To use insurance for online therapy in New York or Arizona, confirm that the therapist is in network with your specific plan, that your plan covers outpatient mental health by video, and what your copay or deductible will be. Change.Life accepts Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare (including Oxford and GHI/Emblem), Carillon, and various employee assistance programs (EAPs). Change.Life does not accept Medicaid.
Insurance is usually the first thing people ask us about. You’ve finally decided to talk to someone, and the last thing you want is a surprise bill or a call that ends with “sorry, we can’t see you.” Here is how coverage works at Change.Life, how EAPs fit in, and what to check first.
Which insurance plans does Change.Life accept for online therapy?
Change.Life is in network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare (including Oxford and GHI/Emblem), and Carillon, and works with various employee assistance programs. These plans cover individual online therapy with Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW, for adults in New York and Arizona. Change.Life does not accept Medicaid.
Most people get coverage through work. In its Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2025 report, released September 15, 2026, the U.S. Census Bureau found that employment-based insurance was the most common type, covering 53.5% of the population for some or all of 2025. Medicare covered 20.1%, and Medicaid covered 17.1%.
Here is how those types of coverage line up with our practice:
| Type of coverage | Accepted at Change.Life? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna | Yes | Confirm your specific plan covers outpatient mental health by video |
| UnitedHealthcare, including Oxford and GHI/Emblem | Yes | Common for New York teachers and government workers |
| Carillon | Yes | Mention it on the consultation call so we can confirm your plan |
| Medicare | Yes | Covers outpatient psychotherapy, including by video |
| Employee assistance programs (EAPs) | Yes, various programs | A set number of sessions, usually at no cost to you |
| Medicaid (including AHCCCS in Arizona) | No | Your plan’s member services can refer you to in-network therapists |
| No insurance or private pay | Yes | Private pay rate is $125 per session |
Some employers route mental health care through a separate company, and one insurer can offer very different plans. That’s why we always ask about the exact plan, not only the company.
Why doesn’t Change.Life accept Medicaid, and what should you do if you have it?
Change.Life is not in network with Medicaid or any Medicaid managed care plan in New York or Arizona, so Mariann can’t see clients whose only coverage is Medicaid. If you have Medicaid, call the member services number on your card and ask for a list of in-network therapists who offer video sessions.
We want to be upfront about this so no one works up the courage to call and then hears we can’t help. It’s a program we’re not part of, and you deserve a therapist who can actually see you.
Two things trip people up. Medicare and Medicaid sound alike, but they’re different programs, and we accept only Medicare. And some companies that run employer plans also run Medicaid plans, often called a “Community Plan.” In Arizona, Medicaid has its own name: AHCCCS, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. If your card says AHCCCS or Community Plan, it’s likely Medicaid, even when the company name looks familiar. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, mention it on the consultation call.
How does an employee assistance program (EAP) work for therapy?
An employee assistance program is a benefit offered through an employer that pays for a short set of counseling sessions, usually at no cost to the employee. To use an EAP for therapy at Change.Life, you call the EAP number from your employer, ask for an authorization, and then schedule with Mariann.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management describes an EAP as “a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling,” along with referrals and follow-up services. OPM’s explanation of employee assistance programs notes that EAPs commonly help with stress, grief, family problems, and other emotional concerns. If you’re still deciding whether yours fits that list, we walk through the basics in what an employee assistance program is and whether you can use it for therapy.
EAPs are more common than most people realize. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ chart on access to quality-of-life benefits, 62% of civilian workers had access to an employee assistance program in March 2026. Many people we talk to have never looked at that part of their benefits.
Work is often what sends people to that benefits page. If pressure has been mounting up at work and you’re starting to feel a persistent sense of dread, see How Do You Know When Everyday Stress Has Become Anxiety Worth Talking About?
The steps are usually simple:
- Find your EAP’s phone number in your benefits portal, or ask HR. You don’t have to say why.
- Call the EAP, ask whether Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW, is in their network, and request an authorization.
- Write down the authorization number and how many sessions are approved, since that number varies by employer.
- Call or text us to schedule.
What happens when your EAP sessions run out?
When EAP sessions run out, most clients at Change.Life keep working with Mariann by switching to their regular health insurance, as long as she’s in network with that plan. If the regular plan is one she doesn’t take, including Medicaid, the sessions end with the EAP, so it helps to check both before you begin.
An EAP is short-term by design, and this part catches people off guard. Mariann once had an EAP client whose work was going well, then learned their regular insurance was Medicaid, so she couldn’t continue after the EAP ended. That’s why we now ask about both on the first call.
So when you call about an EAP, have your regular insurance card handy too. If both line up, switching is just paperwork. You keep the same therapist and the same weekly time.
What is the insurance question people ask most on a consultation call?
The answer is pretty straightforward. The most common question people have during their consultation call is “Do you take my insurance?” and “How much is my copay?” Those are the two biggest questions, usually
People also tend to ask about payment methods. At Change.Life, we use the Square app to make recurring payment easier. Patients simply provide their credit, debit, HSA or FSA card, and we put it in the app to make the payment process more effective
How does Medicare cover online therapy in New York and Arizona?
