Do Online Psychiatrists Take Insurance? Understanding Private Pay, Superbills, and What You Actually Get

Some online psychiatrists take insurance and some do not. Large telehealth platforms are often in-network with major insurers and bill them directly, which lowers the per-visit cost but comes with the constraints of the insurance model: brief appointments, network limitations, and rules about what can be prescribed and for how long.

Many of these platforms also cannot prescribe controlled substances at all. Private-pay online psychiatrists do not bill insurance directly. Instead, the patient pays at the time of service and receives a superbill, an itemized receipt that can be submitted to insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. The trade-off is more out of pocket per visit in exchange for longer appointments, no coverage-driven restrictions, consistent access to the same provider, and the full range of clinical options.

At Empathy Therapy, Dr. Mark Chofla is private pay, provides both therapy and medication management, and can prescribe medication including controlled substances when clinically appropriate.

Empathy Therapy is a telehealth psychiatry and psychotherapy practice built around empathic therapy, where genuine connection, careful listening, and integrated care are the foundation of every patient relationship. Dr. Mark Chofla, DO, is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Davis, his medical training at Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and his psychiatry residency and internship at the University of Southern California (USC). He has also served as a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Davis Medical Center and School of Medicine. Dr. Chofla provides psychiatric medication management and formal psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, and children, and executive life coaching for adults, across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida via telehealth. New patient intakes are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes. New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks. Evening appointments are available for patients in New York and Florida.

The Two Models of Online Psychiatry

Online psychiatry falls into two broad categories, and the difference between them is more than a billing detail.

The first is the insurance-based platform: These services are in-network with major insurers, bill the insurer directly, and charge the patient a copay. The per-visit cost is low. The model that makes that possible is built around volume and brevity: short appointments, often with whichever provider is available, focused primarily on medication. Many of these platforms explicitly cannot prescribe controlled substances, which rules out a significant portion of psychiatric treatment, including most ADHD medication and certain treatments for anxiety and other conditions.

The second is the private-pay practice: These providers do not bill insurance. The patient pays at the time of service and, in most cases, receives a superbill to seek out-of-network reimbursement. The model is built around time and continuity rather than volume, which is what allows longer appointments, a consistent provider relationship, and the full clinical range without coverage rules shaping the plan.

Neither model is wrong. They serve different priorities. Understanding which one a given service uses, before starting care, prevents the frustration of discovering the limits later.

Why Some of the Best Psychiatrists Do Not Take Insurance

It can seem counterintuitive that a highly qualified psychiatrist would choose not to accept insurance. The reason is structural, not a reflection of quality.

Insurance reimbursement for psychiatric care has, over time, favored brief medication management over longer integrated care. Reimbursement rates and administrative requirements made it difficult to sustain a practice built around 75-minute evaluations, 45-minute follow-ups, and formal psychotherapy delivered by the psychiatrist. To practice the way they were trained, many psychiatrists moved to a private-pay model that lets them set appointment length and treatment approach on clinical grounds rather than around what insurance will reimburse.

The result is that a meaningful number of experienced, board-certified psychiatrists who provide the most thorough care are out-of-network by choice. The private-pay model is what makes their approach possible.

One patient described the value of that approach on Vitals:

"This is a place you go to get better. Dr. Chofla was so very helpful. He got me stable. He seems expensive and you get what you pay for here." — Patient on Vitals

How You Can Still Use Your Insurance With a Private-Pay Psychiatrist

Private pay does not mean insurance is irrelevant. Many patients use their out-of-network benefits to recover a portion of the cost.

The mechanism is the superbill. After each appointment, the practice provides an itemized receipt with the diagnostic and procedure codes the insurer requires. The patient submits that superbill to their insurance company. If the plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, which many PPO plans do, the insurer reimburses a percentage of the cost directly to the patient, typically once an out-of-network deductible has been met.

How much comes back depends on the specific plan: its out-of-network deductible, its reimbursement rate, and its allowed amount for the service. The way to find out is to call the insurer before starting care and ask specifically about out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits.

At Empathy Therapy, patients receive a detailed superbill after each appointment, and Dr. Chofla's office can provide guidance on the reimbursement process.

