or psychiatry session for your child or teen, simply add them to your account and start managing their care. 

Doctor on Demand works with many insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and some Medicaid and Medicare plans. You’ll need to sign up for an account to see the full list of insurance providers and plans accepted by the platform. 

For self-pay users, a 45-minute psychiatric consultation at Doctor on Demand costs $299. Each 15-minute follow-up visit costs $129.

Our user survey found that our 105 Doctor on Demand users were largely satisfied with the care they received through the platform. Ninety-four percent of users said their experience with the company was good, very good, or excellent, and 70% said they would consider seeking mental health care at Doctor on Demand again—a far higher percentage than at many of its competitors.

A quarter of the Doctor on Demand users we surveyed used the company’s psychiatry and medication management services. Eighty-four percent of users rated the psychiatric care they received through the platform as good, very good, or excellent, and 90% of users also described their prescriber’s qualifications positively (i.e., as good or better). Notably, a full 17% of users said they were looking for treatment for trauma through Doctor on Demand, a percentage far higher than at any other company we reviewed.

Our Doctor on Demand reviewer reported that its services stood up against the care offered by other similar companies, noting specifically that her therapist “offered helpful insight into my issues and practical solutions, which I appreciated.” She also pointed out that signing up for an appointment with a psychiatrist at Doctor on Demand is just as simple as finding a therapist.

Mindful Care adopts a “whole-person” approach to substance abuse by offering medication-assisted treatment and psychiatric urgent care both in-person and online, including individual therapy, group therapy, and substance abuse counseling. Ongoing psychiatric care and medication management services are available at Mindful Care for patients ages 12 and up. Medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders might include the prescription of naltrexone for alcohol use or buprenorphine for opioid use.

In addition, Mindful Care’s providers can also prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines, and other medications to treat common mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and PTSD that can accompany substance use. And Mindful Care is in-network with most major insurance companies, so your substance use treatment will be covered.

Mindful Care users can choose from several different appointment options. From Sunday to Friday, 8 p.m. to 6 p.m., the company offers same-day and next-day appointments for urgent care patients who’d like to be seen by a psychiatric provider right away. In fact, most new patients can get in for their first session within 48 hours. The company’s Urgent Care plan typically includes at least five appointments over the course of 12 weeks. 

The company’s entirely online Mindful Recovery program includes group therapy, care navigation, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for people with alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder. For adults ages 18 and over, Mindful Care also offers talk therapy (including 20-minute “MicroTherapy” sessions) and psychiatry.

Mindful Care’s services are currently only available in six U.S. states—Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan—but the company is currently expanding. 

Mindful Care accepts Medicaid and Medicare managed plans and is in-network with many insurance carriers, including:

• 1199
• Aetna
• Amerihealth
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Clover
• GHI
• Humana 
• Meridian
• Metroplus
• Optum
• United Healthcare

Without insurance, a psychiatric consultation at Mindful Care costs $175. Every follow-up visit costs $75. The Mindful Recovery program allows you to access one-on-one and group therapy and medication-assisted treatment for $49 monthly.

If paying out-of-pocket for therapy, 20-minute “MicroTherapy” sessions are $50 each, 40-minute individual talk therapy sessions are $100 each, and group therapy sessions are $150 for a 20-minute evaluation and subsequently $35 each.

Ninety-two percent of the Mindful Care users we surveyed reported that their overall experience with the service was good to excellent, and 83% of users said they would be willing to recommend it to someone else. Five percent of our 105 surveyed users were specifically seeking substance use services from Mindful Care.

Users seemed particularly impressed with Mindful Care’s providers: Eighty-two percent were able to find a provider who met all or most of their needs, and 83% said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the available clinicians. What’s more, 95% of Mindful Care users rated the qualifications of the company’s providers as excellent, very good, or good.

Our reviewer of Mindful Care thought that “the quality of the therapists and services provided at Mindful Care are top-tier,” and was particularly impressed with the group therapy services (an integral part of the company’s substance use treatment), saying she “benefited the most from group therapy because the hour-long session was the ideal amount of time to really delve into issues and to give participants the platform to voice their feelings.”

LifeStance Health provides in-person and virtual psychiatry and medication management services—as well as therapy for individuals, couples, and families—to children, teens, and adults of all ages. With about 6,000 available providers at about 600 centers across the U.S., LifeStance Health offers a wider variety of specialized treatment options than many of its competitors—including treatment specifically for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that is covered by a broad range of insurance. 

Many of the psychiatric care providers at LifeStance Health—which include both board-certified psychiatrists and advanced nurse practitioners—have specialized training in diagnosing and treating symptoms of OCD. Your personalized treatment plan may include medication, talk therapy, or both. Some medications that are commonly prescribed for OCD at LifeStance Health include fluvoxamine, Anafranil (clomipramine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Paxil (paroxetine). 

Prices at LifeStance Health vary widely by insurance coverage, therapy type, and location. 

LifeStance Health accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid in some cases—the website states that providers “accept most commercial insurance plans” in the states in which they provide care. Examples include: 

• Aetna
• Beacon
• Cigna
• Kaiser
• Prime
• Triad
• Tricare
• Veterans Choice Program

To find out if LifeStance Health accepts your insurance, visit the company website, click “Insurance,” and provide your information. 

