PursueCare Review 2024: Cost, Pros & Cons, & Who It’s Right For

How to Sign Up for PursueCare

To sign up for PursueCare, you can download the app from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or by visiting the PursueCare website.

What Is PursueCare?

PursueCare is an online program that offers medication-assisted treatment for several forms of addiction. All services can be accessed through the app or website. Treatment is available in select states and is covered by many forms of insurance. PursueCare offers tiered payment plans for those paying out of pocket ranging from $85.00 to $245+ monthly.

PursueCare is currently available in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. All of their services are offered exclusively online through the PursueCare mobile app or website.

After you create an account, you’ll be connected with a case manager who will help you get started by explaining how the program works, discussing insurance and payment options, and scheduling pre-treatment appointments. Your case manager will also help you with your initial toxicology screening (drug test) if you’re receiving medication-assisted treatment for addiction. Depending on the type of addiction you’re treating, you may be asked to go to a local facility to complete a urine toxicology test or complete an at-home saliva test with a kit that PursueCare provides.

You’ll then meet your clinical team, composed of physicians, counselors, and other addiction specialists, to discuss why you’re seeking treatment and your personal goals. Your clinical team will then design a customized treatment plan that meets your needs. If you’re prescribed medication, your case manager can help you get set up with PursueCare Rx, the company’s in-house pharmacy, which can manage the medications prescribed by your clinical team and any existing prescriptions from your other doctors.

Your clinical team will be monitoring your progress through scheduled online visits and routine drug tests. Drug tests are not conducted to punish or remove patients from the program. It’s important for your clinical team to know if you’ve relapsed so they can modify your medication or schedule additional therapy sessions to give you more support.

Who Is PursueCare Right For?

PursueCare is a great choice for anyone looking for help with a dual diagnosis, smokers who want to try medication-assisted treatment, and those seeking personalized pharmacy services.

Those Looking for Dual-Diagnosis Services

A dual diagnosis is when you’re struggling with an addiction and a mental health condition at the same time.¹ PursueCare is an all-encompassing online treatment program that provides medication-assisted treatment, psychiatry, and counseling services, which is an excellent choice for anyone who may be suffering from a mental health condition alongside addiction. All treatment plans are customized to meet your needs, and you have a clinical team to track your progress.

Smokers Seeking an Online MAT Program

I’ve reviewed multiple online medication-assisted treatment programs for addiction, and I rarely see one that includes care for tobacco recovery. Cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., with 480,000 deaths per year.² PursueCare would be an excellent option if you’re a smoker looking for online medication-assisted treatment. They provide both medication and therapy for those hoping to quit smoking.

You Want Personalized Pharmacy Services

With their own in-house pharmacy, PursueCareRx, you can have all of your prescriptions managed in one convenient place. A case manager can help you transfer current prescriptions, keep track of refills, and ensure that the correct medications are delivered to your door in a timely manner. Regardless of whether you choose to enroll in PursueCare’s program, you can still utilize their online pharmacy if you’re seeking personalized pharmacy services.

Who Might Want an Alternative to PursueCare?

You may need an alternative to PursueCare if you need inpatient treatment, if you’re looking for a community connection, or if you’re only looking for online mental health services.

You Need Inpatient Treatment

If you’re dealing with severe symptoms of addiction, you may be better served at an inpatient facility. A rehabilitation facility that provides in-person dual-diagnosis services, medication, group therapy, individual therapy, and 24-hour care offers a much greater chance of success than doing an online program alone. For help finding an addiction treatment facility, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or use the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator tool.

You’re Seeking Community Connection

PursueCare offers the option of choosing individual or group therapy, which might be enough peer support for you. However, there are other programs that truly emphasize a community connection. If you’re looking for online forums, message boards, and daily group meetings with others struggling with your same addiction, you may find Monument to be a better option. They have several community features, and you can even join them for free. Unfortunately, Monument currently only treats alcohol use disorder.

To learn more about their community features, check out our in-depth review of Monument.

You’re Only Looking for Mental Health Support

PursueCare also offers support for those who are not facing addiction, but are suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health disorders. Because they place addiction recovery at the forefront of the company’s services, I wouldn’t recommend PursueCare to someone without a history of addiction who may be looking for a therapist or a psychiatrist for the first time. You may be better served by Talkspace or BetterHelp.

To learn more about these other mental health support options, check out our in-depth review of Betterhelp and our review of Talkspace.

PursueCare User Reviews

PursueCare has earned 4.2 out of 5 stars from 480 reviewers in the Google Play Store, and 4.2 out of 5 stars from 35 reviewers in the Apple Apple App Store. Patients expressed a strong appreciation for the convenience of the online program and the genuine care and attention from their clinical teams.

Love the Convenience of Online Treatment

Several reviewers mentioned that the convenience of online medication-assisted treatment was a game changer for them. Some stated that they had attempted to get help for addiction in the past, but struggled with committing to a program because of busy schedules or lack of transportation or childcare. Patients appear to love that all of the care they need is available within one company, including personalized pharmacy services.

