Two of our experienced reviewers tried and tested Talkiatry and found it to be a great psychiatry and therapy platform. We gave Talkiatry 4 out of 5 stars in our independent review. In reviewing Talkiatry, we found it to be one of the easiest ways of finding in-network psychiatric care, but it isn’t available for those without insurance.
Cost: Varies depending on insurance
Insurance Accepted? Yes
Pros - Treats children, teens, and adults ages 6 years and older
- Psychiatry appointments are 30-60 minutes long, longer than most online psychiatry platforms
- Provides detailed, individualized care plans
Cons - You can only sign up with Talkiatry if you have an in-network insurance plan
- Appointment fees depend on your location and insurance coverage
- Customer service is difficult to get in contact with
Who Is Talkiatry Right For?
- Those who have an insurance plan that’s in-network with Talkiatry
- Children and teens in need of medication
- People with ADHD
Preview Talkiatry
Talkiatry is a virtual psychiatry service for anyone ages 6 and older with an insurance plan that is in-network. Talkiatry is available in 43 US states and offers virtual psychiatry and medication management, as well as options for therapy for established Talkiatry patients.
Talkiatry is unique in that it only accepts clients with an in-network provider, and does not offer options for cash-pay or ongoing subscription. While this can be restrictive for those without insurance, it means the out-of-pocket costs of those eligible could be dramatically decreased. While exact costs vary depending on your insurance plan and provider, copays often range from $20 – $50 per session.
If you’re not in-network with Talkiatry, Brightside Health is one of our favorite online psychiatry providers, plus they accept many insurance plans as well as offering affordable cash-pay plans. Meanwhile, those seeking individual therapy instead of psychiatry might want to look for one of the best online therapy providers such as BetterHelp or Talkspace.
Why You Can Trust My Review
Our Talkiatry review is based on first-hand experience using their mental health services by two of our experienced reviewers. The first of these reviewers – Emily – conducted a full review of all of Talkiatry’s features and offerings, compared this to other companies in the space, and scoured the internet for detailed user reviews, however, due to insurance constraints, was unable to use Talkiatry herself.
Our second reviewer, Matt, joined Talkiatry using his insurance benefits, met with a psychiatrist in a one-on-one session, and tested all the features that Talkiatry has to offer.
Based on our quantitative multi-point scoring criteria, Talkiatry scored 4 out of 5 stars during our most recent review. Our scoring criteria measure 30+ metrics across 12 categories, ranging from quality of user experience to provider vetting and experience, and more. Since our first review, we have improved Talkiatry’s overall score from 3 to 4 out of 5 stars in accordance with the improvements that Talkiatry has implemented, such as improved clarity about its services, better customer service, and an improved insurance billing process.
Firsthand Talkiatry Reviews
Below, we’ve presented a deep dive into everything Talkiatry offers, but sometimes you just want to hear a clear recommendation from somebody who’s used the service firsthand. Here are our firsthand experiences with Talkiatry.
Matthew Church, MS
Emily Guarnotta, PsyD
Detailed Review of Talkiatry
Talkiatry’s primary service is medication management, with therapy available for existing patients. With Talkiatry, you can meet with a psychiatric provider or therapist via live video. The company states that it prides itself on offering high-quality care and having its providers take their time with patients. Talkiatry costs depend on where you live and your specific insurance plan.
Talkiatry Psychiatry & Medication Management
Talkiatry offers medication management for children, teens, and adults over age 5 in 43 US states, including Washington D.C. Consent from a parent or guardian is required for children and teens under 18 years old. Talkiatry treats a wide range of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and Bipolar disorder.
When you sign up for Talkiatry, you will take a short assessment to determine your eligibility and enter your insurance details. Thereafter, you’ll be able to schedule a quick call with a Talkiatry care coordinator to find a provider that will work well for you. I scheduled my care coordinator call for the following day. When I spoke with the coordinator, we discussed my background, why I was seeking services, and some of my preferences for a provider. After a brief hold, the coordinator returned and apologized that there were no appointments available for over two weeks.
