Equity & Access · Texas behavioral health news
Mental Health Deserts and the Insurance Gap: How BetterHelp Aims to Change the Equation for West Texas - Abilene Reporter-News
Mental Health Equity (Google News) · April 27, 2026
In plain language
Texas faces a significant shortage of mental health professionals, with 246 of the state's 254 counties considered shortage areas. Residents in rural regions like West Texas often struggle to find local providers who accept their insurance or live nearby. To help bridge this gap, the online therapy platform BetterHelp has begun accepting major insurance plans in Texas, including Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield. This change allows eligible residents to use their benefits for virtual counseling, reducing costs and travel time for those in underserved communities.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- Most Texas counties are officially designated as mental health professional shortage areas by the federal government.
- BetterHelp now accepts major insurance carriers in Texas, including Cigna, United Healthcare, and Baylor Scott & White.
- Eligible Texas residents with insurance may see their therapy costs drop to an average copay of twenty-three dollars per session.
- More than half of the state's mental health providers are concentrated in just five major urban counties.
- Online therapy helps rural residents avoid long drives to reach the nearest licensed mental health professional.
- The platform requires all participating therapists to be licensed in Texas and pass a background check.
Mental Health Deserts and the Insurance Gap: How BetterHelp Aims to Change the Equation for West Texas Abilene Reporter-News
Need to talk to someone in Texas? Browse Texas-licensed telehealth therapists. In crisis, call or text 988.