Brightside Health
Reviews and Complaints

Very unprofesional and unethikal place to work. HR and Leadership team terminated my contract without listening to my side. Very inapropriate to give me a chance to explain my side on Slack messaging via a 3rd person. They have no respect and regards for the providers. Taking unilateral decision on a complaint of a patient with a blurry judgement is inapropriate. This organization should have contacted my other patients for the reviews before terminating my contract. I would like to warn other providers who are considering to get on board with this organization. I wish I would have searched before started working with them.

I paid $345 for a month of service. On the first call, they said they couldn't help my son because he needed more assistance. So, I took him to the hospital as they demanded, saying he was a threat to himself and others. The hospital disagreed, stating he wasn't a danger. He also had a 20-minute conversation with a therapist at Brightside. However, Brightside said they couldn't assist him, and because he spoke to them once, they won't refund my money. Now, we had to find a new mental health agency and pay them too. They won't refund our money or provide any service. This company totally ripped us off.

When I signed up, the website clearly stated that my copay would be $0 with insurance for the medication and therapy. My insurance was accepted and I thought this was a great way to get treatment with online convenience. So, why not try therapy too, as they claim it's more effective than medication alone? I did one session with the doctor and one with a therapist. Honestly, I didn't really think the therapist was good, so I just continued with my medication.

Fast forward 3+ months, they suddenly billed me $500 for the two sessions. I called their help desk and they explained to me how deductibles for my insurance work (which I already know). They claim the website never said $0. That's a lie! Now they've stopped responding to any requests for a call back or email.

I signed up to get care from a psych . As a nurse myself, I had to take a whole 12-hour shift off so I could go to this appointment. I got text and email reminders about my appointment, right up till 15 minutes before. After 5 minutes of sitting on the zoom call and the *** not showing up, I checked my email. I got a cancellation notice via email 30 minutes before my appointment (but still had a reminder text 15 mins before?). The email didn't explain why my appointment got cancelled. I had to ask and search for answers myself. I got a short sorry and an offer to reschedule. Don't waste your time and money with this service. They can't keep appointments and the customer service isn't very helpful.

Brightside was an easy way to get mental health care... or so I thought. Apparently, they don't prescribe certain meds, which was not made clear until after the fact. I had bad reactions to your "normal" antidepressants and the provider told me if I wasn't willing to try anything else they had to prescribe I should look elsewhere. She barely talked to me for 15 mins any time we talked. I would ask questions about the medication and she would want me to set up a whole new appointment for that. The only reason I rated it a 2 was because of the sweet therapist I got. She was nice and super helpful and listened. I would recommend against this if you want anything other than just your regular antidepressants. I feel like it was a waste of money. Also my insurance covered the services, but I didn't know that there was a monthly fee until I went to cancel it.

I got a great therapist and was making progress. I had an appointment on Tuesday and on Wednesday they left me a note saying schedule an appointment with your new therapist. Really? No explanation by people that are not in the medical field, answering my email and telling me they know its difficult switching therapists. They also rated my degree of depression, even though I had underlying conditions that made it difficult to sleep, etc. and I was also allowed the opportunity to rate my therapist. That is none of their business thats between me and my therapist. Also, their little cookie cutter exercises would go away after youve done them a few times. It doesnt work that way. Some of the exercises were really great and I wanted to keep doing them. Some of them were very confusing. I am angry and upset with the way. This is run like a business without patient care being the number one priority.

If I could give zero stars I would. Brightside is holding my medication hostage (they are refusing to send it until I speak with a provider). I had been feeling down and decided to be honest during my check-ins. The doctor is asking to see me even though I don't need my medication changed. The issue is that I was on the $45 medication management plan but they're forcing me to pay an additional $50 for an appointment the doctor demanded before I can get my medication sent out. Two problems here that is incredibly damaging and manipulative: 1) clients can't be honest now on the check-ins without risking their medication being held hostage. This ensures that Brightside can claim their clients are getting better using their service even if they're lies and 2) they can glean $50 whenever they want because the doctor needs to check in. It's a manipulative money grab at best and it's disturbing that Brightside likes to play around with mental health like that just for more money. I will be taking my business elsewhere.

