Does Brightside Health accept insurance?
Brightside Health is a telehealth provider that offers therapy services online. It is a great way to access mental health services in the comfort of your own home online for mental health treatment.
But does Brightside take insurance? The answer is a definitive yes. According to Brightside on LinkedIn2, their insurance coverage extends to over 55 million people living in the United States.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of Brightside Health insurance coverage, but first:
You should be aware that Online Mental Health Reviews:
- Our goal is to assist you in sifting through the plethora of internet mental health resources so you can decide which is best for you.
- Our group visited with service providers, paid for a month’s worth of Brightside’s Counseling + Meditation subscription plan, and discreetly recorded the entire encounter (keeping provider details anonymous).
- We’ve exhaustively investigated Brightside and are here to provide you with both the good, the terrible, and everything in between.





Here are the 6 Insurance providers that Brightside Health accepts:
According to the Brightside Health website FAQ1, and our investigative sign-up process (see video above), the 6 insurance providers that Brightside Health accepts are:
- Aetna
- Allegiance
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Cigna
- S & S Healthcare Strategies
- United Healthcare
However, it’s important to note that each insurance plan is different and will cover different services. It’s best to contact your insurance company directly to find out what’s covered under your plan.
Prices | $95 to $349 |
Take Insurance? | Yes but only a few insurance providers are accepted |
Types of Therapy | Individual therapy based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
Provides Education and Tools | Included With every plan |
Communication Options | Live video, messaging |
Prescriptions Available | Yes |
Unique Features | Track your results |
Pros of Brightside Insurance Coverage
- Brightside also takes payments from HSA or FSA cards as well as major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard.
- It also offers flexible payment plans that can be customized to fit individual needs.
- Additionally, there are no contracts with Brightside so you can cancel your membership at any time without penalty or additional costs.
Cons of Brightside Health Insurance Coverage
Brightside covers 55 million Americans (estimated) through health insurance so we have a hard time critiquing their insurance! However, the one ‘con’ we noticed is that they don’t have an option for Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), which tend to cover more costs.
Who is Brightside For, And Not For?
Brightside is a comprehensive financial care solution for employers, as well as an online therapy prescribe medication and medication management program for adults (ages 18 and up) who are experiencing depression or anxiety and mental health concerns.
Brightside also offers family outreach and stabilization, psychiatric and medication evaluation, and management services. It is important to note that Brightside is not intended for children under the age of 18.
You should consult with your doctor before beginning any treatment program, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.
Who For | Who Not For |
Brightside may be a suitable choice if you need internet counseling to treat multiple depression or anxiety symptoms.
| Brightside isn't for everyone because it's an online depression and anxiety counseling service, and cannot help under these situations:
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So, Is Brightside Health For Depression And Anxiety Legit?
Yes, Brightside Health is a legitimate mental health platform for treating depression and anxiety if you have anxiety and depression symptoms.
- It offers evidence-based care for adults 18 years and older in the states where it operates.
- The platform provides personalized treatment plans that include medication, therapy, antidepressant medication, or both.
- Brightside has been reviewed by Forbes Health, Everyday Health, and Choosing Therapy who all agree that it is an effective way to treat mental health issues.
Our overall opinion is that if your insurance covers Brightside, or if your out-of-pocket expenses can afford $299/month you can trust Brightside to provide you with quality care from licensed clinicians who understand your needs.
HSA, FSA, And Health Insurance With Brightside
Brightside Health is a solid option for those looking to access health insurance without having to use insurance with a personalized treatment plan.
With Brightside, you can pay for services directly and have access to self-care videos as part of your subscription.
Additionally, you can use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
When it comes to HSAs and FSAs, the main difference is that an HSA allows you to save money on a pre-tax basis while an FSA does not.
What States Does Brightside Cover?
According to their website, Brightside currently operates in all 50 US states.
Is Brightside Health Covered By Obamacare?
Brightside Health is not covered by Obamacare.
Does Brightside Accept Cigna?
Yes, Brightside does accept Cigna insurance.
Does Brightside Take Optum Health Insurance?
Yes, Brightside takes Optum Health Insurance.
How We Evaluate Health Products And Services
Evaluations are vital when selecting an online counseling service because they can affect your choices.
Because of the eight characteristics outlined below, our reviews of online therapy have become the industry standard:
- Mental health is our area of expertise.
