Talkspace is the best fit for most insured users, with a $0 copay for most insured members (per Talkspace), messaging between sessions, and integrated psychiatry. Rula has broad coverage, including Medicare in every state and Medicaid in select states. Headway and Alma connect you with private-practice therapists for just your copay. Check your specific plan during signup, since coverage varies.
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Insurance is the biggest cost lever in therapy. A year of weekly sessions that costs $3,500 to $5,200 out of pocket can cost a few hundred dollars with coverage. Here are the platforms that genuinely accept insurance, and how they compare.
How they compare
| App | Best for | Price (annual) | Rating | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talkspace | Most insured users | $0 for most insured members (per Talkspace) | 8.4 | iOS, Android, Web |
| Rula | Broad coverage, Medicare + Medicaid | ~$15 avg copay | 8.4 | iOS, Android, Web |
| Headway | Private-practice therapists | Copay, typically $20-$50 | 8.2 | Web + in-person |
| Alma | Free consult + out-of-network options | Your copay | 8.0 | Web + in-person |
| SonderMind | Insurance-first, Medicare | ~$25 avg copay | 8.0 | iOS, Android, Web |
| Grow Therapy | Specialty matching | Your copay | 7.9 | Web + in-person |
| Brightside | Depression/anxiety focus | Varies by plan | 7.8 | iOS, Android, Web |
| BetterHelp | Select plans in select states | ~$23 avg copay where covered | 8.5 | iOS, Android, Web |
Two kinds of platform
Subscription platforms (Talkspace, BetterHelp, Brightside) bundle sessions and often messaging into a weekly or monthly plan, which insurance can cover.
Directories and networks (Rula, Headway, Alma, SonderMind, Grow Therapy) connect you with licensed therapists who bill your insurance per session. There’s no subscription; you pay your copay each time.
Neither is better in general. Subscriptions suit people who want messaging between sessions; directories suit people who want a traditional therapist relationship with full-length sessions.
1. Talkspace: best for most insured users
Talkspace is in-network with most major plans, including Cigna, Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, Carelon, Regence, TRICARE, and Medicare. Talkspace says most insured members have a $0 copay; your copay depends on your plan. It offers messaging between sessions and integrated psychiatry, often covered by the same plan.
It does not accept Medicaid. For details, see our Talkspace insurance coverage guide.
2. Rula: broad coverage, including Medicare in every state
Rula is in-network with more than 100 commercial plans, accepts Medicare in all 50 states, and accepts Medicaid in select states. The average copay is about $15. You get traditional 60-minute sessions, virtual or in person, plus psychiatry.
It is the strongest option for Medicare members and one of very few for Medicaid members, depending on your state. See also is Rula legit.
3. Headway: your copay, experienced therapists
Headway lists independent therapists who accept Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Optum, many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and more, depending on your state. You pay your copay, typically $20 to $50, with no platform fee. Many of its therapists are experienced private-practice clinicians.
Headway only handles in-network care, and since July 2026 your therapist must be credentialed in the state where you are when a telehealth session happens.
4. Alma: a free consultation and out-of-network options
Alma is a directory of more than 26,000 clinicians who accept insurance, and most offer a free 15-minute consultation before you commit. It works with major carriers and Employee Assistance Programs, and if you go out-of-network, many of its therapists offer sliding-scale rates.
Billing is a recurring theme in Alma’s Better Business Bureau complaints, including copays that changed after the fact, so confirm your coverage with your insurer before the first session. If it fits, you can browse Alma’s therapists and book a free consultation.
5. SonderMind: insurance-first, with Medicare
SonderMind is in-network with most major plans, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and TRICARE West (not TRICARE East), with an average copay around $25. It offers therapy and psychiatry, virtually or in person, in all 50 states, and self-pay rates if you prefer not to use insurance. For self-pay rates by state, TRICARE and VA details, and the billing downsides, see our full SonderMind review.
It does not accept Medicaid.
6. Grow Therapy: specialty matching
Grow Therapy accepts more than 125 insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid in select states. It is especially good at matching people with therapists who have specific expertise, such as LGBTQ+ affirming care, culturally responsive care, trauma-informed therapy, or approaches like DBT and EMDR.
7. Brightside: depression and anxiety, with insurance
Brightside specializes in depression, anxiety, and related conditions, with both therapy and psychiatry, and accepts many insurance plans. Without insurance, psychiatry costs $95 a month, therapy $299, or $349 for both.
8. BetterHelp: select plans in select states
Historically, BetterHelp accepted no insurance. It now says it is in network with 125+ health plans, from carriers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Cigna, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare, but only in select states. Some insured members pay $0, and those with a copay pay about $23 a session on average. Insurance covers one live session a week, without messaging between sessions. Availability depends on your plan and state, and it does not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE.
For details, see our BetterHelp cost guide.
How to check your coverage
For a full walkthrough, see how to find a therapist who takes your insurance, or check which platforms list your insurer in our online therapy by insurance guide.
Use each platform’s signup check. Talkspace, Rula, Headway, Alma, and SonderMind can check your plan during signup and, for many plans, show your expected cost before you commit.
Call your insurer using the number on your card, and ask:
“Is this platform or therapist in-network for my plan?”
“What is my copay or coinsurance for telehealth mental health visits?”
“Have I met my deductible, and does it apply to therapy?”
Watch the deductible. If you have one and haven’t met it, you may pay the full negotiated rate per session until you do.
If you have Medicare
Rula, Talkspace, and SonderMind accept Medicare, and Headway accepts select Medicare Advantage plans. Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer extra mental health benefits, so check your plan’s materials.
If you have Medicaid
Coverage is more limited. Rula and Grow Therapy accept Medicaid in select states, and Headway accepts select Medicaid managed care plans in some states. Talkspace, BetterHelp, and SonderMind do not. Community mental health centers typically accept Medicaid and are often the most reliable route; your primary care physician can refer you, or you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
If your insurance doesn’t cover these
Out-of-network reimbursement. Some plans reimburse part of out-of-network therapy. Some platforms, including Talkspace, can provide invoices you can submit.
Financial aid. BetterHelp offers financial aid to some eligible users, based on income, if they are not using insurance. See our BetterHelp financial aid guide.
HSA or FSA funds let you pay with pre-tax dollars.
Community mental health centers and Open Path Collective offer low-cost care. See our cheapest online therapy guide, or compare every platform’s prices in how much online therapy costs.
Your employer’s EAP may cover several free sessions.
When online therapy is not enough
Online therapy, insured or not, suits adults with mild-to-moderate concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationships, and life transitions. It is not appropriate for active suicidality or thoughts of self-harm, acute psychotic symptoms, severe substance use crisis, severe eating disorders requiring intensive treatment, or complex trauma requiring specialized programs. For these, please seek local crisis services or your primary care physician, or in the US, call or text 988.
For more on choosing the right level of care, see our online therapy vs in-person guide.
The bottom line
For most insured users, Talkspace is the simplest strong choice: a $0 copay for most insured members (per Talkspace), messaging, and psychiatry. Rula has broad coverage and is the standout for Medicare, and for Medicaid in the states it covers. Headway and Alma connect you with private-practice therapists for your copay. Check your plan on each, since the differences can save you thousands a year.
For the full comparison, see our best online therapy apps roundup.
One important note: if you are in crisis or considering harming yourself, please reach out now. In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Immediate human support is available.