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Best Insurance Plans for Telehealth Psychiatry in MA (2026 Guide)
Updated: Sep 30
Last updated: September 30, 2026
The Quick Answer
In Massachusetts, the best insurance plan for telehealth psychiatry is usually the one you already have, as long as your psychiatric provider is in-network with it. State law requires fully insured commercial health plans to cover mental health visits by video, and even by phone, the same way they cover in-person visits: at the same payment rate, and with no higher copay, coinsurance or deductible.
That means the question that decides what you pay is not really "which plan is best?" It is "is this practice in my plan’s network, and what does my plan charge for a specialist mental health visit?"
Greater Boston Psychiatric Services (GBPS) is in-network with 12 commercial insurance plans. We provide adult psychiatric evaluations and medication management by secure video anywhere in Massachusetts, or in person at our Medway office. This guide explains each plan we accept, what Massachusetts law guarantees, and exactly how to check your own coverage.
Key Takeaways
Massachusetts law (Chapter 260 of the Acts of 2020) requires insured commercial plans to pay for behavioral health telehealth, including audio-only phone visits, at the same rate as in-person care.
Your cost sharing for a telehealth visit cannot be higher than for the same visit in person.
You can be seen from home. Plans cannot require you to be at a clinic or prove you are unable to come in.
Self-funded employer plans, often administered by companies such as UMR or HPI, are governed mainly by federal law, so their telehealth terms are set by the employer.
Insured Massachusetts plans must also cover an annual mental health wellness exam with no cost sharing.
GBPS is in-network with 12 commercial plans but cannot bill Medicare, MassHealth (Medicaid) or supplemental plans.
The 12 Insurance Plans GBPS Accepts
We are in-network with the commercial plans below. Each link opens a page with details for that plan.
Don’t see your plan? Contact us. You may be able to use out-of-network benefits, or choose self-pay with a Good Faith Estimate. Our insurance page has the details.
What Massachusetts Law Guarantees for Telehealth Mental Health Care
Massachusetts made telehealth a permanent part of insurance coverage with Chapter 260 of the Acts of 2020, signed in January 2021. For behavioral health, which includes psychiatry, the law goes further than it does for most other medical care:
Payment parity. In-network behavioral health services delivered by telehealth must be paid at no less than the in-person rate (M.G.L. c.175 §47MM, with parallel sections for HMOs, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and GIC plans).
Video and phone both count. Interactive audio-video and audio-only telephone visits are both covered forms of telehealth.
No higher cost sharing. Copays, coinsurance and deductibles for telehealth cannot exceed what you would pay for the same service in person.
No location rules. Plans cannot restrict where you are during the visit, and your provider does not have to document why you cannot come in.
Same review standards. Plans may still use utilization review or prior authorization, but they must apply the same clinical standards they use for in-person care.
In practice, this means choosing a video visit over an office visit should not change your cost for psychiatric care. What does change your cost is whether your provider is in-network and how your plan’s deductible and copays are designed. (Source: Center for Connected Health Policy, Massachusetts.)
A Free Annual Mental Health Wellness Exam
Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2022, known as the Mental Health ABC Act, requires insured Massachusetts plans to cover an annual mental health wellness exam, performed by a licensed mental health professional or a primary care provider, with no cost sharing. It is a screening and check-in, not a full psychiatric evaluation, so ask your plan how it applies to you. (Source: Mass.gov, Annual Mental Health Wellness Exams.)
Federal Parity Rules Apply Too
The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires most group health plans to cover mental health care on terms no more restrictive than medical care. That covers copays, visit limits and prior authorization rules, and it applies to self-funded employer plans as well as insured ones.
The Self-Funded Plan Exception
Many large employers pay claims themselves and hire an administrator to run the plan. These self-funded plans are governed by federal law (ERISA), so Massachusetts mandates such as Chapter 260 do not automatically apply. Most still cover telehealth psychiatry, but the employer sets the terms. If your card says UMR, HPI or "administered by," check your Summary of Benefits and Coverage or call the number on the card.
Plan-by-Plan Guide to Telehealth Psychiatry Coverage
Each insurer handles mental health a little differently. Some manage behavioral health in-house. Others hand it to a separate behavioral health company, whose name may be the one printed on the back of your card. Here is what to know about each plan we accept.
1. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the largest health insurer in the state, and its commercial HMO and PPO plans cover outpatient psychiatric care by video or in person. Because Massachusetts parity rules apply to insured Blue Cross plans, a telehealth visit with an in-network psychiatric provider should cost the same as an office visit.
If your card comes from a Blue plan in another state, your benefits run through the national BlueCard program. Call the number on your card to confirm how your plan treats Massachusetts providers. Pandemic-era telehealth copay waivers have ended, so expect your plan’s normal specialist or mental health cost sharing.
