Sesame Mental Health, Telehealth Platform

Sesame is a New York-based healthcare marketplace founded to address one of the most persistent frustrations in American healthcare: the inability to know what care costs before receiving it. The platform operates as a transparent, cash-pay marketplace where individual healthcare providers — physicians, psychiatrists, therapists, nurse practitioners, and specialists — list their services and prices directly, allowing patients to browse, compare, and book care without insurance intermediaries. In mental health, Sesame connects patients with psychiatrists and therapists across all 50 states for telehealth appointments at prices that are typically a fraction of what private-pay psychiatric care costs in traditional clinical settings. A telehealth psychiatric visit on Sesame might cost $25–$100 depending on the provider, compared to $300–$500 at a private outpatient psychiatry practice. This price compression is possible because providers on Sesame often set their rates for time-efficient telehealth visits — shorter, focused appointments rather than the extended sessions typical of in-person psychiatric evaluations. The platform's Mental Health Rx subscription, priced at $79/month, adds a structured layer on top of the base marketplace: subscribers get same-day video visit access, unlimited messaging with their prescribing provider, and ongoing prescription management including refills. This subscription is particularly valuable for patients managing chronic conditions like ADHD, anxiety, or depression who need regular touchpoints with a prescriber but do not require the full architecture of a psychiatry practice. Sesame's business model benefits patients and providers simultaneously. Patients pay substantially less than retail cash-pay rates; providers receive direct payment without insurance billing overhead. The marketplace is positioned explicitly against the friction of insurance — Sesame does not bill payers and does not participate in networks — which simplifies operations at the cost of limiting access for patients who can only afford care through insurance coverage. The platform includes a Sesame Plus membership tier ($10.99/month or $99/year) that provides additional discounts across all care categories and includes one free annual lab test — a useful benefit for patients using the platform for primary care as well as mental health. list their services and prices directly, allowing patients to browse, compare, and book care without insurance intermediaries. In mental health, Sesame connects patients with psychiatrists and therapists across all 50 states for telehealth appointments at prices that are typically a fraction of what private-pay psychiatric care costs in traditional clinical settings. A telehealth psychiatric visit on Sesame might cost $25–$100 depending on the provider, compared to $300–$500 at a private outpatient psychiatry practice. This price compression is possible because providers on Sesame often set their rates for time-efficient telehealth visits — shorter, focused appointments rather than the extended sessions typical of in-person psychiatric evaluations. The platform's Mental Health Rx subscription, priced at $79/month, adds a structured layer on top of the base marketplace: subscribers get same-day video visit access, unlimited messaging with their prescribing provider, and ongoing prescription management including refills. This subscription is particularly valuable for patients managing chronic conditions like ADHD, anxiety, or depression who need regular touchpoints with a prescriber but do not require the full architecture of a psychiatry practice. Sesame's business model benefits patients and providers simultaneously. Patients pay substantially less than retail cash-pay rates; providers receive direct payment without insurance billing overhead. The marketplace is positioned explicitly against the friction of insurance — Sesame does not bill payers and does not participate in networks — which simplifies operations at the cost of limiting access for patients who can only afford care through insurance coverage. The platform includes a Sesame Plus membership tier ($10.99/month or $99/year) that provides additional discounts across all care categories and includes one free annual lab test — a useful benefit for patients using the platform for primary care as well as mental health.