BetterHelp offers financial aid to some eligible users who are not using insurance, based on income. It does not publish discount amounts. You can apply after creating an account at betterhelp.com/financialaid, or ask BetterHelp’s support team. It is worth applying even if you think you will not qualify. BetterHelp has no separate student discount, and it does not take Medicaid.
BetterHelp costs $70 to $100 per week, which is a genuine barrier for a lot of people who need therapy. The financial aid program is real and worth applying for if cost is the barrier. Here is how to apply, then how it works.
How to apply for BetterHelp financial aid
During signup:
- Start the normal BetterHelp signup at betterhelp.com.
- Complete the intake questionnaire. When asked about your employment status or financial situation, answer honestly.
- After creating your account, go to betterhelp.com/financialaid, or contact BetterHelp’s Customer Success Team.
- Answer the questions about your income and ability to pay.
- Submit and get your decision.
If you are already a subscriber:
Log into your BetterHelp account and go to betterhelp.com/financialaid. You can apply at any point during your subscription, not just at signup.
If you cannot find it, contact BetterHelp customer support directly. BetterHelp says you can contact its Customer Success Team to apply for financial assistance.
What BetterHelp financial aid actually is
It is a discount, not a loan or a deferred payment. If approved, your subscription price drops and you pay the reduced rate going forward.
What qualifies you
BetterHelp does not publish exact eligibility thresholds. It says financial aid may be available to people who qualify based on certain income criteria, and only for subscriptions that do not use insurance.
Answer the income questions honestly; this is a program designed to make therapy accessible, not a hurdle to clear with clever answers.
Apply even if you doubt you will qualify. The application takes a few minutes, and BetterHelp does not publish its thresholds.
BetterHelp for low-income users
Financial aid is BetterHelp’s main option if your income is low. BetterHelp says it reviews applications and may offer a reduced rate to people who qualify under its income criteria, and that the discount applies only to its non-insured subscription. It does not say how low your income needs to be or how much the reduced rate is.
Two other routes are worth checking alongside it. If you qualify for Medicaid, BetterHelp will not take it (see below), but other platforms and clinics do. And if you have no insurance, federally funded health centers set their fees by income; they are listed with other cheaper options further down this page.
Is there a BetterHelp student discount?
No. BetterHelp says it does not currently offer a specific student discount program, but students facing financial constraints may still qualify for financial aid through the standard application above. It also says promotional codes are sometimes available, and like financial aid, they apply only to the non-insured subscription. Our guide to whether BetterHelp is free covers how those codes work.
If you are a student, check your school too. SAMHSA suggests students look to their school’s health center or a peer support group for free or low-cost help. If you are covered by a health plan, see whether it includes online therapy that takes insurance.
Does BetterHelp take Medicaid?
No, not for therapy. BetterHelp says its providers do not directly accept Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE, and it suggests contacting your state Medicaid office if you need help finding care. Its separate psychiatry add-on, UpLift, has its own list of insurers, so check that list on its own if you need medication management.
Before you pay for BetterHelp out of pocket, see which platforms and clinics take your plan in our guide to online therapy that takes Medicaid.
What happens after approval
Your subscription rate drops to the discounted amount and you pay that going forward.
Ask how long the reduced rate lasts. BetterHelp does not publish a reapplication policy, so check with support whether you will need to reapply.
If your situation changes — you lose income, hours get cut — reapply. A larger discount may be available.
Other ways to reduce BetterHelp cost
Financial aid is not the only way to lower the cost.
Check insurance during signup. BetterHelp 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. It does not accept TRICARE, Medicare, or Medicaid; military families can see online therapy that takes TRICARE. Some insured members pay $0, and those with a copay pay about $23 per session on average, which may cost less than paying with financial aid. If your plan is not covered, Talkspace and Rula have broader insurance networks.
Use HSA or FSA cards. BetterHelp accepts both. Paying with pre-tax dollars effectively saves you 20-30% depending on your bracket, and this stacks with financial aid.
For the full cost picture, see our BetterHelp cost guide, our breakdown of whether BetterHelp is free, and how much online therapy costs across platforms.
Financial aid on BetterHelp’s sister platforms
BetterHelp’s sister brands, Regain (couples) and Teen Counseling, run their own signups; check each site for current financial aid options. See our online therapy for couples guide.
If you can’t afford BetterHelp
If financial aid does not come through, or the reduced price is still more than you can manage, these options cost less or nothing at all.
Community mental health centers and health centers. Federally funded health centers adjust their fees based on income and family size, serve people even if they cannot pay, and treat mental health as well as medical needs. Search HRSA’s Find a Health Center, or look up the community mental health center for your county, and ask each one about a sliding-fee scale.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential treatment referrals, 24 hours a day. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, it can refer you to your state’s office for state-funded treatment, and often to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicaid.
Open Path Collective. A nonprofit network of therapists who charge $40 to $70 per individual session, after a one-time $65 membership fee. It is meant for people without insurance, or whose insurance does not adequately cover mental health care, who cannot afford typical rates. In some areas, student interns see Open Path clients for $30 a session.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). If your employer offers an EAP, it may include a few free short-term counseling sessions. Ask HR, since many employees do not know their EAP exists.
Headway or Alma with insurance. If you have insurance, these directories connect you with licensed therapists for your normal copay.
Rula with Medicare or Medicaid. Rula accepts Medicare in all 50 states and Medicaid in select states. BetterHelp accepts neither. For every Medicaid option, see online therapy that takes Medicaid.
For the full list, see our cheapest online therapy guide and our roundup of BetterHelp alternatives.
Common questions
Is BetterHelp financial aid a loan? No. It is a discount on your subscription. Nothing to repay.
Do I need to prove my income? BetterHelp does not publish its documentation requirements; the application asks about your income.
Can I apply more than once? Reapply or contact support if your circumstances change.
Does applying affect my therapy? Financial aid changes what you pay, not the therapy itself. If you want to know who can see your application, ask BetterHelp’s support team.
How much can I actually save? BetterHelp does not publish discount amounts, so the only way to know is to apply.
Can I combine financial aid with insurance? No. BetterHelp says financial aid discounts apply only to its non-insured subscription. If insurance covers you, that is usually the better deal.
Is there a free trial? No. BetterHelp does not offer one.
The bottom line
BetterHelp’s financial aid is real and worth applying for even if you assume you will not qualify. The application takes a few minutes. Answer the financial questions honestly during signup rather than skipping them.
If financial aid is not enough, check insurance eligibility, use HSA/FSA funds, or look at community mental health centers and employer EAPs — real options that cost far less.
Please do not skip therapy over cost without checking these first. The options exist specifically so cost does not have to be the barrier.
For more, see our BetterHelp review, BetterHelp cost guide, BetterHelp vs Talkspace comparison, or cheapest online therapy roundup.
Sources
- BetterHelp: pricing, financial aid, promo codes, and student discounts
- BetterHelp: insurance coverage, including Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE
- BetterHelp: psychiatry through UpLift
- SAMHSA: National Helpline
- SAMHSA: free and low-cost treatment options
- HRSA: what is a health center?
- HRSA: Find a Health Center
- Open Path Collective: pricing and eligibility
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. That support is free and available regardless of your financial situation.