One patient described how the practice removed the usual friction of getting care on Healthgrades:

"Dr. Chofla and his entire office epitomize excellence. As a parent trying to help my adult child, working with large institutions has been frustrating. Dr. Chofla and his office respond, explain, and provide real support. My child seems to be getting better, and our household has seen meaningful change." — Patient on Healthgrades

The Controlled Substance Question

For patients who need ADHD medication, or certain treatments for anxiety and other conditions, the

controlled substance limitation of many insurance-based telehealth platforms is a significant gap. Many online services state plainly that their providers cannot prescribe controlled substances online.

Empathy Therapy can. As a board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Chofla prescribes and manages medication, including controlled substances, when it is clinically appropriate and in accordance with applicable regulations. For patients prescribed stimulant or other controlled medications, follow-up appointments are monthly, consistent with recommended standards of care for controlled substance management.

This matters for patients who have used a telehealth platform only to learn that the medication they need is not available through it. A full-scope psychiatric practice does not have that limitation.

What to Ask Before Choosing an Online Psychiatrist

A few direct questions clarify quickly what a given service actually provides.

Do you take my insurance, or are you private pay with a superbill? The answer determines both the cost structure and, often, the care model.

Does the same provider see me at every visit? Some platforms route patients to whichever provider is available, which works against continuity.

How long are the appointments? Appointment length reveals whether real evaluation and therapy are possible or whether the model is brief medication management.

Can you prescribe controlled substances if I need them? This is the question that catches many patients off guard after they have already started.

Do you provide therapy as well as medication? For patients who want integrated care, this separates the practices that offer it from those that refer it out.

At Empathy Therapy, the answers are straightforward: private pay with a superbill, the same provider at every visit, 75-minute intakes and 45-minute follow-ups, controlled substances when clinically appropriate, and both therapy and medication from Dr. Chofla directly.

One patient described what that combination produced on WebMD:

"I've been seeing Dr. Mark Chofla for a few months now, and I've been impressed with his ability to listen and provide thoughtful feedback. He has a calm, professional demeanor that immediately puts you at ease. He takes the time to thoroughly understand your concerns before offering solutions. He doesn't rush through appointments, which I really appreciate. While no psychiatrist can work miracles, I've noticed meaningful improvements in my mental health under his care." — Patient on WebMD

Private Pay at Empathy Therapy

Empathy Therapy is a private-pay, fee-for-service practice. Insurance is not accepted. Appointments are as long as the clinical situation requires, the same provider delivers both medication management and therapy, and the provider relationship stays consistent from the first appointment forward. Patients receive a detailed superbill after each appointment, which can be submitted to insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Dr. Chofla's office can provide guidance on that process at 888-832-9635.

Dr. Chofla provides telehealth psychiatry and psychotherapy for patients across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida.

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Anyone with questions about their mental health is welcome to contact Empathy Therapy at 888-832-9635 or book a new patient appointment online at www.empathytherapy.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do online psychiatrists take insurance? Some do and some do not. Large telehealth platforms are often in-network and bill insurance directly, while many experienced private-pay psychiatrists are out-of-network by choice and provide a superbill for reimbursement. Empathy Therapy is private pay and provides a superbill.

If a psychiatrist does not take insurance, can I still get reimbursed? Often, yes. Many PPO plans include out-of-network mental health benefits that reimburse a portion of private-pay care. You submit the superbill your provider gives you to your insurer. Reimbursement depends on your specific plan.

Can online psychiatrists prescribe controlled substances? Many insurance-based platforms cannot. Empathy Therapy can prescribe and manage medication, including controlled substances, when clinically appropriate and in accordance with applicable regulations. Patients on controlled medications are seen monthly.

Does Empathy Therapy accept insurance? No. Empathy Therapy is a private-pay, fee-for-service practice. Patients receive a superbill after each appointment for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

How long are appointments? New patient intakes are 75 minutes. Follow-up appointments are 45 minutes.

How quickly can I be seen? New patients are typically seen within days, not weeks.

Which states does Empathy Therapy serve? Dr. Chofla serves adults, adolescents, and children across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, New York, and Florida via telehealth.

Are evening appointments available? Evening appointments are available for patients in New York and Florida. The fully telehealth model means patients across all seven states can schedule without commuting.

How do I get started? New patient appointments can be booked directly at www.empathytherapy.com. You can also review frequently asked questions at www.empathytherapy.com/faqs or call 888-832-9635 with any questions before booking.