Cerebral Review: Cost, Insurance, and Clinical Quality

Cerebral legitimacy and licensing

Cerebral is a real telehealth company with licensed clinicians, and it bills major insurers. But it has a serious regulatory history you should weigh:

• FTC, April 2024: the FTC charged that Cerebral shared sensitive information of nearly 3.2 million consumers with third parties and made cancellation a complex, multi-step process despite advertising cancel-anytime. The order required about $5.1 million in refunds, a $10 million civil penalty suspended to $2 million because of Cerebral’s finances, a ban on using health data for most advertising, and an easy way to cancel.
• Justice Department, November 2024: Cerebral entered a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York over practices that encouraged unauthorized distribution of controlled substances from 2019 to 2022, agreeing to forfeit $3.65 million.

Cerebral now says it doesn’t prescribe any controlled substances. On Trustpilot it scores 4.2 out of 5 from 5,401 reviews, with 20% one star.

Cerebral cost

Cerebral changed its billing on October 6, 2026. Without insurance, therapy is $150 per session, charged when you book, and your therapist may offer shorter sessions at $125 (45 minutes) or $100 (30 minutes). Medication management moved to the Affordable Meds plan at $180 every 3 months. If you fill through CerebralRx, medication and shipping are included; if you use a local pharmacy, you pay the pharmacy or your copay and get a $15 rebate per period.

Cerebral says clients who see a therapist fewer than 3 times a month will likely pay less than under the old subscriptions, and those with more frequent sessions may pay more. Weekly therapy at $150 a session runs about $600 to $750 a month.

Does Cerebral take insurance?

Yes. Cerebral lists Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum and UnitedHealthcare as insurance partners and says it’s adding more. In network, it bills your plan after each session and charges your copay, coinsurance or deductible to your card on file, with notice 7 days before charging. If your insurer denies a claim, the most you’d pay per session is $290 for a medication intake, $180 for a medication follow-up, $250 for a therapy intake and $205 for a regular therapy session. CerebralRx itself doesn’t take insurance, though HSA and FSA cards work. If Cerebral is out of network, it can give you a superbill to submit for out-of-network reimbursement.

What Cerebral can and can't prescribe

Cerebral prescribers can diagnose and treat anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and ADHD with non-controlled medications, such as SSRIs (sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine), SNRIs (duloxetine), beta blockers (propranolol) and some atypical antipsychotics. It does not prescribe controlled substances, including stimulants like Adderall or Concerta, benzodiazepines like Xanax or Klonopin, or ketamine. If you already take a controlled medication, you’ll need an in-person or other provider who can prescribe it. Don’t stop or switch medication without talking to a clinician.

Cancellation and refunds

To cancel recurring medication care, log in, open the menu, go to My Account, then Subscription Plan, and choose Cancel Subscription. Your access continues until the end of the billing cycle. Charges can still appear afterward for copays, medication refills or extra sessions. Cerebral’s terms say all fees are non-refundable regardless of whether you use the service, unless the law requires otherwise, though it may issue refunds at its discretion. Sessions canceled or rescheduled less than 24 hours ahead, or missed, cost $50. You can request your medical records at [email protected].

Complaints and how to avoid problems

Trustpilot reviews praise clinicians and convenience, while complaints center on clinicians leaving, billing surprises, slow support and cancellation. To protect yourself:

• Confirm your coverage and estimated copay before your first visit.
• Screenshot your plan and price at sign-up, especially after the October 2026 billing change.
• Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead to avoid the $50 fee.
• Plan a medication bridge with your prescriber before canceling.
• If you can’t resolve a billing issue, file a complaint with the FTC or your state attorney general, and dispute card charges for services you didn’t receive.

When online care isn't enough

Cerebral isn’t for emergencies. If you’re in crisis, call 911, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741741. If your symptoms are severe, you need a controlled medication, or you aren’t improving, see an in-person psychiatrist or your primary care doctor.