Last updated: June 2026
Does Medicare cover online therapy?
Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health care, including individual psychotherapy — and since the pandemic, that coverage extends to telehealth. For mental health specifically, the rules are more generous and more durable than for other kinds of telehealth:
Your home counts.
You can attend therapy by video from your home anywhere in Florida. The old rule requiring you to live in a rural area or travel to a clinic was permanently removed for mental health services. This isn't a temporary waiver — it's permanent law.
Phone sessions are covered.
If you can't use video, or simply don't want to, audio-only therapy sessions are covered for mental health care.
No in-person visit needed first.
Medicare law technically requires an in-person visit before starting telehealth therapy (and annually after), but Congress has repeatedly delayed that requirement. The most recent law, signed February 3, 2026, pushes it back to January 1, 2028. Through the end of 2027, you can start online therapy with a new provider without ever visiting an office.
More provider types qualify.
As of 2024, marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) and licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) can bill Medicare — permanently. This matters in Florida, where LMHCs make up a large share of practicing therapists, including most of the therapists on online platforms.
What you'll pay in 2026
Online therapy through Medicare costs the same as in-person therapy — there's no telehealth discount or penalty.
- Part B deductible: $283/year (2026). You pay this before Medicare starts covering services.
- Coinsurance: After the deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount; Medicare pays 80%.
- Example: if Medicare approves $150 for a 45-minute session, your share is about $30.
- Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans typically cover some or all of that 20%.
- Medicare Advantage plans must cover the same services but set their own copays — check your plan. Many Advantage plans in Florida have $0–$40 mental health copays.
Which online therapy platforms accept Medicare in Florida?
This is where most people get stuck. Medicare covers online therapy, but the platform and the individual therapist both have to accept Medicare — and most big-name platforms don't. As of mid-2026, these do:
Talkspace
Accepts Original Medicare and many Medicare Advantage plans nationwide, including Florida. Messaging plus live video sessions. You can check eligibility with your Medicare number before committing.
Grow Therapy
A therapist-matching network headquartered in Florida, with one of the largest in-network Florida therapist rosters. Accepts Medicare and many Medicare Advantage plans; you filter by your insurance and book directly.
Brightside Health
Focused on anxiety and depression, including medication management alongside therapy. Accepts Medicare in Florida.
Medicare acceptance can vary by plan type (Original Medicare vs. specific Advantage plans) and by individual provider. Verify your specific plan during signup before your first session.
If you'd rather skip insurance: a cash-pay option
Some people prefer to pay out of pocket — no claims, no plan networks, no Medicare paperwork. If that's you, Online-Therapy.com is a structured CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) program with weekly live sessions, worksheets, and messaging. It does not accept Medicare or any insurance — it's a flat monthly subscription, which can come out comparable to coinsurance costs depending on how often you'd attend sessions.
Cash-pay alternative
Online-Therapy.com — 20% off your first month
Structured CBT program with licensed therapists, weekly live sessions, and unlimited messaging. Flat monthly fee — does not accept Medicare or other insurance. Use code THERAPY20 at checkout.
Visit Online-Therapy.comDisclosure: PsychCare.ai may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. This doesn't affect the price you pay.
How to verify your coverage (3 steps)
- Confirm what you have: Original Medicare (red, white, and blue card) or a Medicare Advantage plan (card from a private insurer like Humana or UnitedHealthcare).
- With Original Medicare: any of the platforms above that list Medicare can bill it directly. With Advantage: search your plan name in the platform's insurance checker, or call the number on your card and ask about "outpatient telehealth psychotherapy."
- Ask about your costs up front: whether you've met your $283 deductible, and what your 20% share (or Advantage copay) will be per session.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover therapy by phone in Florida?
Yes. Audio-only sessions are covered for mental health care when you can't or don't want to use video.
Do I need a referral?
Original Medicare doesn't require a referral for outpatient mental health. Some Medicare Advantage plans do — check your plan.
Will the telehealth rules expire?
The home-as-location rule for mental health is permanent. The waiver letting you start therapy without an in-person visit runs through the end of 2027 under the law signed in February 2026.
Does BetterHelp take Medicare?
No. BetterHelp doesn't accept Medicare or other insurance. For Medicare coverage in Florida, look at Talkspace, Grow Therapy, or Brightside Health.
What if I'm in crisis right now?
If you're in immediate danger or thinking about hurting yourself, please call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room. PsychCare.ai is not an emergency service.
Sources
Written and reviewed by the PsychCare.ai editorial team. About PsychCare.ai →
This page is for general information only and isn't medical, legal, or insurance advice. Coverage details vary by plan and can change; confirm with Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE / medicare.gov) or your plan before scheduling care. Last updated June 2026. PsychCare.ai may earn a commission if you sign up for Online-Therapy.com through links on this page; this doesn't affect the price you pay.
Ready to talk to someone?
Our matching quiz connects you with a therapist suited to your needs — it takes less than 2 minutes.