Genuine Care from the Clinical Teams

There was a clear theme of love for the clinical teams in the reviews. Many patients stated that they felt their doctors, therapists, and case managers truly cared about them and wanted them to succeed. Reviewers described the clinical team members as authentic, friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable.

Issues with the App

I was surprised to see how many reviewers mentioned issues with the app. Even reviewers who left positive comments about the program ended up expressing problems with the app scheduling appointments and sending and receiving notifications and messages. Unfortunately, only a handful of reviews that mentioned the app’s glitches received responses from the developers.

How Much Does PursueCare Cost?

PursueCare costs range from $85.00 to $245+ monthly, depending on your chosen care plan. The Addiction Treatment Plan starts at $245.00 a month, the Therapy/Counseling Plan starts at $99.00 a month, and the Psychiatry Plan starts at $85.00 a month. These prices do not include the cost of medication.

Addiction Treatment Plan – $245.00 Monthly

• Bi-monthly video and phone appointments with your medical clinician
• Bi-monthly addiction counseling and/or group therapy
• Group Meetings
• Unlimited communication and support from your case manager
• Lab screenings
• Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Routine progress tracking
• Ability to live chat with your care team when necessary

Therapy/Counseling Plan – $99.00 Monthly

• One 30-50 minute therapy/counseling session per month with a licensed mental health professional. Additional sessions will cost $60.00 per session.
• Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Unlimited communication and support from your case manager
• Ability to live chat with your care team when necessary

Psychiatry Plan – $85.00 Monthly

• One session per month with your psychiatrist (does not list a time limit on monthly sessions). Additional sessions will cost $60.00 per session.
• Unlimited communication and support from your case manager
• Ability to live chat with your care team when necessary

Medication Costs

The cost of medication will vary depending on your personalized treatment plan. Medication costs are not included in the payment plans listed above. Thankfully, many insurance companies cover the cost of the medications offered with PursueCare. If you’re paying out of pocket, your case manager can help find generic options that may be more affordable.

Does PursueCare Accept Insurance?

Yes, PursueCare accepts many popular insurance plans. You can contact a PursueCare case manager to see if you can use your insurance for mental health and addiction recovery.

In-Network Insurance Options

PursueCare accepts many major insurance plans, including BlueCross/BlueShield, Aetna, Humana, and Cigna. Treatment is available in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

Out-of-Network Benefits

If your treatment is not covered under your insurance plan, a PursueCare case manager can create a superbill, or detailed invoice, for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

How Does PursueCare Work?

Getting started with PursueCare is a fairly easy and straightforward process. You can start by downloading the app from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or by visiting the PursueCare website and completing the following steps.

1. Download the app or visit the website to create an account
2. Answer a few questions to complete your online profile
3. Connect with a case manager to discuss payment plans and insurance
4. Meet your clinical team
5. Discuss personal goals and if medication is right for you
6. If receiving medication, get set up with PursueCareRx
7. Schedule follow-up appointments with your clinical team

PursueCare: Detailed Review

PursueCare is a medication-assisted treatment program that treats several forms of addiction. They also provide care for dual diagnoses, which includes therapy, counseling, and psychiatric services. PursueCare is available in select states and accepts many insurance plans. Tiered payment plans are available, ranging from $85.00 to $245+ monthly.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

PursueCare provides medication-assisted treatment for several forms of addiction. They prescribe a wide range of medications, including suboxone for opioid use disorder, naltrexone for alcohol use disorder, and chantix for tobacco addiction. These FDA-approved medications are designed to ease cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms, which can also decrease the chances of relapse and overdose.³

You’ll discuss your personal goals when you meet your PursueCare doctor, and your MAT program will be tailored to meet your needs. Prescriptions can be sent to your local pharmacy, or you can choose to register with their pharmacy, PursueCareRx. Your case manager can help you get set up with PursueCareRx so any medications can be delivered directly to your door. You can also choose to transfer any of your existing prescriptions to their pharmacy for easier medication management.

Psychiatry

PursueCare’s psychiatry services are certainly a stand-out feature. Many online MAT programs offer counseling or group meetings, but few provide full-service psychiatric care for a dual diagnosis. Even if you’re not facing an addiction, you can still take advantage of PursueCare’s psychiatric services. You can choose their Psychiatry care plan for $85.00 a month and receive medication management for a wide range of mental health disorders.

Counseling & Therapy

To complete PursueCare’s whole-person approach to treating addiction, they also include counseling and therapy with their medication-assisted treatment program. Evidence shows that including behavioral therapy or addiction counseling with MAT can significantly increase a patient’s chances of staying sober.³ You can choose to attend individual therapy or group counseling sessions with licensed mental health professionals. Again, like their Psychiatry payment plan, you can enroll in their Therapy/Counseling care plan even if you’re not struggling with addiction but would still like to try online therapy.

