Brightside Health is an online mental health platform with telepsychiatry being the main offering with therapy available as well. Brightside earned 4 stars overall during our independent review of its platform. The main psychiatry plan costs $95 a month and includes a psychiatric evaluation and ongoing care and refills. Medication can be delivered to you for an additional cost of $15 per medication. All appointments are held over video using the Zoom app. Brightside Health is in-network with some health insurance plans.
Brightside Health offers services throughout the United States to adults ages 18 and older. Their other subscription plans include a therapy only plan and a combined medication and therapy plan. The cost of the therapy only plan is $299 per month. It includes four therapy sessions a month with a licensed therapist. The medication and therapy plan costs $349 per month and combines the benefits of both plans.
Pros & Cons of Brightside Health
Brightside Health offers telepsychiatry and teletherapy services in all 50 states. With Brightside, you can choose between three different monthly subscription plans and some health insurance plans are accepted. The sign-up process is quick and easy, and appointments are available in as little as 48 hours. If you are under 18 or are seeking treatment for any mental health condition other than anxiety and depression, then Brightside Health is not right for you.
How to Get Started With Brightside Health
To get started, you can sign up on the Brightside Health website.
What Is Brightside Health?
Brightside Health is an online mental health treatment platform that offers medication management and therapy for people dealing with mild to severe depression and anxiety. With Brightside Health, you have the option to select between three monthly subscription plans: medication only, therapy only, or a combination medication and therapy plan. Services are available to adults ages 18 and older only in the United States.
Brightside Health automatically matches you with a psychiatric provider and therapist based on your location and schedule. Brightside Health’s medication providers include physicians, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Brightside Health’s therapists include psychologists and masters-level therapists. Providers are licensed in the state where they practice and have education and experience working with depression and anxiety.
Getting Started
Before getting started with Brightside Health, you will have to complete their online assessment, which asks questions about your symptoms, family history, past mental health treatment, and physical health. If you are a good fit for Brightside Health’s services, then you will be matched with a provider and can schedule an appointment.
Medications Through Brightside Health
Brightside Health providers prescribe medications for depression, like antidepressants, and medications for anxiety. They do not prescribe any controlled medications. Medication visits are typically 15 minutes long. During this time, you and your provider will discuss how you are doing, talk about your care plan, and answer any questions. You have the option to have Brightside Health ship your medication to you for an additional fee of $15 per medication. Due to the length of these appointments being less than 30 minutes long, Brightside earned 1 star in the “Psychiatric Appointment Features” category of our online psychiatry scoring criteria.
Therapy Through Brightside Health
If you purchase one of the therapy plans, you will be able to meet with a therapist once a week. You can purchase additional sessions for $59 each. The first visit with a Brightside Health therapist is 45 minutes long. Future therapy sessions are 30 minutes long. All Brightside Health providers practice evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These therapies are extensively researched and deemed to be effective treatments for anxiety and depression.
Additional Self-Care Program
All of Brightside Health’s monthly subscription plans also give you access to their self-care program. This program can be accessed through their website after you login. It focuses on skill-building and includes lessons on “practicing gratitude,” “thinking flexibly,” and “ready, set, goal.”
Who Is Brightside Health Right For?
Brightside Health offers treatment for adults ages 18 and older dealing with anxiety and mild to severe depression. It does not provide treatment to children or teens at this time or anyone experiencing suicidal intent (though they are able to treat suicidal ideation). Brightside Health also does not prescribe any controlled medications or offer medication for ADHD.
Those Seeking the Convenience of Telehealth
Brightside Health allows you to participate in therapy, medication management, or both via telehealth. Services are offered in all 50 states, making treatment more accessible to people across the country. Face-to-face treatment can be difficult for people with transportation challenges, work and family responsibilities, and financial stressors. For this reason, Brightside earned 5 stars in the “Geographic Location” category of our scoring criteria.
People Wanting Evidence-Based Treatment
Brightside Health prides itself on offering evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression. This means that their providers utilize therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that are backed by research. You can also track your progress using their online symptom tracker.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Brightside Health?