The LifeStance Health users we surveyed were particularly impressed with the quality of available providers on the platform. Seventy-three percent of users said they were able to find a LifeStance Health provider who met all or most of their needs. 

Meanwhile, 70% of users reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the provider options, and 90% of users described the qualifications of LifeStance Health’s providers as good, very good, or excellent. Ten percent of the 105 LifeStance users we surveyed were looking for treatment specifically for OCD, a number larger than at most of the companies we reviewed.

Our LifeStance reviewer told us that she was “delighted” with her therapist, who “listened to me and was compassionate,” and points out that this is the norm with LifeStance: “Due to the expansive network of providers LifeStance employs, the chances of receiving good quality of care for various mental health issues is likely.” 

ADHD is a common mental health concern that is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, making it imperative to find a provider who can accurately and adequately treat this disorder. Many of Amwell’s psychiatrists have specialized training in treating symptoms of ADHD; and, after an initial assessment, they may prescribe an ADHD medication such as Strattera (atomoxetine) or clonidine to treat your symptoms.

If your provider believes that you would benefit from taking a stimulant or another controlled substance for ADHD, they may fax a recommendation to your primary care provider (PCP) as part of collaborative care, as stimulants can potentially be abused and require more oversight than other medications. If you need additional support, your psychiatrist can refer you to Amwell’s large network of licensed therapists (who treat people ages 10 and up).

Amwell makes its ADHD treatment far more accessible by accepting 126 insurance plans—including some Medicare and Medicaid plans. In addition, Amwell offers easy self-scheduling with a user-friendly app and website. After entering a HIPAA-compliant digital portal, you can simply browse through the available providers and schedule a session with one based on their qualifications and availability. Many of Amwell’s providers are available on nights and weekends for greater flexibility.

Amwell is one of the most popular online mental health platforms worldwide and claims to be the largest provider of telepsychiatry services. The company’s telehealth services include video consultations and medication management services with physicians who are board-certified in psychiatry, neurology, or both. All psychiatry providers at Amwell have received additional training in offering virtual sessions. 

Amwell accepts HSA/FSA plans and certain Medicaid and Medicare plans. The company also works with 126 insurance plans, such as:

• Aetna
• Anthem
• Beacon Health
• Benovate
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Emblem Health
• Highmark
• iCare
• Medica

Eighty-eight percent of the Amwell users we surveyed rated their experience with the platform as good, very good, or excellent. Fourteen percent said they were receiving psychiatric care and/or medication management services, including 16% who sought help for ADHD symptoms. Other common related concerns included anxiety (49%) and stress (19%). 

Most Amwell users (61%) said that insurance was helping them cover the costs of their care. This is a slightly higher percentage than at some of Amwell’s competitors, such as Doctor on Demand (58%) and Talkspace (57%). In fact, over a quarter (26%) of the users we surveyed said the main factor they considered in choosing a mental health platform was insurance acceptance.

Our Amwell tester appreciated the convenience of the service, saying that she “found the process of finding an individual therapist quite easy through Amwell” and “liked how easy it was to schedule sessions.” 

Finding online psychiatry services that treat teenagers can be a challenge. Enter Thriveworks, which offers psychiatry and medication management services to adults and teens ages 14 and up. The company’s providers—who accept hundreds of insurance plans, according to the Thriveworks website—often treat conditions like eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, among others. If you need help from a therapist, Thriveworks also offers individual, couples, child, teen, group, and family therapy. 

With an in-person and online model of mental health care, Thriveworks offers more flexibility, convenience, and continuity of care than many other telepsychiatry platforms. There are no waitlists, so most patients can have their first appointment within just three to five days of signing up. You or your child can see the same board-certified psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner every time, and sessions are 50-60 minutes long. 

Meanwhile, the company offers flexible scheduling and cancellation policies, including night and weekend appointments in many locations. These features can be especially helpful for teens with busy schedules who would benefit from seeing the same provider over an extended period of time.

Thriveworks is in-network with many insurers, such as:

• Anthem
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Humana
• Optum
• United

Medicaid plans are accepted at a limited number of Thriveworks locations. 

Without insurance, self-pay Thriveworks clients pay at least $99 per session. Prices vary by location and provider.

Many of the 105 Thriveworks users we surveyed sought out the platform specifically because the company accepted their insurance. Around a third (33%) of users said it was the most important factor they took into consideration when selecting Thriveworks, with another 19% reporting that it was the second most important factor. Six percent of users reported looking specifically for teen counseling through Thriveworks.

Most Thriveworks users told us they were satisfied with the care they received through the platform. Over half (52%) of users said they were likely to continue receiving treatment through Thriveworks for another six months, and 50% said they were likely to keep seeing their Thriveworks therapist for another 12 months.

Our reviewer of Thriveworks was especially impressed with the myriad in-person and online options provided, noting that “this flexibility is something that very few of its competitors offer, especially at such a large scale in 45 states” and pointing out that “it is so valuable to be able to choose a therapy setting that works best for you.”