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Cerebral, the mental health platform, provides consumers quick access to services like therapy and mental health prescriptions. Their remote health resources provide faster access for Americans who face issues when seeking mental health services.
However, does Cerebral take insurance? Yes, Cerebral does take insurance from several providers in all 50 states. It also offers several out-of-network subscription plans paid monthly.
How to Gain Access to Cerebral?
You must create an account once you log onto the Cerebral mental health platform. From there, the platform directs you to an emotional assessment to determine your current mental health standing and the possible assistance you might need.
Once you have completed the assessment, you must submit a photo of a government ID and a real-time snapshot, something required from Cerebral by state and federal telemedicine laws.
Next, you must choose a subscription plan. Once you have completed the steps required to create an account, it takes about a week to receive help from Cerebral, who will match you with a licensed therapist.
It’s worth noting that there’s no minimum subscription length, meaning you can cancel it anytime.
Important Note
If you need immediate support for any mental health crisis or emergency, call 911 or 988 (suicide hotline) for immediate help. These lines are available 24/7.
Cerebral Subscription Models
These are the subscription model options at Cerebral:
- Medication + Therapy Plan – You receive four 45-minute therapy sessions per month, and it includes home medication prescription delivery
- Medications + Care Management – Care management, provided at the discretion of a mental care counselor and home medication prescription delivery
- Therapy Only – Up to four monthly therapy sessions of 45 minutes each
- Coaching Plan – Up to four coaching sessions of 30 minutes per month
The main differences between the plans are whether you want to see a counselor, therapist, or coach.
Care counselors – These hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees and have training. They work together with you and your prescribing provider during your treatment.
Therapists – These hold master’s or doctoral degrees, have undergone training, and are licensed to practice in one or more states. Their role is to address severe problems or issues.
Coaches – These hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree with a coaching background and have training. Their role is to provide tools and strategies to use with daily issues.
On Cerebral, therapists are the only people licensed and certified to diagnose mental illnesses. Some care counselors are therapists but none of the coaches. Sessions with care counselors and coaches last 30 minutes.
Services Provided by Cerebral
Besides therapy and prescriptions, the Cerebral platform provides many services.
- Disability paperwork
- Family medical leave (FMLA) paperwork
- Paperwork for an emotional support animal (ESA)
- Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD (excludes the prescriptions of Adderall or Ritalin)
- Diagnosis and treatment of depression and postpartum depression
- Anxiety diagnosis and treatment (without benzodiazepine prescriptions)
- Bipolar diagnosis and treatment (in some states)
- Trauma/PTSD diagnosis and treatment (in some states)
- Alcohol dependence diagnosis and treatment (in some states)
- Relationship counseling
- Grief and loss counseling
- LGBTQ+ counseling
- Phobia counseling
- Stress management
- Anger management
Does Cerebral Take Insurance?
Yes, Cerebral does take insurance, but you should first check with your insurer to see that it’s within their network. If it is within and you have met your deductible, your insurer will pay the contracted portion, and you will pay your copay and coinsurance. If you haven’t met your deductible, you must pay the total amount negotiated between your insurer and Cerebral.
You may get limited coverage with your plan, even if Cerebral is out-of-network with your insurance. Contact Cerebral to find out how much you’ll get as reimbursement.
However, Cerebral does not accept Medicare and Medicaid Part B insurance.
How to Know Which Insurance Cerebral Accepts?
Cerebral accepts several insurances, which aren’t the same in all states. These include Anthem in 5 states, Blue Cross Blue Shield in 11 states, Blue Shield in one state, Magellan Health in 2 states, and Cigna in 10 states. Cerebral also accepts Humana and New Directions. See this article on Health News to see which insurances Cerebral works within each state.
Aetna does not accept Cerebral since 2022 due to concerns about violations around controlled substances. Cerebral denied the allegations but has since stopped giving prescriptions for some controlled substances.
What Does Cerebral Cost?
Several factors determine how much Cerebral will cost:
- Whether you will use your insurance or pay out of pocket
- The state you live in
- The terms and conditions of your insurance plan
- If you haven’t or have met your deductible
Access to HSA/FSA benefits allows you to use an activated card to cover your Cerebral expenses or even apply for reimbursement.
If you’re insured, you can expect to pay $30 per month plus insurance copays, coinsurance, and the payment according to your out-of-pocket maximum in all Cerebral plans.
Without insurance, here’s how much each plan would cost at Cerebral:
- Medication + therapy: You pay $99 per month, plus separately billed medicines if they’re prescribed.
- Medication + Care Management: You pay $325 monthly, plus separately billed medications if prescribed. If applicable, treatments are separately billed.
- Therapy Only: $259 per month
Tips for Choosing a Plan
To choose the best plan, it’s important to determine your needs. Consider if you need therapy, care management, medications, or coach services, and decide which fits your needs and budget best.
It’s also important to note that Cerebral is unavailable in all states. Currently, the service is only available in 32 states across the US.
If you still have questions about Cerebral’s subscription plans or insurance coverage policies, please ask for more information. The customer support team will be more than happy to answer any of your queries.
Strategies for Making the Most of Cerebral
The best way to make the most of your services with Cerebral is to create a plan and stick with it. This includes setting realistic goals, tracking progress, and making changes as necessary.
Additionally, communication is key when working with Cerebral’s licensed professionals. Ensure you are honest about your feelings and struggles so they can properly assess your needs and provide the right help.
Most importantly, it is important to remember that everyone’s journey is different – don’t be discouraged if progress isn’t immediate. It takes time to work through complex issues, but with dedication and effort, success is possible!
Also Read
Does Betterhelp Take Insurance?
Does BetterHelp Take Medicaid? Exploring Online Therapy Coverage
What Is Sliding Scale Therapy?
FAQ
Does Cerebral accept state insurance?
There are hundreds of insurance plans in every state. Even the same insurance provider will have varying coverage for each member. It’s best to verify your coverage with your insurance member services department.
How does Cerebral compare in price to therapy?
Therapy can cost between $50 and $200 per hour. Without insurance, you can expect to pay about $85 an hour at Cerebral. With insurance, you can expect to pay $30 for 3 hours of therapy per month, plus your plan’s cost-sharing responsibilities (copay and coinsurance).
Is Cerebral Available to Everyone?
No, it does not offer therapy to anyone under 18 years old. You must be over 18 to seek therapy and medication management.
Final Take
Cerebral takes insurance from several providers, making it the ideal platform if you don’t mind online appointments and want to determine an underlying condition. It’s the perfect platform for anyone needing therapy and medication from one subscription, those needing specialized case management, and people with alcohol dependency. You can instantly message your provider through the app, schedule appointments, access your mental health assessment, and renew prescriptions. However, it does not provide 24-hour intervention services for people requiring immediate intervention.
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