Despite a relatively long wait, I was very excited that my insurance was in-network and that I got to review Talkiatry hands-on. I joined my session with my psychiatrist via my mobile phone’s browser on my home internet connection. I didn’t experience any technical issues, and Talkiatry made it easy to join my session since they texted me a link directly. While I was joining my session, the system asked a few questions such as what I was hoping to achieve with psychiatry and whether I was experiencing suicidal thoughts. Finally, I entered some vital signs including my height, weight, and blood pressure, and entered the waiting room.
My session was scheduled for an hour, but my provider and I felt that 45 minutes was sufficient to discuss everything we needed to. She began the session by discussing my background and an overview of my life up until now. My psychiatrist discussed my everyday habits, my diet and lifestyle, history of medication and much more. I felt that she got an excellent understanding of my life before making any medical decisions. I mentioned that I was hoping to one day stop taking my medication and she reassured me that we would work together in the long-term. My provider then sent in my prescription (just refills on my existing Sertraline dose) to my local pharmacy, and put in a referral for me to meet with a Talkiatry therapist, as well. Overall, I was pleased with my Talkiatry session and felt it was very valuable.
According to Talkiatry, follow-up appointments are approximately 30 minutes long but may vary in length, depending on your treatment plan. Compared to other online psychiatry platforms and many in-person providers, Talkiatry provides longer appointment times which is an excellent benefit. For children, adolescents, and geriatric patients, initial sessions are usually 75 minutes long and follow-ups are 45 minutes.
There is no established cadence for sessions that you have to follow, so the treatment plan that your provider established will dictate how often you meet. One session per month is pretty common for psychiatry, but you may meet more frequently as you’re getting established – especially if you’ve been prescribed a medication that’s new to you.
Talkiatry Late Cancellation & No-Show Fee
Unfortunately, I did have to cancel my first appointment due to a family emergency. I was concerned because I did not know I needed to cancel until the day of the appointment, and Talkiatry has a fairly strict no-show policy. Talkiatry states any cancellations, reschedules, or no-shows that occur within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment will incur a $100 fee. I explained my situation to customer service via email, and within a few hours they had canceled my appointment, sent me a number to call to reschedule, and waived the fee since the cancellation was related to an emergency.
Telehealth via the Healow App
Talkiatry relies on the HIPPA-compliant Healow app for telehealth sessions and for between-session communication. This app also functions as a patient portal where you can access your records at any time. If you have any questions about your medication or treatment or need to get a hold of your provider in between appointments, you can message them securely through the Healow app. You can expect a response back within 48 hours, according to Talkiatry.
When getting set up on the Healow app, you’ll have to enter some details about yourself, and a practice code that Talkiatry will send to your email address.
Talkiatry Therapy
While Talkiatry does not consider itself a therapy provider, the company does have therapists on staff and offers therapy to established psychiatry patients if it’s recommended as part of a client’s treatment plan. Existing Talkiatry patients can discuss with their current provider whether or not therapy is right for them. Since your insurance must already be in-network with it, Talkiatry therapy could be an excellent, affordable option for therapy.
Talkiatry Cost & Insurance
Talkiatry costs depend on your specific health insurance plan and coverage. Unlike many other online psychiatry platforms, Talkiatry does not have a set appointment fee or subscription service and does not accept cash pay at all. Talkiatry only accepts patients who have in-network insurance plans. Before you schedule an appointment, Talkiatry will let you know whether they accept your insurance, if you have a deductible or copay, and how much your total out-of-pocket cost will be.
Does Talkiatry Accept Insurance?
Yes, Talkiatry accepts insurance. Coverage varies depending on the specific plan and state. According to a representative, Talkiatry is in-network with Aetna, Bind, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, ComPsych, Humana, Medicare, Oscar, United Healthcare, Oxford, and more. For a full list of plans, and to check whether or not yours is in-network, visit Talkiatry’s insurance page.