This company is a scam and a joke! They are required to pay upfront for 4 sessions to be done over a period of 1 month. However, it's not possible since there is little to no openings. Still waiting for a partial refund. By law, they are required to make copies of your records and summary notes from therapy sessions available to you "Without Delay" and at "No Charge". Brightside will not comply with that law! I have been requesting mine for 2+ weeks now and NOTHING. Therapy sessions are so unprofessional. My therapist logged in eating and drinking during my session, and her family kept interrupting. She even took a personal call on what is supposed to be my time, that I had paid for. I only wanted talk therapy yet the therapist kept bringing up medication and how Brightside can help with that. I only had 2 sessions with a therapist, but the whole experience with Brightside was stressful and uncomfortable! Their "support team" is anything but supportive. I would NOT recommend anyone who suffers with mental health issues turning to Brightside for help, you won't get it.

I had a really amazing experience with a super knowledgeable psychology nurse practitioner, so I wanna rate Brightside 5 stars, except the website was glitchy and problematic and it was so incredibly hard to schedule my appointment. I didn't get a fast response from customer service, either. There's def potential for this company to turn it around and I really hope that they do fix the website issues and lack of prompt customer service for those glitches. The provider I saw was compassionate, knowledgeable, and caring and I'll def continue my subscription. I only have the medication subscription since I already have a therapist I see several times a week, so I can't really speak on how the therapy and medication subscription is. All I can say is that the medication only subscription is def worth it IMHO. The provider was really careful about making sure there were no interactions with my other medications and took all my other health issues into account. If the website issues will give you more anxiety, then maybe this isn't for you, but if you can roll with any of those kinds of issues, I think the medication subscription is absolutely fabulous. It's helped me so incredibly much already!

I tried this service again because they said it would be covered by my insurance. They advertised that I could have 4 counseling sessions a month and unlimited messaging, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to use my insurance. I started using the service, but I wasn't getting billed with my insurance. I realized that I was being charged $30 every time I met with my therapist, on top of the cost for medications (which was also $30). Eventually, I decided to cancel because I didn't feel like I was benefiting much from the sessions. I canceled in August, but in October, I received a notice saying I owed them for services in June. I called customer service, and they told me they were 45 days behind on billing and couldn't do anything at that point. Now, I've been billed an extra $50 from June as well. I wouldn't recommend using this service if you plan on using insurance. It doesn't seem fair for a mental health service to bill you four months after the service date.

Zero stars needs to be an option. I signed up for Brightside's medication + therapy plan because I liked the convenience of therapy at home. Brightside said they accepted my insurance, (***); when signing up; but yet, I was being charged HUGE bills. Like almost $300 per month WITH INSURANCE! They told me that my insurance was late getting the charges put in. I realized the charges were too much to handle and cancelled the service in late August. In October, Brightside took over $300 from my bank account. I emailed and wanted an explanation and they explained my I owed for some services that happened in *** but, they refunded me $120. Two days later, they took an additional almost $300 payment from my bank account. I emailed and explained that my bank account is now NEGATIVE, the payment date on a statement I received was in November not October, and begged them to show some mercy. I was told that those services were owed and nothing could be given back since my balance is paid in full. I was also told that the wrong date was placed on the statement. Thats not my fault the wrong date is placed on the statement. How am I supposed to know thats wrong?! I currently have asked Brightside to escalate the situation. I get paid every two weeks and Im barely making it. This is unfair. As much as Ive paid to Brightside since Ive used the service in the literal few months I had it. I would think my debts have been paid. I do NOT recommend this company to ANYONE. Dont do it.

I would leave a zero star if I could. Ive used brightside for over a year. The most recent provider I had wasnt doing her job and reading check ins about my medication that was giving me bad side effects. I emailed her and she said ok then I told her I was weaning myself off and said I couldnt do that via email and I needed to do it via check ins or schedule a visit. I had been putting it on my check ins. Today I get an email stating they cancelled my service. Awful customer service.

