April 17th, 2026 – If one good thing came out of the pandemic it was the destigmatization of seeking mental health care. The ACA helped dramatically improve health insurance coverage for therapy, but the challenge for many is finding quality care that is in their plan’s network.
Some people have turned to AI for help. Many people have shared that they sought informal counseling through ChatGPT and other AI sources. What’s the appeal? It is free, almost instantly accessible on demand and it feels more intimate and private, compared with opening up to a human being.
However, while opening to AI may feel private, it most definitely is not. When you interact with tools like ChatGPT and other AI platforms, you’re sharing information with a system that processes, stores, and in some cases reviews data to learn and improve the AI models. Reputable platforms may have safeguards in place, but this is very different from the strict confidentiality standards that apply to licensed mental health professionals.
A licensed therapist is bound by laws like HIPAA, which are designed specifically to protect your personal health information. There are clear rules, accountability, and legal consequences if those standards are violated. AI tools simply don’t operate under that same framework.
AI can help with organizing thoughts, journaling and some even use it to practice a difficult conversation, but AI does not truly understand you, your history, or the nuances of any given situation. AI cannot properly diagnose mental health conditions and is not able to provide the kind of personalized, relationship-based care that a trained therapist can.
While AI models continue to evolve there are documented cases of AI giving terrible advice, that in some situations have harmed relationships or even caused people to engage in self-harm.
If you or someone on your team is struggling, the goal should always be to connect with qualified, in-network care whenever possible. And yes, that can be frustrating. Networks can be narrow, wait times can be long, and finding the right fit can take effort. But the long-term value of working with a licensed professional far outweighs the convenience of a quick AI interaction.
From an employer perspective, this is where benefits strategy really matters. Employers who want to build healthy, productive teams should take a hard look at how accessible mental health care actually is within their plans—not just whether it’s “covered” on paper.
Questions worth asking include:
- How large is the behavioral health network?
- What are the average wait times for appointments?
- Are virtual therapy options available?
- Is there an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place?
- Are there resources to help employees find care, not just pay for it?
We’ve made tremendous progress normalizing mental health care. The critical next step is making that care truly accessible, high-quality and accessible.
At Colorado Health Insurance Brokers, we help employers evaluate not just the cost of their benefits—but how well those benefits actually work for their people. If you’d like a second opinion on your current plan or want to explore better ways to support your team’s mental health, we’re here to help.