Who Does Talkiatry Serve?
Talkiatry serves anyone above the age of 6 in most US states, as long as they have an insurance plan that’s in-network with Talkiatry. Talkiatry does not accept cash-pay patients. Disorders that Talkiatry treats include ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, stress and burnout, and more.
If you’re not in-network with Talkiatry, then another good option for insurance-covered virtual psychiatry is Brightside Health – plus, they are available in all 50 states, accept cash-pay, and happen to be one of our favorite online psychiatry providers. While Talkiatry does offer therapy, you must be an existing psychiatry patient to be offered this service. If you’re looking for an excellent virtual therapy covered by insurance, Talkspace could be a great option for you, or BetterHelp is very accessible and affordable if you need cash-pay only. Talkiatry does not offer services for couples or families. If you’re interested in couples therapy, Regain is a great option offered as a subsidiary of BetterHelp.
User Reviews for Talkiatry
Since Talkiatry is still a fairly young company – it’s only been around since 2020 – it can be difficult to get an accurate representation of what users think of Talkiatry. Trustpilot only lists about 200 user reviews, which tend to lean quite negative. Meanwhile, Talkiatry has an F rating on the BBB, mostly due to unresolved complaints. Since Talkiatry doesn’t have its own mobile app, the major app stores can’t be used as a source of user reviews.
A representative from Talkiatry told us that the company has been working to improve its customer service as well as its handling of complaints and user issues.
Reviews from Trustpilot | Less than 300 reviews | 1.5 out of 5 stars
Positive reviews on Trustpilot highlighted that Talkiatry works well and these users tended to indicate that customer service was reliable and they encountered no issues, aside from a handful of easily-remedied technical issues. Positive reviews were by far the minority for Talkiatry reviews on Trustpilot.
Negative reviews on Trustpilot indicated several major billing issues in which users believed that Talkiatry had overcharged them, or charged them unnecessary fees. Many complained that they had received little to no helpful response from Talkiatry’s customer service.
Reviews from Better Business Bureau | Not BBB-accredited | F Rating
Talkiatry does not have a favorable rating on the BBB, with multiple reports of unresolved billing issues and ineffective customer support. However, there are very few reviews overall, so the bad rating might not paint a full picture. It is worth noting that the majority of user issues that have been closed were closed within the last year, indicating that Talkiatry’s customer service may have improved recently.
Who May Want an Alternative to Talkiatry?
Talkiatry is not a good solution for people who are uninsured, anyone struggling with severe mental health symptoms, or those with mental health concerns that require more specialized care.
People Who Don’t Have Insurance
You have to have an in-network insurance plan to join Talkiatry. If you’re looking for a cash-pay therapy solution, BetterHelp is one of the most affordable and often has same-day appointments. Meanwhile, Online-Therapy.com is great if you want a self-paced CBT course in addition to therapy sessions.
Those Who are Exclusively Seeking Therapy
Talkiatry only offers therapy to established psychiatry patients, so if you’re only looking for talk therapy, you’ll want to look at other options. Brightside Health and Talkspace both offer therapy services that are covered by a large number of health plans, and they both happen to offer psychiatry, too.
Those With Mental Health Concerns That Require Specialty Care
Talkiatry is a great solution for general mental health symptoms, but those with more specialized concerns are still better served by other providers. For instance, our favorite therapy provider for OCD symptoms is NOCD. Folks suffering from eating disorders are best served by Equip Health. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for treatment for alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder, you might look to Workit Health or Bicycle Health, respectively.
People Struggling with Severe Mental Health Symptoms
Talkiatry, or any online mental health provider, is not a safe choice for those in an active crisis, as providers cannot usually respond immediately. Brightside is also not ideal for those with a serious mental illness (SMI) such as moderate-to-severe bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, personality disorders, or treatment-resistant depression.
If you currently have severe mental health symptoms and need immediate help, you should dial 911, visit the nearest emergency room, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or by dialing 988.