When I first started with this company I gave them 5 stars, and I can't find a way to edit it. I have to admit my experience has gone downhill since then. Once I got stable and didn't really feel like I needed constant access to a doctor, I asked if I could discontinue the doctor service ($95/month) but still get the medicine ($15/month), but they said they couldn't send me medicine without the doctor service, so basically the medicine really costs $110 per month, instead of $15. No prescribing physician I've seen has ever required constant appointments to give me a year long prescription. So now I have to go find another prescribing physician before my medicine runs out, which is what I was trying to avoid in the first place by using Brightside, and it's adding a lot of stress and apprehension to my life because I really don't want to deal with a new doctor right now. It just feels really manipulative to stop providing medicine, and not even offer to send the prescription to be filled somewhere else.

My psychiatrist ghosted me (and Brightside). He did not return requests fora review nor did he respond to my (or Brightsides) request for follow up. After two weeks, I was transferred to another doctor who wound up being a nurse practitioner. She asked great questions, but when I expressed that I was continuing to feel depressed and anxious, she told me It sounds like youre getting better. Well be discharging you from the platform in 30 days. I expressed that I was having anxiety attacks, was unable to work and having passive suicidal thoughts and that I was exploring residential treatment. She agreed that I needed residential treatment (but that I was still being discharged). The experience only exacerbated my symptoms and it seemed as though no one cared. It felt as though they were just trying to get rid of me. Customer service is awful (except for *** who was caring and sympathetic). There is no option to leave a message for customer service, the automated system simply says there are no agents available, please call again. I called and called and called and still couldnt reach anyone. When dealing with individuals with mental health issues, there should be more of a focus on a good customer service experience.This service is probably fine for those who have mild depression and/or anxiety, however, not for those with moderate to severe symptoms.

My dad showed me Brightside Health 'cause of all the problems I'm havin'. It made me create a log in and then showed me that it didn't accept my insurance and it would cost $349 a month. I asked 'em to delete my account 'cause I can't afford the required health insurance for this program. I tried to deactivate my account, but there was no option for that. Now, this person named *** said, "Thanks for reachin' out. Lookin' into your account, I see that you signed up for our self-care plan only, which is free. There ain't no paid account linked to this email address. I unsubscribed you from our email list, but there ain't no accounts to cancel or refund right now. Let us know if you got any questions." If I ain't got no accounts, why do I still have a profile?! I wanna delete it, but she wouldn't do it. She only unsubscribed me from the email list. That ain't what I asked for or wanted. I even sent her a picture of my profile's account name as proof. I feel trapped and lied to. I'm real upset 'cause she couldn't do her job and just delete my account. I don't understand why. But if I wanna delete my account, your company should be able to do it. I took a photo from my phone after I logged in. Y'all should probably teach Ms. how to do her job and be honest. I'm honestly real disappointed in Brightside 'cause of this. If y'all got more questions or inquiries, feel free to reach me at my email 'cause my phone ain't reliable right now.

I wanna start with, THIS IS A SCAM. Before PAYING, we contacted them and got a plan in place. It was the first week in January when we contacted them. At that time they said when we paid we would get 4 virtual appointments in January. And texting and email contact 24/7. Payment was to be all at once for each month up front and on a subscription basis. $299 per month. (We have kept ALL emails.) We also let them know prior to paying that we would need the Summary Notes. ( After more than a decade of advocacy, the 21stCentury Cures Act mandated that, as of April 5, health care providers had to make most forms of clinical notes available free of charge and without delay. Same day provider summary notes.) This is the current federal law. Brightside.com does NOT provide these notes. In fact they told us it would take 30 days to get the medical records. However if you look up the above law Brightside MUST provide provider notes same day. After a month we have not got the notes. Then the appointments. AFTER full monthly payment was made the first appointment was set for the latter half of the second week in January and the second appointment was set for the last Sunday of January, Please note it is IMPOSSIBLE to get all 4 promised appointments. So to the therapist. Concerning the last Sunday visit of 01-29-2023, the therapist was EATING on camera when logged in. During the visit her son interrupted the session and she had to address that and later another child. The interruptions were often. Asked her about getting summary notes, she was clueless and explained that she had no idea why Brightside said she could do something about it. The therapist PUSH medications hard, but could not provide medical notes to explain why. We would like a FULL refund AND the MEDICAL NOTES within 1 week. We have kept all emails and text. This is a subscription scam, we are still fighting for the records and refund.

