- Alma bills Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and Optum plans, including Oxford, UMR, and Surest, along with Oscar, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Carelon, and Blue Cross or Anthem in selected states. Of its therapists, 98% take insurance.
- Kaiser, Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Humana, TRICARE, and Original Medicare are outside Alma’s contracts. Medicare Advantage coverage is limited to UnitedHealthcare or Optum Medicare plans, with few participating providers.
- Insured clients paid $20 per session on average in late 2025. Before your deductible is met, you pay the contracted rate, usually $130 to $380.
Alma is a directory of more than 26,000 independent therapists and psychiatric prescribers. It checks benefits and files claims for plans covered by its insurance contracts. Providers may also accept other plans independently, but Alma does not verify that coverage.
Alma has been part of Spring Health since May 2026. The two continue to operate as separate platforms.
Check your coverage and find an in-network therapist on Alma
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Which insurance plans does Alma accept?
Alma’s directory distinguishes between two types of coverage. “Alma Insurance Partners” are plans Alma verifies and bills. For these plans, Alma checks your eligibility and emails a cost estimate. “Other Insurance” refers to plans a provider accepts independently, which Alma does not verify.
Both appear in the same directory filters and on provider profiles. In a sample of 55 New York providers listing Aetna, all 55 had coverage verified by Alma. Of 55 listing Humana, none did.
| Plan | Billed through Alma? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Yes | Excludes Aetna CVS, Aetna Medicare and Medicaid, GEHA-Aetna, and some administrators |
| Cigna | Yes | Some administrators are excluded |
| UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Oxford, UMR, Surest | Yes | Enter the plan name on your card, not “Optum” |
| Oscar | Yes | Listed among Alma’s Optum plans |
| Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Carelon, Sutter, Medica (commercial), and other regional plans | Yes | The full list appears in Alma’s website footer |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem | Selected states | You usually need to be in the covered state during the session |
| Medicare Advantage | Limited | UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Optum Medicare only |
| Original Medicare, Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Kaiser, Humana, TRICARE | No | Some providers independently bill Humana, Medicare, TRICARE East, or Connecticut Medicaid |
| Employee assistance programs | Four EAPs | Free sessions, typically 3 to 10 |
Coverage details are based on Alma’s partner list, help center, and September 2026 email responses to ChoosingTherapy, as of September 25, 2026.
Alma bills only your primary insurance. It says a claim submitted to a secondary plan will be denied, leaving you responsible for the full session cost. 1
Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem by state
Alma’s Anthem contracts cover Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Its other Blue Cross contracts cover Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and North Carolina. Members in Illinois, Michigan, and Texas must be in that state during the session.
Blue Shield of California, Florida Blue, and Horizon are not among Alma’s insurance partners. However, if your card lists Carelon on the back, Alma says those Carelon benefits may still provide coverage through its network.
Does Alma accept Medicare, Medicaid, Kaiser, Humana, or TRICARE?
These plans require a closer look because coverage through Alma differs from the coverage a provider accepts independently.
Plans outside Alma’s contracts
Alma confirmed to ChoosingTherapy in September 2026 that it does not accept Kaiser, Humana, or Medicaid, and does not bill TRICARE directly. Medi-Cal is not listed on its site.
Alma maintains a help page listing community clinics for Medicaid members in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
Limited Medicare Advantage coverage
Alma confirmed that it accepts UnitedHealthcare Medicare, and its partner list also includes Optum Medicare. A help article updated in September 2026 states that Alma supports Optum Medicare Advantage. 2 Original Medicare is not an Alma insurance partner.
Few providers list the two Medicare Advantage plans. In New York, six list Optum Medicare and two list UnitedHealthcare Medicare.
Alma’s published guidance is inconsistent. Other help pages, including one updated in the same month, still say it does not accept Medicare. They also state that clients owe the full amount if a Medicare claim is denied. Before booking, enter your Medicare Advantage card in the cost estimator and confirm coverage with the provider.
Plans billed directly by providers
Some providers independently bill Humana, Original Medicare, or TRICARE East. In Florida, 186 providers list Humana and 66 list TRICARE East. Alma does not verify these plans. During the free consultation, ask whether the provider is in-network with your exact plan and handles the billing directly.
How do you check your Alma insurance coverage?
