How Much Does Virtual Therapy Cost?
Virtual therapy is an increasingly popular service because of its accessibility and more affordable cost when compared to in-person visits. Without insurance, virtual therapy costs an average of $49.45 - $77.50 per week, or about $198 - $310 each month. The cost may be affected by the number of sessions you need and the kind of services you are receiving.
Keeping up with virtual therapy can become expensive. Luckily, Mira has a cost-saving solution for you. For an average of $45 a month, Mira offers low-cost virtual care services, including behavioral health counseling, psychiatric services, and other online benefits. These services are provided with affordable copays and can be utilized anywhere in the United States. Save even more with Mira; sign up today.
The Cost of Different Virtual Therapy Services
There are many virtual therapy options available, and each comes with different benefits. We created a list of five popular services and researched each of their average weekly costs. The prices listed below are without the help of insurance or any other discount programs. On average, we found that virtual therapy costs anywhere from $49.45 - $77.59 each week. The cost may vary depending on the type of service you receive and how many sessions you require each month.
It is also important to note that prices can be significantly higher depending on the type of specialist you see and the type of therapy you receive. In addition, if you choose to see a therapist privately rather than signing up for a program, you can be charged anywhere from $100 - $500 for a one-hour session.
Cost of Different Virtual Therapy Services Without Insurance
Source | Virtual Therapy Cost Without Insurance |
|---|---|
BetterHelp | |
Talkspace | |
Cerebral | |
Wellnite | |
Rethink My Therapy |
Factors that Influence the Cost of Virtual Therapy
Several factors may influence the cost of virtual therapy. First, the price may vary greatly depending on the company you choose. It's important to analyze your needs and determine which company will meet them best. Luckily, location will not affect the cost of therapy since you can access providers from all over the country.
Below we explain how the type of service you need and discount programs may affect the cost of your virtual therapy.
Type of Plan
While costs vary from company to company, they also vary within each company. Most sites offer different packages for their services. For example, Talkspace offers three different types of therapy: a messaging plan, a live therapy plan, and a messaging + live therapy plan. Their messaging plan is the lowest cost but doesn’t include any live sessions with professionals. Help is limited to text, video, and audio messaging. The live plan comes with these benefits and one live session a month, while the combined package offers all previously mentioned benefits and four live sessions each month.
Below is an example of how the costs are broken down for each type of plan.
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Cost of Talkspace Monthly Membership Plans
Service | Cost |
|---|---|
Messaging Therapy | $69 per week |
Live Therapy | $99 per week |
Messaging + Live Therapy | $129 per week |
Source: innerbody.com
Cerebral is another company that offers different levels of plans; they offer therapy and medication + therapy. The base-level therapy option gives you unlimited messaging access to a licensed professional, in addition to weekly video sessions. Although the more expensive option, their medication + therapy plan has been proven to be most effective. It offers monthly prescription delivery and progress tracking in addition to the baseline benefits.
Below is a cost breakdown of Cerebral’s two therapy options:
Cost of Cerebral Monthly Membership Plans
Service | Cost |
|---|---|
Therapy | $64.75 per week |
Medication + Therapy | $81.25 per week |
Source: cerebral.com
Some sites, like Rethink My Therapy, even have different levels depending on how many people sign up for the plan. Their packages work for individuals, couples, and families. The couples package allows you and your partner to schedule both individual and joint therapy sessions. Rethink My Therapy’s family, and children plan accommodates up to four different individuals and grants access to interactive communities and webinars.
Here is a cost comparison of their three listed packages:
Service | Cost |
Single | $24.75 per week |
Couples | $32.25 per week |
Family and Children | $39.75 per week |
Source: rethinkmytherapy.com
Before you choose what plan fits your lifestyle best, many of these companies will have you take a survey or quiz to get started. Based on your answers, they can determine the level of care that you may need. Some may also have you chat with customer service or other representatives to assess the best plan for you.
Discounts
Another way virtual therapy may vary is through various discounts or cost-cutting tips. For example, at Talkspace, how you choose to pay your bill will determine your average monthly cost. Paying for a six-month plan ends up costing less than a plan you pay for each month. If therapy is a long-term investment, you may want to consider paying ahead to save money along the way.
Other programs allow you to use health savings accounts (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA) to pay for the cost of their services. These accounts let you put aside tax-free money to use on medical expenses and are great for people who have a high deductible health plan, or whose insurance won’t cover mental health services. In addition, not all telehealth therapy companies accept major medical insurance, so using an HSA or FSA instead can help you save money. Both Cerebral and Rethink My Therapy accept the use of these accounts.
Mira is another excellent way to save on virtual therapy. For an average of s $45 a month, Mira members get access to a wide variety of virtual care services, including mental health counseling and prescription refills. Co-pays range anywhere from $25, making this option the least expensive of any previously mentioned programs. In addition, members get access to a wide range of other health benefits, like discounted prescriptions and low-cost urgent care visits, all for an affordable price.
Virtual Therapy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you are thinking about switching from in-person to virtual therapy, you may be unsure about some things. Below are the answers to frequently asked questions about virtual therapy.
Virtual care for only $25 per visit
Virtual primary care, urgent care, and behavioral health visits are only $25 with a Mira membership.
Does online therapy really work?
Some may be skeptical about online health services, but studies have shown that online therapy can be effective. A study done in 2018 found that virtual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an acceptable and effective form of healthcare. Another study showed that positive improvements from virtual therapy were still present at a one-year follow-up visit. Online therapy may not be for everyone, but it is an easy and cost-effective way to receive treatment for mental health.
Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Another common worry about virtual therapy is that it won’t be as effective as seeing a professional in person. While there are restrictions to virtual therapy, such as a lack of body language and a focused environment, it can be just as effective as in-person therapy. In some cases, teletherapy can be more effective than visiting someone in-person and can be easier for patients, as you do not need to account for travel time. Many studies have shown that virtual therapy works just as well for treating conditions like anxiety and depression.
Does insurance cover the cost of virtual therapy?
Insurance coverage varies from company to company when it comes to virtual therapy. Some sites, such as Cerebral, accept insurance from many major medical companies, like Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.
However, other companies, such as Rethink My Therapy, do not accept insurance, as they believe they created already reasonably priced services. Make sure to call both the virtual therapy site and your insurance company to find out where you may be eligible for coverage.
How often should I go to virtual therapy?
The number of times you should go to therapy will vary from person to person, depending on your situation. For those that are going through a crisis, or just starting off with therapy, it may be beneficial to go to therapy about once a week. Others may only need to speak to a therapist once a month. It's okay to change how often you and your therapist meet, especially if progress is made and your needs change.
Bottom Line
Virtual therapy has become an excellent resource for those trying to save on their health. Many companies provide counseling services, which average at around $49.45-77.50 each week. Most of the time, this cost is paid without the help of insurance. The price will vary depending on which company you are using, the type of plan you need, and any discounts you may be eligible for.
Finding a reliable and effective therapist can be difficult, especially when you are restricted to your surrounding area. A great solution to this is moving your search online and signing up for virtual therapy. Mira offers many telehealth counseling and medication services, which are available at an average cost of $45 a month. Save big with your health at your fingertips; sign up for Mira today.
Talor graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Biobehavioral Health, and minors in Spanish and Diversity & Inclusion in May of 2022. She has a passion for health equity and diversity in health. In the future, Talor hopes to work in public health policy reform to help eliminate health disparities. She enjoys reading, cooking, and listening to podcasts in her free time.
