First Health for Therapy

First Health is one of the leading Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) in the United States, helping to provide coverage to over 5.5 million members. While First Health is an owned subsidiary of Aetna Inc., it is not an insurance company, operating independently of its parent company. Instead, they connect members with a huge network of health care providers, who offer their services at a discounted rate.

Members with First Health-compatible health insurance have access to outstanding therapists across the nation, including many vetted therapists on Zencare.

Does First Health Cover Therapy?

First Health offers members access to an extensive network of behavioral health providers, including therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, and other licensed mental health professionals. However, your mental health benefits vary depending on your health insurance carrier and plan.

While most plans cover therapy services for their members, explore your carrier's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) so that you can make an informed decision when seeking mental health care.

How Do I Check if My First Health Plan Covers Therapy?

While the First Health Network provides access to therapy services, each member's plan may differ. To check if your plan covers mental health services, locate your summary of benefits and coverage document online and search for the therapy rate. You might find this under “outpatient mental health” or “outpatient behavioral health” services. From here, you can figure out the copayment or coinsurance rates — and calculate how much of the session fee is your responsibility.

If you cannot find your summary of benefits and coverage document, call the customer service hotline number on the back of your insurance card. Your insurance company's agent can share information about your mental health benefits with you.

Example First Health Summary of Benefits, with Outpatient Services for Mental Health section highlighted.

How Much Does Therapy Cost With My First Health Plan?

For individuals with a First Health logo on their insurance card, seeing a therapist who is in-network with First Health is typically the most cost-effective option, as you’ll pay less out-of-pocket.

When you see a therapist within the First Health network, you may have a copayment, though the actual cost for therapy depends on your insurance plan. In general, the average copay per therapy session is anywhere from $20 to $50.

Do I Need to See My Primary Doctor Before Starting Therapy?

As a well-established PPO network, First Health plans do not require you to get a referral from your primary care physician before you start your search for a therapist. This saves you time and money — it also gets your mental health journey started as soon as you’re ready!

What Types of Mental Health Conditions Does First Health Cover?

First Health offers comprehensive behavioral health coverage, including services for many mental health conditions. Your individual insurance plan may require you to receive a diagnosis from your therapist to guide treatment and the insurance coverage.

Examples of eligible mental health conditions include:

What Types of Therapy Does First Health Cover?

To be part of the First Health Network, the PPO requires its providers to have the appropriate credentials and trusts that these providers maintain high professional standards. Therapists must provide evidence-based, clinically rigorous therapy modalities appropriate for the given diagnosis.

There are many evidence-based mental health care models available through First Health, including:

Mental health professionals can also blend methods into their own approaches, all of which are covered by First Health networks.

What Types of Therapy Does First Health NOT Cover?

First Health networks do not cover:

Life coaching
Career counseling
Aromatherapy
Energy work
Reiki healing
And other holistic treatment modalities

Also, First Health does not cover couples therapy. This is partially because it’s difficult to provide that diagnosis for the mental health condition as required by many insurance companies for reimbursement. If you’re still interested in working with a couples therapist, there are ways to access couples therapy on a budget.

Does First Health Cover Online Therapy?

First Health's network extends to online therapy, so you can see your therapist from the comfort of your home rather than in their office. This makes mental health services accessible and safe for everyone. Your coverage remains the same whether you see your therapist in person or online. So, whatever your copayment was when you saw your therapist in person, it will continue at that rate.

However, it’s important to check your health insurance benefits before you start online therapy to confirm that your plan covers teletherapy.

Zencare Helps You Find Therapy In-Network With First Health

Zencare believes that finding a therapist shouldn't add to your stress. We improve the therapy search process by removing the barriers that may stand in your way — whether that's locating quality care in your area or finding a therapist who takes your health insurance.

Do you prefer the convenience of virtual therapy? Or, would you prefer face-to-face meetings with your therapist? We can help you find the right mental health professional based on your unique needs and preferences.

Our service is:

Simple to use: Find the right therapist without feeling overwhelmed by options.
Vetted: You will be matched with qualified, licensed therapists.
Personalized: View video introductions to connect with your therapist before you meet.
Streamlined: Once you select a therapist, you can book your first consultation online.

Start Your Search for a First Health Therapist With Zencare

Your journey to better mental health starts today. You can browse therapists in your area who are within the First Health network and connect with them online to ensure they're the right match for you. It's easy to get started. Take our matching quiz or choose your state below to begin the process.