Does Aetna cover therapy?

Yes. Aetna plans generally cover mental health care, including therapy, psychiatry visits and medication. Marketplace plans must cover mental health care as an essential health benefit, and federal parity law means that when a plan covers mental health, it can't make that care harder to use than medical care, for example with higher copays or stricter visit limits. What you pay depends on your specific plan: your copay or coinsurance, your deductible, and whether the provider is in Aetna's network. Aetna is part of CVS Health, and it offers both in-person and virtual mental health care.

What does Aetna cover for mental health?

Most Aetna medical plans include:

• Therapy with licensed counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists and psychologists, individually or in groups
• Psychiatry: evaluations and medication management with psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners
• Prescription medications such as antidepressants and ADHD medication, through your plan's drug list
• Higher levels of care such as intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization and inpatient treatment, usually with prior authorization
• Treatments for hard-to-treat depression such as TMS and Spravato when you meet Aetna's medical criteria, with prior authorization

Details differ between employer plans, Marketplace (individual) plans, Aetna Medicare Advantage and Aetna Better Health (Medicaid) plans, so your plan documents have the final word.

How do I find an Aetna therapist or psychiatrist?

Use Aetna's provider search on aetna.com or the Aetna Health app. Log in for the most accurate results, or search as a guest. Choose the behavioral health category and the type of provider you want, such as a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist, and filter for those accepting new patients or offering video visits.

Directories aren't always up to date, so call the office to confirm they're in-network for your specific Aetna plan and have openings. If you're stuck, the behavioral health number on your member ID card can help find options.

Does Aetna cover online therapy?

Usually, yes. Most Aetna plans cover video visits with in-network therapists and psychiatrists. Aetna also offers virtual mental health visits through MinuteClinic at CVS, and in-person counseling at select MinuteClinic locations. Check your plan for what you'd pay for a virtual visit compared with an in-person one.

How much does therapy cost with Aetna?

It depends on your plan:

• Copay plans: a flat amount per visit, often similar to a specialist or primary care copay.
• Deductible and coinsurance plans: you may pay the full Aetna-negotiated rate until you meet your deductible, then a percentage of it.
• High-deductible plans with an HSA: you pay the negotiated rate until the deductible is met, and you can use HSA money.

Seeing an in-network provider almost always costs much less than out-of-network. See how much does therapy cost for typical prices.

Does Aetna cover TMS and Spravato?

Generally yes, for treatment-resistant depression, when you meet Aetna's criteria. These typically include a diagnosis of major depression and not enough improvement after several antidepressant trials. Both need prior authorization, which the treating clinic usually requests for you. Our guides to TMS and Spravato explain what each treatment involves.

Does Aetna cover out-of-network therapy?

Some Aetna plans, often PPO plans, include out-of-network benefits. You pay the therapist up front, then submit a claim (with an itemized receipt, often called a superbill) to be partly reimbursed. HMO and EPO plans usually don't cover out-of-network care except in emergencies.