Does Health Insurance Cover Online Therapy? Here’s How to Find Out

Online therapy has moved from a niche option to a mainstream way to get mental health support. But there’s one big, practical question many people have: Does health insurance cover online therapy?

The short answer: often yes, but it depends heavily on your specific plan, where you live, and the type of provider and service.

This guide breaks that down in clear, practical terms so you know what to expect and how to check your own coverage.

Understanding How Health Insurance Covers Online Therapy

Most health insurance plans treat mental health care as a covered benefit, at least to some degree. Over time, many insurers have expanded that coverage to include telehealth and online therapy.

However, coverage is rarely all-or-nothing. Instead, it depends on several factors:

• Your type of plan (employer plan, marketplace plan, Medicaid, Medicare, student plan, etc.)
• Whether the provider is in-network
• The state you live in and its telehealth rules
• Whether your plan includes telehealth benefits
• The platform or setting of the online session (video, phone, app-based messaging)

Let’s walk through how this plays out in real life.

Types of Insurance and How They Handle Online Therapy

Employer-Sponsored Health Plans

Many people get health insurance through work. In these plans:

• Online therapy is frequently covered, especially via video visits.
• Employers or insurers may partner with specific telehealth platforms for mental health.
• Coverage rules (like number of sessions, copays, and deductibles) can vary widely.

Common patterns:

• You may pay a copay (a flat fee) for each virtual therapy visit.
• Online visits may be treated like an office visit for therapy in terms of cost.
• Some plans require you to use approved telehealth providers to receive the best coverage.

Individual and Marketplace Plans

If you buy your own plan on a health insurance marketplace:

• Many plans include mental health and telehealth benefits, including online therapy.
• Plans often list telehealth coverage in a section labeled “Mental/Behavioral Health Outpatient Services” or “Telehealth”.

Key things to check:

• Are telehealth mental health visits covered?
• Do they cover only video visits, or also phone and chat-based care?
• Are there limits on session frequency or provider types?

Medicaid

Medicaid coverage is state-specific, but in many places:

• Online therapy is covered, especially via video sessions.
• Some states cover teletherapy on the same basis as in-person visits.
• Others have more restrictions on provider types or platforms.

Because Medicaid rules vary, it’s important to:

• Check your state Medicaid website or member handbook.
• Confirm that the therapist accepts Medicaid and offers telehealth.

Medicare

For people with Medicare:

• Mental health services are generally covered when provided by eligible professionals.
• Telehealth coverage has expanded, particularly for video visits with certain mental health providers.
• Coverage can depend on whether you have Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or supplemental coverage.

Key question to confirm:
Does your specific Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan cover virtual mental health visits and what are the out-of-pocket costs?

Student Health Plans

Many college and university plans now recognize how important mental health care is:

• Online therapy is frequently included as part of student health or counseling services, often at low or no cost.
• Some schools partner with dedicated online counseling platforms for students.

If you’re a student, check:

• Your student health center’s website or handbook
• Whether you need referrals to access covered online therapy

What Types of Online Therapy Are Usually Covered?

Health insurance generally focuses on clinically recognized mental health services provided by licensed professionals. Online therapy coverage often includes:

• Individual therapy (one-on-one counseling)
• Psychiatric evaluations and medication management (with eligible providers)
• Couples or family therapy, depending on the plan
• Group therapy, when offered via telehealth

However, there are some common distinctions.

Often Covered

• Video therapy sessions with:

  • Licensed professional counselors
  • Licensed clinical social workers
  • Psychologists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Other licensed mental health professionals, as allowed by your state and plan

• Sessions billed as:

  • Telehealth or telemedicine
  • Outpatient mental/behavioral health services

Sometimes Not Covered

• Coaching (life coaching, wellness coaching) if not considered clinical mental health care
• Text-only or chat-only services if not recognized as covered telehealth
• Apps and digital programs without direct clinical interaction
• Services from non-licensed providers

Plans tend to cover services that align with standard medical billing codes and are provided by licensed clinicians. Anything that looks more like coaching, self-help, or a consumer app may not be covered.

In-Network vs. Out-of-Network for Online Therapy

Just like in-person care, online therapy coverage often depends on whether a provider is in-network.

In-Network Providers

• Have contracts with your insurance company
• Usually offer lower out-of-pocket costs
• Are often easier to search for through your insurer’s online directory

Online therapy with an in-network provider is often treated similarly to an in-person visit, with:

• A copay
• Or a coinsurance percentage after you meet your deductible

Out-of-Network Providers

• May not be covered at all, or
• May be covered at a reduced rate, depending on your plan
• Often require paying upfront and submitting claims manually (if eligible)

If you’re seeing an out-of-network therapist online:

• Ask if they can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt) that you can submit to your insurer.
• Check with your plan about out-of-network telehealth reimbursement.

Typical Costs When Insurance Covers Online Therapy

When online therapy is covered, you may still have out-of-pocket costs. These may include:

• Deductible: The amount you pay before insurance starts sharing costs.
• Copay: A set fee (for example, a flat amount) per session.
• Coinsurance: A percentage of the session cost you pay after the deductible.

Simple Cost Comparison Snapshot

In some plans, online therapy through designated telehealth platforms may even have lower copays than traditional office visits, but that’s not guaranteed.

How to Check If Your Plan Covers Online Therapy (Step-by-Step)

Because coverage is so plan-specific, the most reliable answer comes from your own insurance policy. Here’s a practical way to check:

1. Look at Your Insurance Card and Member Portal

✅ Find your plan name and member ID.
✅ Log into your member portal (website or app).