Alma’s free cost estimator asks for your city or ZIP code, insurer, name as it appears on your card, date of birth, and member ID. Alma says it does not save the information you enter. The tool supports major plans such as Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.
- Check your primary insurance card. Note the plan name and any administrator listed on the back, such as Optum or Carelon.
- Enter your details in the cost estimator. Alma says the result shows whether it is in-network with your plan and whether your deductible applies.
- Search the directory by location and plan. Use the ZIP code where you will be during sessions, since your therapist must be licensed in that state.
- Select “See estimated cost” on a provider’s profile. Your estimate then appears on each profile you open.
- Confirm any plan listed under “Other Insurance.” Ask the provider whether they bill your plan and what you would pay.
- Call your insurer. Use the number on your card to check session limits, referral requirements, and prior authorization rules.
Alma rechecks eligibility monthly and three days before appointments booked on its calendar, then emails an updated estimate.
Run your plan through Alma’s coverage check
How much do Alma sessions cost?
Costs with insurance
According to Alma, insured clients paid an average of $20 per session from October to December 2025. 3 There is no subscription fee.
Before meeting your deductible, you pay the provider’s full contracted rate. Alma says this usually ranges from $130 to $380, depending on the state, provider’s degree, and type of care. 4
In Alma’s example, a client who has paid $543 toward a $1,000 deductible pays the full rate until the remaining $457 is met. Afterward, a $150 session with 10% coinsurance costs $15.
When you receive the bill
Clients with a copay are invoiced soon after the session. Those with coinsurance are billed after the insurer processes the claim, usually 45 to 60 days later. 5 Your insurer determines the final amount, which may differ from the estimate. If a claim is denied, Alma charges you with 10 days’ notice.
Higher-than-estimated bills are the most common user complaint, and Alma advises clients to confirm benefits with their insurer. Its Trustpilot TrustScore is 3.5 from 50 reviews. Negative reviews mention unexpected charges and slow support without a phone line. 6 Its Better Business Bureau profile has a B- rating and 62 complaints over three years, mostly about billing. 7
Positive reviews describe an easy search for an in-network therapist and the free 15-minute consultation.
Private pay and out-of-network reimbursement
Each provider sets their own private-pay rate, and many offer a sliding scale. Alma accepts HSA, FSA, and HRA cards.
Alma confirmed in September 2026 that it provides superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. When your provider uses Alma billing, a superbill is emailed on the first of each month. 8 Your plan determines whether it reimburses any of the cost.
How does Alma compare with your insurer’s directory?
Insurance directories can contain inaccurate listings. In a national survey of privately insured adults, 53% of people who used a mental health directory encountered incorrect information. Those who found errors were twice as likely to see an out-of-network provider, at 40% versus 20%. 9
Federal inspectors found that, on average, 55% of behavioral health providers listed in Medicare Advantage networks saw no enrollees in 2023. 10 In a December 2025 survey, 46% of psychology practitioners reported having no openings for new patients. 11
Alma lets you filter by plan and view estimated costs on provider profiles. It says 95% of clients connect with a therapist within a week. An insurer’s directory covers the plan’s full network, including local practices that have not joined Alma. For Kaiser, Medicaid, Humana, and TRICARE members, it offers a broader network list than Alma.
Therapists considering the platform can read our Alma for therapists review.
How can you find an ERP therapist for OCD on Alma?
Alma’s directory filters by both specialty and treatment approach. Select “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” and “Exposure and Response Prevention,” then add your insurance plan.
On September 25, 2026, 125 New York providers listed exposure and response prevention (ERP), including 110 who listed Aetna. California had 88 ERP providers and Florida had 124. Providers choose these tags themselves, so use the consultation to ask about their ERP training.
What are your options if Alma does not accept your plan?
Talkiatry accepts Kaiser members in Northern California with a Kaiser referral, as well as Kaiser members in Washington. It also accepts Medicare Part B and most Humana plans, but not Medicaid. Grow Therapy accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Kaiser, and Humana in some states.
Neither currently accepts TRICARE. Members can search TRICARE’s own network or contact an Alma provider who independently bills TRICARE East.
For commercial plans not on Alma’s list, Rula says its therapists are in-network with most major plans, with a typical cost of $15 per session. Our Alma review covers the rest of the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance does Alma take?