Paid money- said i could withdraw if services were not applicable to me- I immediately cancel- no response- they dont answer phone or returnrn call- ill need to file dispute with credit card company- ripoff-

My insurance company recommended I use brightside.com for treatment of depression. The company has changed my $349 each month without using my insurance. They also add another charge of $30 per month to send meds. I have contacted them several times and they refuse to refund my money.

I made an appointment with one of their psychiatrists who was bizarre and deranged. He needed far more help than I do. I told them I wanted no further business with them and they sent me 5 emails in a row without my response. That's legally harassment. I am requesting no further contact from these nut jobs or I will invoice the police.

I saw one of their psychiatrists who belonged in a straight jacket himself. I obviously terminated services with them after that. They have continued to send me harassing communications (several emails almost daily for over a month) even though I've asked them to stop contacting me many times and even threatened to call the police on them

This company checked my insurance and told me that my insurance covered their services at $0 cost to me and $0 copay. Their therapy was not acceptable at all. It was 100% the therapist chatting with me about nothing health related at all. She told me more about herself and her life than asking anything about my mental health. Then later I get bills for hundreds of dollars for the "therapy". I was lied to intentionally so this company could make money. They should not be allowed to continue falsely advertising the no cost claim. I'd also like a refund for the unproductive chatting I was billed as therapy.

Brightside advertises themselves as a mental health provider but is not upfront about the limitations on their services offered. Their providers, despite ostensibly being medical doctors, are apparently unable to prescribe certain medications (controlled substances such as prescription stimulants) and unwilling to deal with certain non-controlled psychiatric medications that aren’t included on their formulary. Example: certain kinds of antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs) are covered but some others (atypical antidepressants) are not and will not be prescribed. None of this is made clear to the patient prior to submitting payment. If I had been made aware of either of these I would certainly not have proceeded.

On 3/30/2022, I was given a email from Brightside that I owed $200 for my therapy copays. When setting up my therapy, I was told by Brightside that I would owe $0 per session due to my insurance. Being a teacher with very limited funds, I jumped on the opportunity. Had I known I would owe a $25 copay per usual, I would not have done therapy with Brightside.After contacting them through email, they confirmed the issue was on their end, and that a "website error" gave me the wrong price when I signed up. I have tried to resolve this issue with brightside, and they continue to avoid me and not give me any ability to talk with them on the phone. I do not think it is right to lie to a customer about the cost of a service, and would not have joined the service if I knew the cost. It is their fault and not my own that this "error" took place.

RE: Brightside http://www.brightside.com/antidepressants/and-therapy I made an appointment for my friend...and did so with an offer. Their site stated $50 off first treatment.. $45 for your first month.$50 off first treatment Yet - I was charged about $600 and got nothing except one 45 min call with a therapist (no follow-up with a shrink as offered, no prescriptions...NOTHING) When I called their customer service line ***) I was unable to get a live person. Paid; $249 BRIGHTSIDE MEDICAL *** Jan 18, 2022 Amount ($249.00) Auth. Date Jan 16, 2022 Card Holder *** ONE therapy call, no Dr, no scripts, no help. Then! got charged AGAIN! $349 Original Description BRIGHTSIDE MEDICAL *** Trans. Type DEBIT CARD PURCHASE Posted Date Feb 16, 2022 Amount ($349.00) Auth. Date Feb 16, 2022 Card Holder

An absolute trash company. Shady, unhelpful, and not upfront at all. AN ABSOLUTE SCAM I signed up and paid them $250. They claim to be an accessible online mental health service yet the psychiatrist "Dr." *** spent 5 minutes and asked me two questions before prescribing me an SSRI before brushing me off and signing off. When I scheduled a therapy appointment 1 week from when I signed up, a couple of days later they canceled the appointment unilaterally and assigned a new therapist who did not have availability in the evenings for another 2 weeks. Oh they do not assign you a therapist based on your schedule but random therapists whose schedules YOU AS THE CLIENT have to work around for AN "ACCESSIBLE" ONLINE SERVICE, ITS PATHETIC. So I have to sit here and start a brain altering medication (trust me I know what SSRIs do I am a *** pharmacist) based on a lazy 5 minute consultation and no meeting with a therapist?. WHAT A BUNCH OF HACKS. Phone number leads to dead ends.

