5 Steps To Affordable Online Mental Health Care With Sesame

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Last Updated on May 1, 2023 by Randy Withers, LCMHC

If you’re reading this, chances are you are feeling down, depressed, anxious or even traumatized. You might have even searched for “affordable online mental health care” or been curious to know what Sesame is and why you should care about them.

You are not alone. We’ve all been struggling to get by.

The last two years have not been kind to any of us. Setting aside the political, social, and financial upheavals of 2020 and 2021, Americans now face a mental health epidemic that has literally never been seen before. According to the CDC, some 40% of adult Americans are struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem thanks to the virus that Shall Not Be Named. 

40%. That’s 4 in 10 adult Americans. Good lord. That’s close to twice what the numbers were just a few years ago.

For many Americans, psychiatry and psychotherapy are the keys to helping them to overcome pandemic-related trauma and to starting over. But the rising costs of health insurance are an issue, and many people just don’t have plans that make mental health care affordable. 

To that end, let’s talk about online options. Specifically, ways you can obtain affordable online mental health care with a new platform called Sesame.

What Is Sesame Mental Health Care?

Named Best Overall Telehealth 2021 by Healthline, Sesame is a trusted source of mental health care used by thousands of Americans to book in-person or virtual therapy sessions nationwide. With flexible booking times, easy cancelation, and direct affordable payment, Sesame is a great way to save money on therapy and mental health care – without ever compromising the quality.

Sesame is a direct-to-patient care marketplace that connects patients board-certified doctors and licensed mental health professionals. They don’t involve insurance companies, nor do you need one, as their fees are structured to make affordable online mental health care a reality.

Sesame is an online platform. You can take care of all your mental health needs without ever leaving your home. Sesame offers access to psychiatrists for medication management, plus video-based individual and couples sessions with a licensed therapist.

Mental Health Care Services Provided

• Video mental health consults with local providers
• Video psychiatry consult
• Video prescription refill visit
• Video couples therapy session
• Board-Certified Doctors and Licensed Therapists

The costs are pretty reasonable, too. Especially if you are underinsured or don’t have insurance at all.

Sesame Prices

Service start at the following prices:

• Video psychiatry consult (new patient) $165
• Video prescription refill visit $38
• Video in-person or couples therapy session $50
• Many medications available online for as little as $5.

Sesame also offers dozens of other types of medical care, too. Dental, urgent-care, skin care, pediatrics, lab work — there’s a ton of providers from which to choose.. 

Sesame By The Numbers

• 100k Patients treated
• $3M Saved by patients
• 60% Saved per appointment
• 95% Patient satisfaction
• 10K+ Doctors & specialists
• 80+ Specialties

We’re going to limit our discussion though to the affordable online mental health care that Sesame provides, because that’s why we’re all here. 

Sesame believes that everyone should have access to the best mental health providers –  without having to navigate the maze of health care networks.With Sesame you can access quality care quickly, with no waiting lists, because you shouldn’t have to wait for quality mental health care. And you shouldn’t have to pay through the nose for it, either.

In the last year alone, Sesame has saved patients over $3 million on doctors, specialists, and mental health professionals. And unlike other platforms, Sesame offers you real connection with a real doctor or specialist – no chatbots or algorithms. Just real doctors and therapists at affordable prices. 

You don’t need insurance. The price you see is the price you pay – for everyone.

5 Steps To Affordable Online Mental Health Care With Sesame

If you want to join Sesame, it’s a simple process. To get started, all you need is access to the internet.

Step 1: Visit sesamecare.com and click “Mental Health”

On sesamecare.com, you can find appointments with psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and primary care providers. These providers offer a range of services including talk therapy, couples therapy, mental health consults, prescription management, and more to treat a range of conditions, including mood disorders, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, stress, and more.

Step 2: Search for a doctor, therapist, psychologist, or other mental health professional.

With dozens of providers to choose from, Sesame puts the power of choice into your hands. Search for a doctor, therapist, psychologist, or other mental health professional. Read reviews and get to know your therapist or provider. Then, book a time that works best for you. 

Step 3: Select a time that works best for you

Sesame’s doctors list their own times – which means they have far more availability than other therapy sites or mental health platforms, so you can book a therapy session or mental health consult when it’s most convenient for you. That way, you can focus on getting better and not on juggling a complicated schedule. 

Step 4: Pay a direct, affordable price upfront

Sesame has saved patients over $3 million in 2021 alone. Ranked “Most Affordable Per Visit” in 2021 by OnlineDoctor.com, Sesame gives therapists and mental health professionals the flexibility to reduce costs without sacrificing the quality of their services. 

Without insurance companies or third parties, you can book therapy or a mental health consult for up to 60% less than you can elsewhere. While Sesame doesn’t work with insurance, appointments are generally HSA and FSA reimbursable, if your employer-provided health plan offers you one.

Step 5: See your doctor or specialist

Sesame’s simple booking and appointment system makes it easy to see a doctor or therapist online or in-person. Unlike traditional mental health care, Sesame has a “no worries booking” policy that lets you cancel up to 24 hours before an appointment for a full refund.

Step 6: (if applicable): Get $5 medications delivered for free

As you probably know, prescription costs can vary wildly. Sesame guarantees the best price for hundreds of prescriptions by offering patients $5 prescription medication with free delivery – if prescribed during a visit on Sesame.

Final Thoughts

With Sesame, affordable online mental health care is finally available for millions of Americans who desperately need it. It may seem counterintuitive to bypass your insurance companies, but the bottom line is that providers can often charge less when they eliminate the middleman.

If you have insurance, check the rates with your insurance company and see which option works best for you.

And whichever direction you choose, please make your mental health a priority. You deserve it.