Seeking mental health treatment is important and personal. You have to choose what’s right for you when it comes to your mental health treatment. Traditional in-office counseling and online therapy are both eligible for reimbursement through your health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).
According to the IRS, you can use your HRA funds for in-person or online therapy that’s considered medically necessary. Some forms of therapy aren’t considered medical and will not qualify, for example, marriage counseling or life coaching.
Online therapy is a great option for convenience and flexibility, and the providers offer a variety of plans, including subscription-based services and single sessions.
Subscription-based plans offer services throughout a set timeframe. You pay for the services you'll receive during this period. To get reimbursed, you'll need to provide proof of your monthly subscription invoice and payment. The date you incur the expense is the date you make the payment for the current subscription period.
Documentation requirements
You will need an invoice detailing the service date (or subscription date range), the service description, and the cost.
The example above is a receipt for a subscription-based plan. It has the service description, the date range, and the cost.
The example above is a receipt for a single service session. It has the service description, the service date, and the cost.