I signed up for Brightside's counseling and medication package which gives me access to a psych for medication and a counselor 4 times a month. They signed me up for a counselor who cancelled several appointments before I ever saw them. Transferred me to another who I never saw. Transferred me to ANOTHER who cancelled before I saw them. Eventually I finally saw someone after over a week of nothing (which defeats 4 times a month). I saw her twice and then the 3rd week SHE cancelled our appointment and told me she'd be out of town the following week - making it so that I had 2 appointments over a 5 week span due to these issues. Not acceptable OR what I paid for. I reached out to customer service and told them via email I wanted to stop my service with Brightside and be refunded for the weeks of therapy I did not receive. They then billed me again in FULL today. I want that refunded as well. This platform is DANGEROUS for people seeking out mental health help and their customer service couldn't be more flippant or dismissive of the serious issues customers are dealing with. It's disgusting.

I recently filed a complaint against Brightside because after I stopped using their medication services on my account, I was billed again. My account showed no payments due until after 02/17 if I had the medication and therapy plan and I was charged on 02/15. No one ever answered it. Now, I ended my account because the therapist I was using left and I was very unhappy with the service. All of a sudden, I receive three emails saying I owe them $90 for *copays.However, I only signed up because when I set up the account my account showed no charges for copays from me as my insurance covered berthing but the medication. I did not pay a copay in December, January, February. Now that I quit using their platform, all of a sudden I owe them money? I dont think so. It honestly makes no sense to me. I have tried to call but no one answers. I have emailed them and they just keep sending me invoices. This company is a scam and Im so sad I used it. I normally would never complain but this is just weird. It said $0 for copay on the account when I signed up. Something is not right here. Also, sometimes the therapist would only talk for maybe 20 mins when the sessions were supposed to be an hour..which I never complained about because it said my insurance covered it.

I signed up for Brightside with the medication and therapy plan. I thought the psychiatrist would do a good evaluation, but after 5 minutes she prescribed me a medication I told her I didnt want to take. I paid the $30 just in case but ultimately decided not to take it. I attempted to cancel the medication portion of my plan and stick to therapy as I like my therapist a lot. However, the email I sent was not responded to for weeks and they charged me again. Before I received the medication in the mail I asked if I could send it back or deny the package and get a refund and they said no. I followed their directions to cancel the medication portion of my plan, with my account showing no charges until 02/17/22. On 02/14/22 I was charged another $30 for this medication I dont even take. I emailed them and someone basically emailed me back just saying my account would be therapy only but nothing about a refund. I would appreciate a refund of $30, when I really should be getting $60 because I attempted to cancel this portion of my plan twice. When I called, the lines go nowhere and eventually ring and say no one is available, try again later and they hang up. This is terrible service. I would not recommend this to anyone. Especially someone seeking mental health assistance. I have attached a photo of my account dashboard showing my next charge was not supposed to be until 02/17/22 and that was when my plan was switching to Aetna covered therapy only.

I need two medications and my medical history transferred and prescribed from my previous doctor. I've contacted him and he has completed his part. I paid for insurance covering Mental Health Therapy and Prescriptions for medication I've taken for years but had to stop due to financial issues. Without medication, my anxiety and insomnia worsened, affecting my job stability and leading to depression. I signed up for a plan that seemed helpful and auto-paid $122, but my account shows as inactive without insurance or appointment scheduling options. I provided a detailed description of my situation. I need generic Cymbalta and Xanax, which have helped me since my late 20s. Now at 41, I relate to my mother's struggles with mental health. I can't afford another payment after struggling with the first. Panic attacks and sleepless nights are jeopardizing my job. My work schedule doesn't align with their availability, and it feels like they've taken my money and forgotten me. This situation is exacerbating my mental state. Sincerely.