Alma bills Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Oxford, UMR, Surest, Oscar, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Carelon, and several regional plans. It also accepts Blue Cross or Anthem in selected states. Kaiser, Medicaid, Humana, TRICARE, and Original Medicare are not covered by Alma’s contracts, although individual providers may accept some independently.
Does Alma take Medicare?
Alma accepts Medicare Advantage through UnitedHealthcare Medicare or Optum Medicare, but few providers list these plans. Original Medicare is not an Alma insurance partner. Some help pages still state that Alma does not accept Medicare, so check your card in the cost estimator and confirm with the provider before booking.
Does Alma take Medicaid or Medi-Cal?
Not through Alma’s contracts. Medi-Cal is not on its plan list. Some Connecticut providers independently bill Connecticut Medicaid or Husky. Alma also lists community clinics for Medicaid members in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
Does Alma take Kaiser?
No. Kaiser does not appear in Alma’s coverage checker. Talkiatry and Grow Therapy accept Kaiser in some areas.
Does Alma take Humana?
Not through Alma’s contracts. Some providers bill Humana independently, including 186 listed in Florida. Confirm with the provider that they are in-network with your exact plan.
Does Alma take TRICARE?
Not directly. In Florida, 66 providers list TRICARE East independently. Alma’s directory has no TRICARE West filter.
Does Alma take Blue Cross Blue Shield?
Yes, in selected states. Alma accepts Anthem in 12 states, including New York, and Blue Cross in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, and North Carolina. You usually need to be in the covered state during the session.
Does Alma provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement?
Yes. When your provider uses Alma billing, a superbill is emailed on the first of each month. Whether you receive reimbursement depends on your insurance plan.
Can I use an HSA or FSA card at Alma?
Yes. You can pay directly with the card or use your emailed receipt to request reimbursement. Alma cannot split a payment across two cards.
Does Alma accept secondary insurance?
No. Alma bills only your primary plan. It says a claim submitted to secondary insurance will be denied, leaving you responsible for the full session cost.
Does Alma offer ERP therapy for OCD?
Many providers list ERP, and the directory includes an Exposure and Response Prevention filter. Providers select their own tags, so ask about their training during the consultation.
How does Alma’s insurance compare with Headway’s?
Headway lists more than 80,000 providers and over 100 plan partners, including select Medicare Advantage and some Medicaid managed care plans. It also accepts secondary insurance. New Headway clients need an accepted insurance plan to book, while Alma providers also see private-pay clients.
How does Alma’s insurance compare with Grow Therapy’s?
Grow Therapy works with more than 80 plans, including Medicaid, and accepts Kaiser, Humana, and Medicare in some states. It says insured clients pay $21 per session or less on average. Sliding-scale self-pay is also available.
How does Alma’s insurance compare with Rula’s?
Rula says its therapists are in-network with most major plans, with a typical cost of $15 per session. Its cash rate for individual therapy is $150. Alma’s private-pay rates are set by each provider.
How does Alma’s insurance compare with Talkiatry’s?
Talkiatry is a psychiatry practice that sees only insured patients, most of whom pay $30. It verifies network status before the first visit and covers that visit if its verification is wrong. Talkiatry accepts Medicare Part B and most Humana plans, but not Medicaid.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
- Alma. (2026). Understand Primary and Secondary Insurance Coverage (Coordination of Benefits).
- Alma. (2026, September). Why Alma Doesn’t Participate with your Insurance Plan.
- Alma. (2026). Find the right therapist who accepts your insurance.
- Alma. (2026). Use Alma’s Cost Estimator Tool.
- Alma. (2026). How Billing Works at Alma: From Claim to Invoice.
- Trustpilot. (2026, September). Alma reviews.
- Better Business Bureau. (2026, September). Alma (Spring Health) complaints.
- Alma. (2026). Find and Use Your Superbill.
- Busch, S. H., & Kyanko, K. A. (2020, June). Incorrect Provider Directories Associated With Out-Of-Network Mental Health Care And Outpatient Surprise Bills. Health Affairs, 39(6), 975-983.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. (2025, October). Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care Plans Have Limited Behavioral Health Provider Networks (OEI-02-23-00540).
- American Psychological Association. (2025, December). 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey.
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Luke Prest, MD
Reviewer: MD review pending