Does Insurance Cover Online Therapy in Colorado?

Key points

Colorado's telehealth law, as amended in 2017, bars carriers from denying a covered benefit solely because it is delivered by telehealth.
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles for telehealth cannot exceed what the plan charges for the same in-person care.
A 2020 law added that carriers cannot require you to have seen a provider before in order to get medically necessary telehealth care.
The Division of Insurance says a card marked CO-DOI means the Division regulates your plan.
Parity laws require most plans to cover mental health care on terms comparable to medical care.

The short answer

If you live in Colorado and want therapy by video, your insurance may well pay for it. Colorado has had a telehealth coverage law on the books for years, and both state and federal parity laws push plans to treat mental health care like other medical care.

The catch is that these rules work within your plan's own terms. They say how a plan must treat telehealth for services it already covers. They do not turn every plan into one that pays for every therapist. This article explains what the state's own pages say, as general information as of October 2026. It is not legal advice.

What Colorado's telehealth law says

Colorado's telehealth coverage rules sit in section 10-16-123 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Two laws passed by the General Assembly shaped how it reads today. House Bill 17-1094, as signed, says a carrier may not restrict or deny coverage of a covered health care service solely because it is delivered by telehealth rather than in person, or solely because of the communication technology used.

The same act says copays, coinsurance and deductibles for telehealth cannot exceed the amounts for the same services from the same provider in person. It also says the carrier does not have to pay transmission costs or site fees when you receive care at home.

Senate Bill 20-212 added more. Under it, a carrier may not:

Put an annual dollar cap on telehealth services that differs from the cap for the same in-person care.
Limit which HIPAA-compliant technologies a provider uses, including audio or live video.
Require you to have an established relationship with a provider before receiving medically necessary telehealth services from them.
Add certification, location or training requirements as a condition of paying a provider for telehealth.

Which plans these rules reach

State insurance law applies to plans that Colorado regulates. The Colorado Division of Insurance offers a quick check: if your insurance card says CO-DOI, your plan is regulated by the Division and has added state protections for mental health parity as well as federal ones. If your plan is not regulated by the Division, the Division says it may still have parity protections.

On parity, the Division explains that federal and Colorado law require carriers to cover mental and behavioral health conditions the same way they cover conditions like diabetes or heart disease. That covers copays and deductibles, visit limits, prior authorization and network access. Employer plans, individual plans, student plans, Health First Colorado and CHP+ must follow parity. The Division names exceptions: most of Medicare, and grandfathered plans created before March 23, 2010.

What to ask your insurer

Coverage details live in your own plan documents, so a short call or a look at your member portal is worth it. The National Institute of Mental Health also suggests confirming telehealth coverage with your insurer, since policies vary from state to state.

Is outpatient mental health care covered?Ask whether psychotherapy with a licensed counselor or clinical social worker is a covered benefit, and whether it is the same when delivered by video.
What will I pay?Ask about your copay or coinsurance, whether your deductible applies first, and whether in-network and out-of-network costs differ.
Do I need prior authorization or a referral?The Division lists prior authorization required for mental health care but not for comparable medical care as a red flag for a possible parity problem.
Who regulates my plan?Check your card for CO-DOI, or ask your employer's human resources office. The Division of Insurance can also help you work out what kind of plan you have.

If a claim is denied

The Division suggests asking for the denial in writing, along with the explanation of benefits and the medical necessity criteria the insurer used. Your provider can write a letter explaining why care is medically necessary, and you can file an internal appeal. You can also contact the Division of Insurance or Colorado's Behavioral Health Ombudsman, which helps people sort out access and coverage problems.

How we can help

Locascio Wellness is an all-virtual practice, and sessions are by secure video. A therapist on our team is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and sees clients who are physically in Colorado during each session for depression, anxiety, trauma, and children and teens. Our Colorado online therapy page has more.

For clients in Colorado we are in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare plans, including their related plans. Coverage depends on your plan and the state, so our administrative team verifies your benefits before your first session, and self-pay is available if you prefer it or your plan does not cover care. See our insurance and fees page for how this works. You can also read about our depression therapy and anxiety therapy.

To get started, book a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.

Common questions

Can my Colorado insurer charge more for a video session than an in-person one?

Not for cost sharing on a plan the law reaches. House Bill 17-1094 says copays, coinsurance and deductibles for telehealth cannot exceed the amounts for the same services from the same provider in person. Your plan's own terms still decide whether the service is covered at all, so check your benefits first.

Do I need to see a therapist in person before telehealth is covered?

Senate Bill 20-212 says a carrier may not require you to have a previously established relationship with a provider in order to receive medically necessary telehealth services from that provider. This applies to plans covered by Colorado's telehealth law. If your plan is regulated elsewhere, ask your insurer or employer which rules apply.

Does Health First Colorado follow mental health parity?

Yes. The Colorado Division of Insurance lists Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, and CHP+ among the plans that must follow state and federal parity laws. Each program has its own rules about which providers it pays, so ask the program or the provider whether they take part before you book.

Do you take my insurance for Colorado therapy?

Coverage depends on your plan and the state, so we do not promise coverage in advance. Our administrative team verifies your benefits before your first session and explains what we found. Self-pay is available too. The insurance and fees page explains how billing works, and you can ask during your free 15-minute consultation.

Sources

Published by Locascio Wellness. Published October 23, 2026. Clinically reviewed by Anthony Locascio, PsyD, LPC. This page is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis.