Online Psychiatrist That Takes Insurance (Including Medicare) in Florida

Most Online Psychiatrists Accept Insurance — Including Medicare

A widespread misconception is that telehealth psychiatric care is cash-only or out-of-pocket. The reality is that most online psychiatrists accept the same insurance plans as in-person providers, and federal law requires equivalent coverage.

At Empathy Health Clinic, our online psychiatric services are covered by most major insurance plans and Medicare. Our team verifies your benefits before your first appointment so there are no surprises.

Insurance Coverage for Online Psychiatry

Mental Health Parity Law

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires that insurance plans covering mental health services do so on par with medical care. This applies equally to telehealth mental health services.

Florida Telehealth Parity Law

Florida's telehealth parity law (Section 627.42397, Florida Statutes) requires that insurance plans cover telehealth services at the same benefit level as in-person services. Insurers cannot:

• Charge higher copays for telehealth than for in-person mental health visits
• Apply more restrictive prior authorization requirements to telehealth
• Impose visit limits that apply to telehealth but not in-person care

Plans We Accept

Commercial insurance:

• Aetna — telehealth covered at same rate as in-person
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
• Cigna
• UnitedHealthcare
• And other major plans

Government programs:

• Medicare (Original Medicare Part B and most Medicare Advantage plans)
• Many Medicaid managed care plans (call to verify)

Medicare Coverage for Online Psychiatry

What Medicare Covers

Medicare Part B covers outpatient psychiatric telehealth services permanently following the COVID-era expansion. This includes:

• Initial psychiatric evaluations via video
• Medication management follow-up visits via video
• Individual psychotherapy conducted by a psychiatrist via video

Your cost with Original Medicare:

After your Part B deductible ($257 in 2026), Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount for psychiatric telehealth visits. You pay 20% — or less if you have a Medicare supplement plan that covers the coinsurance.

Medicare Advantage: If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your telehealth mental health benefits may vary. Check your Evidence of Coverage document or call the number on your card.

Location Requirements

Under current Medicare rules, patients must be physically located in the United States at the time of their telehealth appointment. There is no longer a geographic restriction requiring patients to be in rural areas — Medicare telehealth is available to all beneficiaries.

Understanding Your Telehealth Psychiatry Costs

Copay Plans

Most employer-sponsored plans use copays. Your specialist copay applies to telehealth psychiatric visits — typically $20–$75 per visit depending on your plan.

High-Deductible Plans (HDHPs)

If you have not met your annual deductible, you pay the negotiated rate for your insurer until the deductible is satisfied. After that, your copay or coinsurance applies. For psychiatric follow-up visits (20-30 minutes), the negotiated rate is typically $100–$180.

Pro tip: HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds can be used for psychiatric visits, including telehealth. If you have an HSA, using pre-tax dollars reduces your effective out-of-pocket cost.

Self-Pay Rates

If you prefer not to use insurance or are uninsured, our self-pay rates are competitive:

• Initial evaluation (60 min): ask when scheduling
• Follow-up medication management (20-30 min): ask when scheduling

How We Verify Your Benefits

When you contact us to schedule, our team:

1. Collects your insurance information

2. Verifies your coverage, copay, and any prior authorization requirements

3. Confirms whether a referral is needed (most plans do not require one)

4. Provides a clear estimate of your out-of-pocket cost before your appointment

You should never be surprised by your bill. If your plan has specific requirements, we identify and handle them before your first visit.

What Telehealth Psychiatry Covers

Conditions we treat via covered online appointments:

• Depression — evaluation and antidepressant management
• Anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety
• ADHD — evaluation and medication management including stimulants
• Bipolar disorder — mood stabilizer management
• PTSD — trauma-informed evaluation and medication
• OCD — diagnosis and medication management

Getting Started

Schedule your appointment online or call our office. Tell us your insurance information when you schedule and we will verify coverage before your visit.

Same-week availability for new patients throughout Florida. Accepting new patients.

Empathy Health Clinic provides telepsychiatry statewide from our Winter Park office.