PursueCare Vs Competitors

When searching for treatment for addiction, it’s important to explore your options and understand the services that are available to you. Below you’ll find a comparative summary of Purse Care and two of its strongest competitors.

PursueCare Vs Bicycle Health

Bicycle Health and PursueCare are both online medication-assisted treatment programs, but they differ greatly in their level of care and range of services. PursueCare treats several addictions, while Bicycle Health’s sole focus is treating opioid use disorder (OUD). PursueCare has incredible mental health services, including psychiatry and therapy for co-occurring conditions, while Bicycle Health only offers online recovery support groups and no dual-diagnosis services or one-on-one therapy.

Both are available in select states and accept many major forms of insurance. PursueCare offers three payment plan options, ranging from $85.00 to $245.00 a month, and Bicycle Health costs $199.00 a month. Because Bicycle Health only treats opioid use disorder, they may have a more tailored approach for those with OUD. However, PursueCare is a clear choice if you’re seeking treatment for more than one addiction or co-occurring mental health disorder.

To learn more about this alternative MAT program, check out our in-depth review of Bicycle Health.

PursueCare Vs WorkIt Health

WorkIt Health and PursueCare are medication-assisted treatment programs that are quite comparable. They both treat a variety of addictions, offer incredible mental health support services, including therapy and psychiatry, and create personalized treatment programs. Both companies also provide services through online patient portals and mobile apps. However, Workit Health includes educational coursework and a community member forum, which are services that are not advertised in PursueCare’s program.

Workit Health and PursueCare are offered in select states and accept a variety of insurance plans. Unfortunately, Workit Health doesn’t advertise prices because the cost of care will depend on your location, insurance, and personalized treatment plan. If you’re looking for a full-service structured program, I believe that Workit Health rises above its competition with its community forums and educational coursework. Learning about addiction and how it affects your mind and body can be incredibly valuable on your road to recovery.

To learn more about this alternative option, check out our in-depth review of Workit Health.

How PursueCare Has Evolved

PursueCare was founded in 2019 by CEO Nicholas Mercadante. Mercadante has extensive experience in the healthcare field, executing other leadership roles as President and COO of MedOptions —a behavioral healthcare telemedicine program. In a recent interview with Medium, he shared his personal experiences with opioid medications and how he was able to recover with the help of an incredible team of healthcare providers.

“I’m not sure it would’ve gone the same if I didn’t have the benefit of great care. It really gave me perspective about what others face. There are so many external factors facing people trying to get good behavioral health care. Barriers based on social determinants like where you live, and how much money you have. Nowhere is it more clear than in substance use treatment, where patients are frequently stigmatized and penalized for what is truly a medical and mental health condition,” Mecadante says. This led to the development of PursueCare. PursueCare is currently available in 12 states and plans to expand across the United States. ⁴

Frequently Asked Questions About PursueCare

What Credentials do PursueCare Health Providers Hold?

Clinical teams at PursueCare include licensed doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, and addiction counselors. I reached out for more information on their medical providers’ backgrounds and certifications, but I have not heard back at this time.

How Am I Matched with My Clinical Team?

You’ll be matched with your clinical team during the onboarding process.

Can I Switch to a Different Clinical Team During My Treatment?

Yes, if you’re unhappy with any clinical team member, you can ask to be paired with a new one.

What Medications are Available with PursueCare?

PursueCare’s doctors and psychiatrists prescribe a wide variety of medications, including:

• Suboxone for Opioid Use Disorder
• Naltrexone and Campral for Alcohol Use Disorder
• Chantix and Zyban for Tobacco Addiction
• Effexor and Cymbalta for Anxiety
• Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil for Depression

How Do I Get My Prescription?

You can choose to have your prescription sent to your local pharmacy, or you can get set up with PursueCareRx and have all of your medication managed by their pharmacy. With PursueCareRx, all medications will be delivered to your home.

Can I Use My HSA or FSA?

I reached out to PursueCare to see if you can use an FSA or HSA account to pay for treatment. I have not heard back at this time.

How Do I Unenroll from PursueCare?

To unenroll from PursueCare’s program, you can contact your case manager, who will walk you through the process.

Does PursueCare Offer Refunds?

I reached out to PursueCare to ask about their refund policy but have not heard back at this time.

Is PursueCare HIPAA Compliant?

Yes, PursueCare is HIPAA Compliant. To learn more, check out their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Final Verdict on PursueCare

PursueCare is an ideal online resource for those battling mental health conditions and addictions. Their clinical teams are composed of medical doctors, psychiatrists, behavioral therapists, and addiction counselors, all of whom provide a holistic approach to treating substance abuse disorders. Between their comprehensive care team and in-house pharmacy services, I highly recommend PursueCare for anyone seeking online addiction recovery support.

Summary of PursueCare