What real mental health access looks like for your employees

Read Time

5 Minutes

Written by

Team Curative

Published

Jul 10, 2025

Mental health isn’t a “nice-to-have” benefit anymore. It’s something your employees are looking for, talking about, and expecting.

The problem? Mental health coverage often feels like a broken promise with traditional plans. Outdated provider directories. Waitlists that stretch for weeks. Even with coverage, employees often abandon care because it costs between $150–$300 per session––what use is support when it puts you into debt?

At Curative, we're changing the game. We’ve built one of the most expansive, $0 mental health offerings in the industry—powered by best-in-class partners, a flexible payment model, and one mission: make mental healthcare easy, affordable, and accessible.

Curative member in mental health therapy session

It’s not just covered. It’s actually accessible.

When we say coverage, we mean real access. Through partnerships with organizations like Rula,Two Chairs, Pelago, Televero Health, and Recovery Unplugged, Curative members get therapy, psychiatry, and substance use support—without jumping through hoops.

This approach is delivering real results:

Members use mental health benefits at 150% the national benchmark
We maintain an average cost per service that is 20% lower than traditional plans

That’s what happens when care is easy to find and free to use.

Mental health coverage wasn’t working. So we fixed it.

Mental health benefits have been broken for a long time—and most people know it. Ghost networks. Waitlists. Out-of-pocket costs that make “covered” care feel anything but accessible. These aren’t new issues. They’re just the ones we’ve all come to expect.

Here’s what those problems look like and how Curative is solving each one:

Ghost networks → Verified, bookable providers Most directories are bloated with names that don’t respond or don’t take insurance. Up to 80% of listed mental health providers are unreachable. Curative partners with groups that offer real-time scheduling with verified availability—no dead ends.

Low specialist access → Near-immediate appointments Only about 31% of commercially insured individuals with a behavioral health diagnosis ever make it to a specialist under traditional plans. With Curative, members can often see a therapist or psychiatrist within days—not weeks—through partners like Rula, Televero, Two Chairs, and Recovery Unplugged.

High out-of-pocket costs → $0 to the member More than 40% of insured adults skip needed mental health treatment due to cost. When they do pay out of pocket, sessions typically cost $150–$300 each. Curative eliminates this with no copays, no deductibles, and no bills for in-network behavioral health services.

Limited networks → Direct payment Only 34% of psychologists accept any form of insurance, and just 58% accept private commercial plans. Many avoid networks due to low reimbursement and heavy administrative burdens. The Curative Cash Card lets members see out-of-network providers with the same $0 experience. We pay providers directly, expanding access without compromising quality.

Employer networks fall short → We close the gap Just 44% of employers say their current health plan has a sufficient in-network mental health provider network to meet employee needs. Curative offers one of the most expansive behavioral health networks in the country. With multiple partners and the Curative Cash Card™ to pay out-of-network providers directly, it helps to make sure no one falls through the cracks.

Why so many specialists don’t take insurance, and how we pay them anyway

There’s a reason so few mental health providers show up in network directories—and even fewer actually accept your insurance. It’s not about convenience. It’s systemic.

According to the American Psychological Association, 34% of psychologists don’t accept any insurance. And among those who do, just 58% accept private commercial plans. Why? Because reimbursement rates are low, paperwork is high, and insurance plans often limit clinical autonomy, dictating how long sessions can last, what treatment codes can be used, or how care is documented.

This mismatch leaves patients stranded between two options: pay out of pocket (often $150–$300 per session), or go without care.

That’s where the Curative Cash Card comes in.

Instead of forcing members to navigate claims, get reimbursed, or forgo care, the Curative Cash Card pays providers directly—even if they’re out of network. We eliminate the back-and-forth and deliver a $0 experience at the point of care.

No insurance billing
No paperwork
No chasing payments

It’s one of the simplest, most effective ways to expand access, especially when many providers choose not to work within traditional insurance frameworks.

Why it matters to employers and brokers

If you’re helping employers build better benefits, here’s why this model works:

Employees expect better. According to the Business Group on Health, 77% of large employers say mental health needs are increasing. Younger workers increasingly see these services as essential, not optional.
ROI is proven. For every $1 invested in mental health, employers see about $4 in return, due to reduced absenteeism and better productivity.
Retention improves. Meaningful mental health benefits are among the top employee retention drivers, particularly in competitive job markets.

Curative doesn’t just check the box—we make sure mental health benefits are useful, used, and proven to work.

Rethinking mental health coverage

Here’s what an industry-leading mental health plan actually looks like:

Real-time access to verified, high-quality providers
No copays, deductibles, or hidden fees
Integrated partnerships across therapy, psychiatry, and substance use
Payment flexibility to include providers that don’t take insurance
Measurable results tied to engagement and outcomes

If you’re looking to offer better employee mental health benefits, improve workplace wellness, and increase employee retention with meaningful, proven mental health coverage, we’d love to talk.

Stop settling for the status quo. It’s time for a plan that actually gives you and your employees the mental health care promised.