See our Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts page for plan-specific details.
2. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Harvard Pilgrim is now part of Point32Health, the same parent company as Tufts Health Plan. Its HMO, PPO and POS plans are common among Massachusetts employers and on the Massachusetts Health Connector.
HMO plans can have different rules than PPOs for specialist care, so ask whether you need a primary care referral for outpatient mental health visits. Member services can also tell you whether your behavioral health benefits are handled directly or by a partner company.
See our Harvard Pilgrim Health Care page for plan-specific details.
3. Tufts Health Plan (Commercial Plans)
Tufts Health Plan, also part of Point32Health, offers employer plans and Health Connector plans such as Tufts Health Direct. GBPS is in-network with Tufts Health Plan commercial plans.
Tufts also runs MassHealth and Medicare products, and those are different contracts. We are not able to bill Tufts Health Together (MassHealth), Tufts Health One Care or Tufts Medicare Preferred. If you are unsure which Tufts product you have, the plan name is printed on the front of your card.
See our Tufts Health Plan page for plan-specific details.
4. Health Plans, Inc. (HPI)
Health Plans, Inc. is a third-party administrator owned by Point32Health. It runs self-funded health plans for employers across New England. Your employer sets the benefits, and HPI processes the claims.
Because HPI plans are usually self-funded, the details of telehealth and mental health coverage come from your employer’s plan documents rather than state mandates. Federal parity rules still apply.
See our Health Plans, Inc. page for plan-specific details.
5. Mass General Brigham Health Plan
Mass General Brigham Health Plan, formerly AllWays Health Partners, offers employer plans, Health Connector plans and plans for Group Insurance Commission (GIC) members. Mental health benefits for its members may be managed by a behavioral health partner, so check the back of your card for a separate behavioral health number.
GBPS accepts Mass General Brigham Health Plan commercial plans. MassHealth ACO plans connected to Mass General Brigham are not billable at our practice.
See our Mass General Brigham Health Plan page for plan-specific details.
6. Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health company, offers PPO, HMO and open access plans through many national and Massachusetts employers. Most Aetna commercial plans cover telehealth psychiatric evaluations and medication management, and mental health benefits are handled through Aetna Behavioral Health.
You can see your mental health copay or coinsurance in your Aetna member account or app under outpatient mental health or specialist visits.
See our Aetna page for plan-specific details.
7. UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurer in the country and is part of UnitedHealth Group. For most UnitedHealthcare commercial plans, mental health benefits are administered by Optum Behavioral Health, which used to be called United Behavioral Health.
That is why your card may show a separate behavioral health phone number. Use that number to confirm psychiatric coverage.
See our UnitedHealthcare page for plan-specific details.
8. Optum
Optum is UnitedHealth Group’s health services company. Optum Behavioral Health manages mental health benefits for UnitedHealthcare members and for many employers and health plans that contract with it.
If Optum is listed for mental health on your card, Optum decides coverage for your psychiatric visits, even if your medical plan has a different name on the front.
See our Optum page for plan-specific details.
9. UMR
UMR is UnitedHealthcare’s third-party administrator for self-funded employer plans. UMR plans often use a UnitedHealthcare network, and mental health benefits may be administered through Optum.
As with any self-funded plan, your employer sets the telehealth terms. Check your plan documents or call UMR to confirm coverage for outpatient psychiatry.
See our UMR page for plan-specific details.
10. Wellpoint
Wellpoint is a health plan brand of Elevance Health. In Massachusetts, Wellpoint is the new name for the plans UniCare offered to Group Insurance Commission members: state employees, many municipal employees, retirees and their families. Its GIC plans include Total Choice, PLUS and Community Choice (Wellpoint Massachusetts).
Wellpoint GIC plans are commercial plans, and GBPS is in-network with them. Medicare Extension plans are Medicare supplements and are not billable at our practice.
See our Wellpoint page for plan-specific details.
11. UniCare
UniCare is the former name of Wellpoint’s Massachusetts GIC plans, including the UniCare State Indemnity Plan. Some members still carry UniCare cards, and some plan documents still use the old name.
Either way, you are covered at GBPS. Bring the card you have, and we will verify your benefits.
See our UniCare page for plan-specific details.
12. Carelon Behavioral Health
Carelon Behavioral Health, formerly Beacon Health Options, is part of Elevance Health. It manages mental health benefits for many health plans and employer groups. If Carelon is listed for behavioral health on your card, it is the company that authorizes and pays for your psychiatric care.
GBPS is in-network with Carelon for commercial plans. Carelon also manages some MassHealth programs, and those are not billable at our practice.