Talkiatry Vs. Competitors
Talkiatry is an excellent choice for high-quality psychiatric care, if you have an insurance plan that’s in-network. If you don’t, then Brightside Health and Talkspace are both great options, plus both offer cash-pay whereas Talkiatry does not. Hims & Hers could be a good solution for those who need affordable, cash-pay medication services. However, this would be best on a maintenance basis, and isn’t ideal for those who are new to medication or don’t have an active diagnosis.
Price: In-network care only
Insurance Accepted? Yes
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Very affordable, if you’re in-network -
Treats children, teens, and adults ages 6 and older
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You can only use Talkiatry if you have an in-network insurance plan -
Total cost depends on your location and insurance coverage
Price: $95 – $349 monthly
Insurance Accepted? Yes
-
Accepts many insurance plans -
Offers affordable cash-pay options for therapy and medication plans
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Customer service takes several days to respond to requests -
Not available for kids or teens
Price: $276 – $436 monthly
Insurance Accepted? Yes
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Many major health insurance plans are accepted -
Individual, couples, and teen therapy available
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Not much control over initial therapist choice -
Provider matching process can take a few days
Price: $85+ monthly
Insurance Accepted? No
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Fast, convenient, and affordable cash-pay psychiatry -
Offers services for other issues like hair loss or sexual dysfunction
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Only focuses on a handful of problems -
Offers less hands-on medical supervision compared to other platforms
Talkiatry Vs. Brightside Health
Talkiatry Vs. Talkspace
Talkiatry Vs. Hims & Hers
Talkiatry Review – Our Final Verdict
“Talkiatry is a great option for psychiatry if you have an insurance plan that covers it. The care is exceptionally detailed, and therapy is available by referral for those who need it. Overall, Talkiatry offers a detailed level of comprehensive care and seems to be very committed to improving the care and service that it offers. However, those who aren’t in-network or who don’t have insurance should consider some of the other online psychiatry providers and online therapy platforms that accept insurance.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Talkiatry Legit?
Yes, Talkiatry is a legitimate provider of mental health services that fully vets and verifies its providers and is in-network with many insurance plans. We have personally used Talkiatry and recommend it to many.
What is Talkiatry?
Talkiatry is an online mental health platform that provides psychiatric services to anyone above age 5 in 43 US states. Talkiatry is unique in that it only provides services to those who have insurance plans that are in-network with Talkiatry. Talkiatry will also offer therapy services to those patients for whom it is deemed necessary.
What States is Talkiatry Available In?
Talkiatry is available in 43 out of the 50 US States (including Washington D.C.). Talkiatry is not available in:
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
Talkiatry Cost: How Much is Talkiatry?
Talkiatry costs depend on your specific health insurance plan and coverage. Unlike many other online psychiatry platforms, Talkiatry does not have a set appointment fee or subscription service and does not accept cash pay at all. Talkiatry only accepts patients who have in-network insurance plans. Before you schedule an appointment, Talkiatry will let you know whether they accept your insurance, if you have a deductible or copay, and how much your total out-of-pocket cost will be.
Can I Use My HSA/FSA for Talkiatry?
Yes. Talkiatry does accept FSA and HSA for therapy costs such as your copay. You simply use these cards as you would a debit or credit card.
How Do I Cancel My Talkiatry Subscription?
To cancel your account with Talkiatry, you must reach out to the company directly. You can contact them by phone at 1-833-351-8255 (TALK) or by email at [email protected].
Can Talkiatry Prescribe Controlled Substances?
Whether or not Talkiatry can prescribe controlled substances such as benzodiazepines or stimulants depends on your state’s prescription laws. Some states allow the prescription of controlled substances without an in-person visit and some do not.1 For more details, you can discuss this with your Talkiatry psychiatrist.
Does Talkiatry Prescribe Xanax?
Talkiatry does prescribe Xanax and other benzodiazepines, if this treatment is deemed beneficial by you and your provider. Whether or not this can legally be prescribed via telehealth is dependent on your state’s prescribing laws.1
Does Talkiatry Prescribe Adderall?