Then look for:

• “Behavioral Health” or “Mental Health”
• “Telehealth” or “Virtual Care”
• “Outpatient services” for mental health

2. Review Your Plan Documents

Your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is a key document. Focus on:

• Sections labeled Mental/Behavioral Health Outpatient Services
• Any mention of telehealth/virtual visits
• Copay or coinsurance amounts for mental health visits

If it’s unclear, note specific questions to ask your insurer.

3. Call the Customer Service Number

On the back of your insurance card, you’ll typically see a member services or behavioral health phone number.

Helpful questions to ask:

1. “Does my plan cover online therapy or telehealth mental health visits?”
2. “Do I need to see in-network providers for online therapy to be covered?”
3. “What are my copays or coinsurance for virtual mental health visits?”
4. “Is there a limit on the number of sessions per year?”
5. “Are phone-only visits covered, or do they need to be video?”
6. “Do I need a referral from a primary care provider?”

Take notes, including the date of your call and the name of the representative, in case you need to reference it later.

4. Confirm With the Therapist or Platform

Before scheduling:

• Ask the therapist or telehealth service:
  “Do you accept my insurance plan?”
  “Are you considered in-network with my insurer?”

• If they say yes, you can also ask:
  “What will my estimated out-of-pocket cost be per session?”

This double-checks what you heard from your insurer.

State Rules and Why Your Location Matters

Telehealth and mental health coverage are shaped not just by insurance companies but also by state laws and regulations.

Common patterns across states:

• Many states encourage or require insurers to cover telehealth services similarly to in-person services, especially for mental health.
• Some states emphasize mental health parity, which means mental health benefits should be similar to medical/surgical benefits.

However:

• Specifics vary, and not every plan is subject to the same rules (for example, some employer self-funded plans follow different regulations).
• A therapist usually must be licensed in the state where you are located during the session, which affects who you can see online.

If you move states or travel frequently, it’s important to ask your therapist and insurer how that affects coverage.

Common Limitations and Fine Print

Even if online therapy is covered, there may be limitations. These can include:

Session Limits

Some plans may:

• Limit the number of covered therapy sessions per year, or
• Require authorization after a certain number of sessions

Prior Authorization

Certain services may need pre-approval from the insurer, especially:

• More intensive or frequent therapy
• Specific types of treatment or specialized programs

Diagnosis Requirements

Insurance coverage is often tied to documented mental health conditions. This doesn’t mean labeling or judging; it’s how insurers categorize care.

• The therapist may need to assign a diagnosis for billing.
• Some people prefer to ask their provider how their care will be documented and billed.

Privacy and Platform Rules

Insurers typically expect online therapy to be:

• Delivered via secure, confidential platforms
• Compliant with privacy regulations

If you are concerned about privacy, it’s reasonable to ask:

• “What platform do you use?”
• “How do you protect my privacy during online sessions?”

Pros and Cons of Using Insurance for Online Therapy

Choosing whether to use insurance is a personal decision. Understanding the trade-offs can help.

Potential Advantages

• Lower cost per session compared with paying fully out-of-pocket
• Access to a broader network of therapists who accept your plan
• Possibility of longer-term support if sessions are affordable

Potential Drawbacks

• Less privacy from the insurer, since claims include basic diagnostic and service information
• More administrative steps, like checking coverage and dealing with claims
• Potential limits on choice of provider, especially if they are out-of-network

Some people prefer to use insurance to make therapy financially sustainable; others choose to pay out-of-pocket to keep insurance out of it. Both approaches are common.

Quick Checklist: Does My Health Insurance Cover Online Therapy?

Use this simple checklist to get a clear yes/no answer for your own situation:

• [ ] My plan has mental health/behavioral health outpatient coverage.
• [ ] My plan lists telehealth or virtual visits as a covered benefit.
• [ ] I confirmed that mental health telehealth visits are included.
• [ ] I know my copay or coinsurance for online therapy.
• [ ] I confirmed whether I must use in-network providers.
• [ ] I know if there are session limits or prior authorization rules.
• [ ] A provider or platform I want to use accepts my insurance and can verify coverage.

If you can check most or all of these boxes, your health insurance likely does cover online therapy, at least partially.

When Online Therapy Isn’t Covered (or Coverage Is Limited)

If you learn that your health insurance does not cover online therapy, or the coverage is very limited, you still may have options:

• Sliding scale fees: Some therapists adjust their rates based on income.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Some employers offer short-term counseling at no cost.
• Community mental health centers: Often provide lower-cost or income-based services, sometimes via telehealth.
• University clinics: Training clinics associated with universities may offer low-cost online sessions.

These alternatives don’t replace insurance coverage, but they can help if benefits are limited.

The Bottom Line: Will Insurance Pay for Your Online Therapy?

In today’s health insurance landscape, online therapy is often covered, especially when:

• You see a licensed, in-network provider, and
• Your plan includes telehealth mental health benefits.

However, the details—like how much is covered, which providers you can see, and what you pay per session—depend on your specific insurance plan and state.

To get a clear answer for yourself:

1. Review your plan documents and member portal.
2. Call your insurance company and ask directly about online mental health coverage.
3. Confirm with the therapist or platform before starting sessions.

Once you have that information, you’ll know exactly how your health insurance handles online therapy and what it might cost you out of pocket.