- We purchase, test, and chronicle our trip utilizing each service on video (no other mainstream mental health reviewer does this!).
- Below, users like you can offer reviews for specific services, which are updated across our website.
- These reviews were written and edited by licensed mental health experts.
- Positive and negative judgments from third parties (Trustpilot, Reddit, etc).
- Include articles and meta-analyses on mental health and internet therapy.
- We are clear about our affiliations and prejudices.
- Our personnel replies to your questions swiftly.
We hope that our reviews may simplify and expedite your search for a mental health practitioner. If we’ve left any stone unturned, write a remark below and let us earn your faith on the final point above.
Who Are The Competitors To Brightside Health?
Online therapy and medication providers are becoming increasingly popular as a way to access mental health services from the comfort of your own home.
With so many options available, it can be difficult to decide which provider is best for you. Here are some of the best places to get therapy and medicine online in 2023:
- BetterHelp: BetterHelp offers comprehensive online mental health treatment options with licensed therapists available around the clock.
- Talkspace: Talkspace lets users connect with licensed therapists from their phones or computers. They offer different types of providers to meet all your needs for medications or therapy.
- MDLive: MDLive provides virtual counseling services for both adults and children, offering psychiatry, psychology, and other mental health services.
- LiveHealth Online: LiveHealth Online offers telehealth visits with board-certified physicians and psychiatrists who specialize in mental health care.
- Teladoc Health: Teladoc Health offers virtual counseling sessions with licensed therapists and access to psychiatrists for medication management and prescription refills.
- Amwell: Amwell is an online platform that provides access to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors who specialize in treating anxiety and depression.
- Open Path Collective: Through their network of licensed therapists who offer sliding scale fees based on income level, Open Path Collective offers affordable online therapy services.
- Cerebral: Cerebral is an online platform that connects users with experienced therapists who specialize in treating anxiety and depression with evidence-based techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Does Brightside Health Take Insurance Conclusion:
Overall, BrightSide Health offers quality mental health services through its online therapy platform at competitive prices — even if not all insurances are accepted here yet — making them a great choice for those who need access to easy-to-access counseling sessions while still maintaining some financial flexibility when it comes time to pay for the service provided.
So while they may not have the same number of insurances accepted as other providers like Talkspace do yet – they still offer quality care at competitive prices – making them a great option for those seeking private mental health care services online!
Sources
- What insurance do we accept? (n.d.). Brightside. https://www.brightside.com/faqs/is-my-brightside-provider-in-network/
- Brightside Health. (n.d.). LinkedIn. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightsidehealth/about/
Additional Brightside Health Resouces from Online Mental Health Reviews
- Brightside Health Review – 55 Million Americans Insurance Coverage + Best Overall
- Everything You Need to Know About Brightside Health Customer Service
- Everything You Need to Know About Brightside Health Login
- Brightside Health Medication: What to Expect
- Brightside Health LLC’s Financial Status
- Brightside Health Location – Where Address?
- Different Plans and Costs of Brightside Health
- What Reddit Says About Brightside Health
Brightside Health Review - $95 - $349
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Summary
If you’re worried or depressed and need symptom-specific medicine, Brightside may be a useful online therapy option. If you have a plan with one of Brightside’s insurance partners, you may save money with Brightside.
Pros
- Accepts insurance
- Ability to use FSA/HSA accounts
- Self-care videos included in all subscriptions
- Data-driven technology helps providers prescribe effective medications
- Available in every state
- Less expensive than Talkspace psychiatry
- Unlimited messaging with a psychiatrist available for all plans
- Various packages tailored to treat depression and anxiety
- Check-in quizzes to help monitor progress
- Free self care lessons offered
- Safe medication policies in place
- App available for iOS devices
- $50 off the Therapy & Medication plan during first month
Cons
- Option to switch therapists is slow
- Offers video therapy only; no audio-only or live chat sessions
- No app available for Android devices
- May lack the more personal touch of in-person care
- Not suitable for everyone
- No way to pick your own therapist or browse bios
- No same day appointments
- Responses from customer service can take over 24 hrs
- Minimalist portal can make it difficult to access certain features of the site
- More affordable with health insurance but only Aetna and Cigna, few others only accepted
- Focuses on anxiety and depression – if you have another condition, look elsewhere
- Customer service takes several days to respond emails
- Only available to individuals over 18