Talkiatry does prescribe Adderall and other stimulants, if this treatment is deemed beneficial by you and your provider. Whether or not this can legally be prescribed via telehealth is dependent on your state’s prescribing laws.1
Does Talkiatry Issue Refunds?
Talkiatry may offer refunds on a case-by-case basis. If you have a question about getting a refund, you can call Talkiatry at 1-833-351-8255 (TALK) or email the company at [email protected].
Is Talkiatry HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Talkiatry is HIPAA-compliant. To learn more, you can read Talkiatry’s privacy policy, Talkiatry’s terms of use, and Talkiatry’s notice of privacy practices.
History & News About Talkiatry
Year Founded: 2020
Founders: Robert Krayn, Dr. Georgia Gaveras
Publicly Traded? No
Headquarters: New York, New York
Talkiatry was founded in April 2020 by Robert Krayn and Dr. Georgia Gaveras. Mr. Krayn was a patient who personally experienced the challenges of finding quality psychiatric care and Dr. Gaveras is a triple board-certified psychiatrist. The company’s goals were to increase access to quality outpatient psychiatric care by making telehealth accessible and affordable. In 2021, the company received $5 million in funding to expand its mission. Since its founding, Talkiatry has partnered with several major commercial health insurance plans and Medicare. Currently, Talkiatry serves patients in 43 states and has partnered with more than 60 insurance plans, with plans to continue to expand its network and reach.2, 3
Currently, Talkiatry is one of the few online psychiatry platforms that prescribes controlled medications for ADHD. Before 2020, laws required that patients and providers must have face-to-face visits before controlled medications like stimulants could be prescribed. In March 2020, an emergency waiver went into effect that temporarily allowed providers to prescribe controlled medications during telehealth visits. The waiver has continued to be extended, but companies like Talkiatry are concerned that thousands of patients could lose access to their controlled medications if the exemption is revoked.
Some online psychiatric platforms, like Cerebral, have faced controversy over their online prescribing practices, but Talkiatry has managed to avoid lawsuits and controversy. In January 2023, Talkiatry’s CEO Robert Krayn spoke out about this and cautioned that revoking this exemption could affect thousands of patients. In the meantime, Talkiatry plans to continue to grow and offer high-quality psychiatric care to patients with a variety of mental health diagnoses.4
As of this writing, the US Drug Enforcement Agency has stated that online prescribers like Talkiatry will continue to be able to prescribe controlled substances at least until December 31, 2024.5
Additional Resources
To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.
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Choosing Therapy 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.
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Talkiatry. (n.d.). Can Talkiatry prescribe controlled substances? Talkiatry Help Center. Retrieved from: https://www.talkiatry.com/help-center-articles/can-talkiatry-prescribe-controlled-substances
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Talkiatry. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from: https://www.talkiatry.com/about-us
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PR Newswire. (2021, February 16). Talkiatry announces five million dollars in series A funding to strengthen its already profitable mental health solution. Retrieved from: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talkiatry-announces-five-million-dollars-in-series-a-funding-to-strengthen-its-already-profitable-mental-health-solution-301228049.html
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Burkey, Annie. (2023, January 12). Thousands of patients could lose mental health services if pandemic-era rules end, Talkiatry data show. Fierce Healthcare. Retrieved from: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/telehealth/talkiatry-data-shows-if-covid-exemptions-were-end-thousands-would-lose-care
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Henry, T. A. (2023, November 1). Why DEA’s latest move on telehealth could be a lifesaver. American Medical Association. Retrieved from: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/why-dea-s-latest-move-telehealth-could-be-lifesaver
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: Matthew Church (New author)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (New medical reviewer)
Primary Changes: Full rewrite and re-review of Talkiatry, new editorial rating, fact-checked all information and updated accordingly.
Author: Emily Guarnotta, PsyD (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added review summary and features.
Author: Emily Guarnotta, PsyD
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
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