Brightside Health is not right for everyone. Brightside Health providers specialize in anxiety and depression. People with other mental health conditions, such as ADHD or substance use disorders, would not be a good fit. Brightside Health also does not provide crisis services. If you are currently experiencing suicidal ideation, then you would benefit from seeing a provider in-person, rather than over a telehealth platform.
Anyone With ADHD
Brightside Health does not offer treatment for ADHD. If you have ADHD, you should seek out another telehealth platform or a face-to-face provider that specializes in this area.
Anyone With Suicidal Intent
Brightside Health does not serve high-risk populations, including people with suicidal intent (though they may help with suicidal ideation), eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, and substance use disorders. During the initial assessment, Brightside Health will ask about any past or current suicidal thoughts or actions. If you are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, Brightside Health will advise you that you are not a good candidate for services and will encourage you to seek treatment with an in-person provider. For these reasons, Brightside earned 1 star in the “Crisis Management & Patient Safety” category of our scoring criteria.
If you have any of these conditions, you can be better served seeing a provider in-person. If you are a Brightside Health patient and are experiencing a crisis, you should call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK, or text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
Brightside Health User Reviews
According to the website Review.io, 86% of Brightside Health users recommended the service. Their website shows a 4.5 out of 5 rating and has over 2,000 reviews. Overall, the reviews were positive, with many patients noting that they were happy with the treatment and care they received. Most of the complaints involved long response times from customer support, communication problems, and delivery delays.
Good Clinical Care
A large number of reviewers noted that they were happy with the care they received from their medication providers and therapists. Even those who noted problems with customer support often felt like their clinical care made up for it. They described therapy sessions as being helpful and providing beneficial tools to manage anxiety. Many also felt that their psychiatric providers were very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to finding the right medication for them.
Long Response Times
A frequent complaint of Brightside Health users was lack of response from providers and customer service or long wait times to hear back. Some patients reported that it took up to a week to get a response or that they didn’t hear back at all. They also noted delays in getting their medications delivered. In my case, I reached out to customer support and it took about a day to get a response back.
How Much Does Brightside Health Cost?
Brightside Health costs $95 – $349 monthly depending on the subscription plan you choose. There are additional fees for medication delivery and purchasing more therapy visits. While there are no free trials, you may be able to find an online coupon code to lower the cost of your first month. Brightside earned 5 stars in the “Online Psychiatry Cost” of our scoring criteria.
$50 Off Brightside FDA Approved Medication
Medication
The cost of this subscription is $95. There is an additional fee of $15 per medication, which includes having the medication shipped to you, or your pharmacy copay. This plan includes a virtual evaluation with a psychiatric provider and ongoing support and monitoring. There is also unlimited messaging with your provider.
Therapy
The cost of this subscription is $299. It includes four video therapy sessions each month and unlimited messaging with a licensed therapist. You can also purchase additional therapy sessions for $59 each.
Medication + Therapy
The cost of this subscription is $349. This plan combines the benefits of both the medication and therapy plans. It includes a virtual evaluation with a psychiatric provider, ongoing medication management, weekly video therapy sessions, and unlimited messaging. You can also add medication delivery for $15 per medication.
Does Brightside Health Accept Insurance?
Yes, Brightside Health does accept some insurance plans. Insurance coverage varies depending on your location. When you sign up, you will have the opportunity to fill in your insurance information to find out whether your plan is covered. Brightside earned 5 stars in the “Insurance & Out-of-Network Benefits” of our scoring criteria.
In-Network Insurance Options
Like many other online mental health platforms, Brightside Health is in-network with a few insurance companies, but coverage will vary by state. Currently, Brightside Health is in-network with Aetna, Cigna EverNorth, and Allegiance, but they have plans to expand to more insurance companies in the future.
Out-of-Network Benefits
If you are out-of-network, Brightside Health will not submit claims for you but they can provide you with a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Out-of-network reimbursement will depend on your health insurance plan.
How Does Brightside Health Work?
Getting started with Brightside Health is quick and simple. It starts with a free assessment, where you will rate your symptoms of anxiety and depression. From there you will fill in some basic information about yourself, which will help match you with a provider. You can then select a subscription plan, pay, and schedule your first appointment. You may be able to schedule an appointment in 48 hours or less.