See our Carelon Behavioral Health page for plan-specific details.
How to Check Your Telehealth Psychiatry Coverage in 5 Steps
Look at the back of your card. If there is a separate behavioral health or mental health number, that company (for example Optum or Carelon) manages your psychiatric benefits.
Confirm we are in-network. Ask whether Greater Boston Psychiatric Services is in-network for outpatient mental health care under your specific plan.
Ask about your costs. Ask what you pay for an outpatient psychiatric evaluation and for follow-up medication management visits, and confirm telehealth costs the same as in person.
Check your deductible and rules. Ask how much of your deductible is left, and whether you need a referral or prior authorization.
Write down a reference number. Note the date, the name of the representative and the call reference number in case a claim is questioned later.
Prefer not to make the call yourself? When you request a new patient appointment, our team can help check your benefits before your first visit.
What You’ll Pay With Insurance
When we are in-network, we bill your plan directly, and you are responsible only for your plan’s cost sharing, not the full cost of the visit. Cost sharing usually takes one of three forms:
Copay: a flat amount per visit, common on HMO and many PPO plans.
Deductible: on high-deductible plans, you pay the plan’s negotiated rate until your deductible is met. Health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) funds can usually be used.
Coinsurance: a percentage of the negotiated rate, usually after the deductible is met.
Because of Massachusetts parity law, these amounts should be the same for a video visit as for an office visit on an insured plan. A first psychiatric evaluation is usually a longer visit than a follow-up, so its cost sharing may be higher on coinsurance or deductible plans.
What GBPS Cannot Bill to Insurance
Medicare, including Medicare Advantage plans.
MassHealth (Medicaid), including MassHealth ACO and managed care plans such as Tufts Health Together.
Supplemental plans, such as Medicare supplement or Medigap policies.
RMV evaluations. RMV psychiatric evaluations for license reinstatement are self-pay and are not billed to insurance.
If you are paying yourself, you will receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges before your visit, as required by the federal No Surprises Act.
What a Telehealth Psychiatry Visit at GBPS Looks Like
Our clinical team includes seven board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, all licensed in Massachusetts. We see adults 18 and older.
Psychiatric evaluation: a comprehensive first appointment to review your history and symptoms and build a treatment plan. Learn about online psychiatric evaluations.
Medication management: ongoing follow-up visits to monitor and adjust your medication. Learn about medication management.
Conditions we treat: depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, sleep problems and more.
For a video visit, you need a phone, tablet or computer with a camera, a private space, and to be physically located in Massachusetts during the appointment. Prefer to meet in person? Our Medway office is available too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover telehealth psychiatry in Massachusetts?
Yes, for most people. Insured commercial plans in Massachusetts must cover behavioral health telehealth, and pay for it at the same rate as in-person care. Self-funded employer plans set their own terms, but nearly all cover telehealth mental health visits. Your cost depends on whether the provider is in-network and on your plan’s copay and deductible.
Are phone-only psychiatry visits covered?
Under Massachusetts law, audio-only telephone visits count as telehealth for behavioral health on insured plans. Most psychiatric visits at GBPS take place by video, which lets your clinician see you and is preferred for evaluations.
Will my copay be higher for a video visit?
It should not be on an insured Massachusetts plan. The law says telehealth cost sharing cannot be higher than cost sharing for the same service in person.
Do I need a referral to see a psychiatric provider?
Most PPO plans do not require one. Some HMO plans do, or require you to have a primary care provider on file. Check with your plan, or ask our team when you request an appointment.
Does GBPS accept MassHealth or Medicare?
No. We are in-network with 12 commercial plans, but we cannot bill Medicare, Medicare Advantage, MassHealth, MassHealth ACO plans or supplemental plans. We can offer self-pay care with a Good Faith Estimate.
My card says Optum, Carelon, UMR or HPI. Am I covered?
These companies manage or administer benefits for other plans or employers, and GBPS is in-network with all four. Call the behavioral health number on your card to confirm your specific plan, or let our team check for you.
Can I have a telehealth appointment while I’m traveling outside Massachusetts?
Our clinicians are licensed in Massachusetts, so you need to be physically in Massachusetts at the time of your visit. If you will be away, we can schedule around your travel.
I’m a therapist, doctor or attorney. How do I refer someone?
Use our Refer a Patient page. We accept referrals for evaluations, medication management and RMV evaluations.
Ready to Use Your Insurance for Psychiatric Care?
If you have one of the 12 plans above, you can use your insurance for psychiatric care by video from anywhere in Massachusetts, usually for the same cost as an office visit. Request a new patient appointment and our team will help confirm your coverage, or visit our insurance page for more details.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Benefits vary by plan and change over time, so always confirm coverage with your insurer.
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