Medicare Part B covers outpatient psychotherapy with a licensed clinical social worker, including by video. According to Medicare.gov, after you meet the Part B deductible you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Change.Life accepts Medicare for online therapy with Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW, in New York and Arizona.
Medicare’s outpatient mental health coverage page lists clinical social workers among the providers you can see, and telehealth among the ways you can get care. The Medicare telehealth page lists outpatient psychotherapy as a covered telehealth service and states that “for most telehealth services, you’ll pay the same amount that you would if you got the services in person.” For a shorter version of the rules, see does Medicare cover online therapy with a licensed clinical social worker?
Your out-of-pocket cost depends on whether a supplement picks up that 20%. Medicare Advantage plans set their own rules, so bring that card to the consultation call and we’ll check it together.
Some of our Medicare clients came to video therapy reluctantly and now prefer it. Many start after a health change, like a new diagnosis, which we talk about in How Do You Rebuild Your Sense of Self After a Life-Changing Diagnosis?
What should you check with your insurance before your first appointment?
Before a first online therapy appointment, check four things with your insurance: that the therapist is in network for your exact plan, that outpatient mental health by video is covered, what your copay or coinsurance will be, and how much of your deductible remains. Write down the name of the representative and the date of the call.
Use the member services number on the back of your card, or the separate mental or behavioral health number if your card lists one. Questions worth asking:
- Is Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW, in network for my plan?
- Does my plan cover outpatient psychotherapy by video for someone in New York (or Arizona)?
- What is my copay or coinsurance, and how much of my deductible have I met?
- Do I need a referral or prior authorization, and is there a yearly session limit?
One more step we’d suggest: call the therapist too. Online directories can be wrong. In August 2025, the New York Attorney General’s Office announced a settlement with one health plan after a secret shopper investigation found that every mental health provider it called from the plan’s directory was either unreachable or not accepting new patients. “New Yorkers seeking mental health care deserve timely, accurate information,” said Attorney General Letitia James.
We lay out the quickest ways to confirm in how to check whether a therapist is in network with your plan. Or skip the hold music and call or text us directly.
Does it matter which state you live in for online therapy insurance?
Yes. A therapist needs a license in the state where you live to see you, even by video. Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW, is licensed in New York and Arizona, so Change.Life can see insured adults across both states, from Manhattan and Long Island to Phoenix and Tucson.
For state-specific details, see does insurance cover online therapy in New York? or does insurance cover online therapy in Arizona? If your employer is based in another state, mention that when you call your insurer, since your plan has to cover care where you live.
Mariann saw clients by video in Arizona before it was common, and Change.Life has been fully online since 2020. We walk through what that looks like week to week in What Does Online Therapy With One Therapist Actually Look Like, From First Call to Ongoing Sessions?
What if you’d rather not use insurance?
You can pay privately for online therapy at Change.Life instead of using insurance. Get in touch with us for details on private pay rates. Some people choose this for privacy, because their plan isn’t one Change.Life accepts, or because their deductible is high enough that paying directly is simpler.
If you pay on your own, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notes that you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of what your care will cost before you start.
Either way, copays and private pay go through a secure card payment app that Mariann sets up in your first session, so you don’t think about it each week.
When is this article not enough on its own?
This article explains how insurance works at one practice, Change.Life, for adults in New York and Arizona. It can’t tell you what your specific plan covers. Only your insurer can confirm your benefits, copay, and deductible, and coverage rules can change from year to year.
It also doesn’t cover couples or family therapy, therapy for anyone under 18, or care outside New York and Arizona. Questions about a bill you’ve already received belong with your insurer.
This content is educational and describes how one practice works. It does not replace consultation with a licensed provider or your insurance company about your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
No. Change.Life does not accept Medicaid or Medicaid managed care plans in New York or Arizona, including AHCCCS. People whose only coverage is Medicaid can call the member services number on their card for a list of in-network therapists. Change.Life does accept Medicare, which is a separate federal program.
Yes. Change.Life works with various employee assistance programs. Call the EAP number your employer provides, ask for counseling with Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW, and request an authorization. EAPs cover a set number of sessions, so it helps to confirm your regular insurance as well in case you want to continue afterward.
Yes. Medicare Part B covers outpatient psychotherapy with clinical social workers, including through telehealth. According to Medicare.gov, after the Part B deductible you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Change.Life accepts Medicare for online therapy in New York and Arizona with Mariann Arcari Rubin, LCSW.
Have your insurance card ready, including the member ID and any separate mental health phone number on the back. If you’re using an EAP, have the authorization number and session count. Knowing whether your plan comes through an employer, Medicare, or the marketplace also helps us confirm your coverage quickly.
How do you check your coverage with Change.Life?
The easiest way is to ask during your free 15-minute consultation with Mariann. Call 516-544-9322, text 480-586-8737, or book your free consultation online. Have your insurance card nearby. Mariann reads every message herself, and we get back to people fast.