Therapy as close as your phone
Sometimes navigating life’s ups and downs doesn’t fit into office hours. Now, you don’t have to wait for an appointment to speak to a caring therapist or psychiatrist.
Premera has expanded our behavioral health network to include Talkspace, an online service that connects UA employees to therapists and psychiatrists by video and text for about the same costs as an in-person visit.
Talkspace is a confidential, secure, online option for face-to-face therapy. It connects you to more than 4,000 licensed therapists by video and text messaging regardless of date, location, or time of day. You can send unlimited multimedia messages to a therapist via a web browser or the Talkspace mobile app.
All Talkspace therapists have been carefully vetted and have an average of 10 years of experience providing therapy. While a majority of patients stay with their initial provider, switching to a new provider is simple and timely.
The Talkspace platform is certified to be compliant with federal privacy laws. All chat data is encrypted on the servers, and all communication between the software and the servers is encrypted. The app requires you to enter a password and allows you to create a unique passcode for extra security. In addition, the app also supports fingerprint recognition on iOS and Android devices.
Here’s how you can access Talkspace:
- Sign up for Talkspace at talkspace.com/premera.
- You will then be shown the three best matches for your needs, and will choose your
therapist.
- Once you select your therapist match, you can start messaging with a therapist right away.
The amount you pay is the same as if you saw a provider face-to-face, with the good
news being the prices are based on Washington allowable charges, which are usually
less than Alaska costs.