Here are the steps for getting started with Brightside Health:
- Complete the free assessment.
- Create an account.
- Review the results of your assessment.
- Select and pay for a monthly subscription.
- Get matched with a provider and set up an appointment.
- Set up or log onto a Zoom account, which you will use to meet with your provider.
- Attend your session, where your provider will ask you questions, give you a diagnosis, and prescribe medication (if applicable).
- Have your medications sent directly to you within 5 to 7 business days.
- Schedule follow-up appointments or have refills set up, depending on the treatment plan you develop with your provider.
Brightside Health Medication Plan: Detailed Review
Brightside Health’s medication plan costs $95 a month and includes telepsychiatry visits and ongoing care. Visits are typically 15 minutes and are held with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. For $15 per medication, you can also have your prescriptions mailed directly to your home.
Psychiatry with Brightside Health is only available to adults over age 18 dealing with anxiety and depression. Providers are selected for you based on your location and the answers you provide during your assessment. For this reason, Brightside earned 3 stars in the “Provider Matching” category of our scoring criteria. You have the option to message your provider and care team in-between appointments through the company’s website. If you have questions about your treatment after your appointment, you can select “Request a Review” through the portal. Your provider will then determine whether you should schedule another visit.
Who Is Eligible for Medication?
Medication is available for adults ages 18 and older dealing with depression and/or anxiety.
What Medications Are Available?
Brightside Health providers prescribe non-addictive antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, including SSRIs and SNRIs. They do not ever prescribe controlled medications for ADHD or anxiety.
Where Is Medication Management Available?
Medication management with Brightside Health is available nationwide.
Medication Shipping Costs
You have the option to either use your insurance benefits to cover the cost of medication or pay a $15 fee per medication. This fee includes having the medication shipped directly to you within 5 to 7 business days. If your provider prescribes refills, these will arrive each month for the same fee.
Brightside Health Therapy Plan: Detailed Review
Brightside Health’s therapy plan costs $299 a month and includes four teletherapy visits. Initial therapy appointments are 45 minutes and future appointments are 30 minutes. All Brightside Health therapists are licensed and hold master’s or doctorate degrees. If you would like to meet with your therapist more than once a week, you can purchase additional sessions for $59 each.
What Is Therapy on Brightside Health?
Brightside Health matches you with a therapist based on your location and answers to your assessment. It typically takes 48 hours to schedule an appointment. The therapy plan also includes unlimited messaging. You can message your therapist directly through the portal, but it may take 24 to 48 hours during the weekdays to hear back. Weekend and evening appointments are available.
All sessions are held through Zoom. The quality of the video session will depend on your connection. It can help to do a trial run before your initial appointment so that you can fix any issues that come up.
Brightside also offers online cognitive behavioral therapy courses and this helped earn them 5 stars in the “Extra Features & Resources” category of our scoring criteria.
Therapists Vetting & Credentials
Brightside Health’s therapy providers include psychologists and master’s level therapists who are licensed in your state. Each provider has attained the level of education necessary for licensure and is held to high clinical standards. All providers specialize in treating anxiety and depression using evidence-based treatments. Brightside Health’s clinical advisory board also includes experts from top universities who oversee the company’s operations.
Therapist Matching
Brightside Health matches you with a therapist that fits your location and schedule. There are no options to choose your own therapist or view a directory.
Can You Choose a New Therapist?
If you would like to change your therapist, you can contact Brightside Health at [email protected] and request a change. You will then be matched with a new provider that practices in your state and can accommodate your schedule.
Brightside Health Medication + Therapy Plan: Detailed Review
Brightside Health’s medication and therapy plan costs $349 a month and includes telepsychiatry and four teletherapy visits per month, as well as ongoing care and unlimited messaging. This plan saves you $45 off the cost of purchasing both plans alone.
With this plan, your providers will be able to coordinate your care and monitor your progress using progress measures that are viewable on the portal. Depending on the severity of your anxiety and depression, combining therapy and medication together may be more effective than trying either form of treatment alone.
Brightside Health vs Cerebral
Brightside Health and Cerebral both offer virtual medication management and therapy. The cost of Cerebral is slightly less, but both platforms accept some health insurance plans. There are also several notable differences. Brightside Health offers care exclusively for depression and anxiety, while Cerebral treats a wider range of mental health conditions, such as opioid and alcohol use disorders, ADHD, and PTSD. Cerebral has options for phone visits, while Brightside Health providers only offer video visits over Zoom. Lastly, Cerebral allows you to choose your own provider and Brightside Health selects a provider for you.
To learn more about how their subscription options work vs Brightside’s, please read our in-depth Cerebral review.
Brightside Health vs Talkspace
Talkspace is an online therapy and psychiatry platform. The cost structure of Talkspace’s psychiatry service is different from Brightside Health’s. Unlike Brightside Health, there is no monthly subscription plan. Instead, you pay per visit. The cost of an initial evaluation with Talkspace is $249 and follow-up appointments are $125. If you are paying out-of-pocket, then Brightside Health appears to be more affordable. Both Talkspace and Brightside Health accept some insurance plans and match you with a provider. Talkspace providers treat a wider range of mental health disorders, such as OCD and PTSD, and offer several different options for therapy, including live sessions and messaging.
To learn about everything Talkspace offers, please read our in-depth and comprehensive Talkspace review.
How Has Brightside Health Evolved?
Brightside Health was founded by Brad Kittredge (CEO), Mirene Winsberg (CMO), and Jeremy Barth (CTO) in 2017. They came together to establish the company after seeing firsthand how challenging it was to navigate the healthcare system and find quality mental health care. Their goals in founding Brightside Health were to increase access to mental health treatment for people with depressive and anxiety disorders. For these reasons, Brightside earned 5 stars in the “Reliability & Longevity” category of our scoring criteria.
According to Brightside Health, what sets them apart from other companies is their one-to-one care and evidence-based treatment approach that is tailored to each individual. The company currently serves clients in all 50 states. In the future, there may be expansion efforts to accept additional health insurance plans and serve a wider range of diagnoses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brightside Health
Can I Use My FSA or HSA Accounts?
Yes, you can use FSA or HSA account as a form of payment.
How Do I Cancel My Brightside Health Subscription?
To cancel your subscription, login to your Brightside Health account and click “Settings.” Next, select “Manage Plan.” You will see options to either cancel your medication or therapy plans. If you are unhappy with your treatment, you may want to consider reaching out to your provider to discuss your concerns or switching providers first.
Does Brightside Health Offer Refunds?
Brightside Health offers refunds for medication subscription plans in some cases. However, they will not offer a refund after you have met with a psychiatric provider. Therapy subscription plans are non-refundable, but you may be able to get a refund if you purchased additional therapy sessions and do not use them. To inquire about a refund, log into your account, click “Help,” and contact the support team. You can also email them at [email protected].
Is Brightside Health HIPAA Compliant?
Brightside Health follows the best practices to keep patient information private and secure. According to their website, they are HIPAA compliant and encrypt all data using 256-bit SSL security. You can learn more by reading their Notice of Privacy Practices.
Final Verdict on Brightside Health
Brightside Health is an online psychiatry and therapy platform that earned 4 stars overall during our independent review. This service is ideal for adults over age 18 in the United States who are experiencing anxiety and depression. You can choose between three monthly subscription plans, with the ability to quickly connect with a psychiatric provider and therapist in 48 hours or less. Compared to in-person treatment, these plans are very affordable and you may be able to use your health insurance to help cover the costs. Overall, Brightside Health is worth trying if you are looking for evidence-based treatment for anxiety and depression.
Summary of What Brightside Health Offers
| Cost of Online Therapy | $95 - $349 |
| Is Insurance Accepted? | Yes |
| Frequency of Appointments | Depends on your treatment plan |
| Message Therapist Between Appointments Provider Choices | Yes, included in plan |
| Can You Change Therapists? | Matched for you |
| Speed to First Appointment | 48 hours or less |
| Geographic Coverage | United States |
| Age Limitations | Ages 18 and older |
| Online Psychiatry Offered | Yes |
