Frequently Asked Questions
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The program
What is Meru Health?
Meru Health offers on-demand holistic mental health care through therapist-led treatment that addresses the root causes of stress, anxiety, and depression.
With Meru Health, you’ll get personalized support from a licensed, dedicated therapist through unlimited messaging and scheduled video sessions. You’ll also learn to reduce stress and improve your emotional well-being with a free heart rate variability biofeedback device.
Through the Meru Health platform, you’ll learn how mindfulness, sleep, and nutrition affect your mental health. Our mind-body approach is clinically proven to be 67% more effective than traditional therapy, and most participants report clinical improvements within a few weeks.
Is Meru Health legit?
Yes! Meru Health is legit.
Our program was developed over seven years in collaboration with leading clinicians in cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, biofeedback breathing, sleep, and nutrition. We sought to combine the most effective care modalities from different treatment verticals.
We partner with major research institutions, including Harvard and Stanford, to validate the quality of our treatment. Through clinical studies, the Meru Health program has been proven 67% more effective than traditional therapy, and 94% of participants experience positive results in 12 weeks. Fifty-nine percent are in complete remission from symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Our team of licensed therapists furthers our treatment. Every therapist holds a master’s or doctoral-level license and has at least three years of experience. Additionally, we vet all of our therapists through an extensive background check.
The Meru Health program is also in network with national health plans such as Cigna and Aetna.
How is Meru Health different from traditional face-to-face therapy?
Meru Health is a clinically proven therapy program that can be accessed from your smartphone. It includes personalized care from a dedicated licensed therapist, self-paced lessons and guided activities, a biofeedback device to help you connect mind and body, and support from an anonymous community.
Unlike traditional face-to-face therapy, Meru Health is a continuous digital program: you’ll get new exercises on the platform daily that you can do at your own pace right from your smartphone.
You can also talk with your therapist anytime, even daily, via secured in-app chat. Your therapist is always available to support you and guide you through the program.
Studies show that mental health isn’t just mental. Nutrition, sleep, and even simple breathing directly impact your mental health. Our holistic program focuses on daily activities and practices to deliver superior and long-lasting results.
Our program participants find it 67% more effective than traditional therapy.
How does Meru Health work?
Take a health assessment
Fill out a questionnaire so we can best address your needs.
Check your insurance coverage
Check your coverage in minutes, or you can pay out of pocket.
Choose your therapist
Select a time for an intake call with your licensed therapist.
Start feeling better
Begin your personalized program with 1:1 support every step of the way.
Graduate!
Continue to access your practices, plus free monthly webinars!
What is the time commitment for the Meru Health program?
Our program is very flexible. Usually, you only need around 15 minutes to complete your daily practices. You can work through the program at your own pace – anytime, anywhere from your smartphone.
During the program, you can have video sessions with your dedicated therapist and get unlimited in-app chat support and guidance.
How long does the Meru Health program last?
Meru Health program is designed to last for three months (12 weeks).
What happens after 12 weeks?
After your 12-week program, you’ll continue to have unlimited access to your lessons and practices, so you can always revisit what you’ve learned. However, the anonymous community support, the therapist chat support, and the video therapy sessions will no longer be available.
You will also become a part of our “Meru Grads” post-program community, which offers access to many resources, such as webinars, to help you stay on track.
What is a Meru Health’s biofeedback device? How does it work?
All Meru Health participants are provided with a free biofeedback device that teaches you to improve your physical response to stress so that you can feel calmer faster. This device is a small clip you wear on your earlobe only when doing biofeedback breathing practices in the Meru Health app. You don’t need to wear it all the time.
Studies suggest that people who practice biofeedback breathing tend to be healthier and live longer with less risk of disease, reducing rates of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. After the program ends, you can continue to access the biofeedback training and keep the biofeedback device for yourself.
How does the anonymous community support feature work?
All Meru Health participants get access to our anonymous community group. The support group meets weekly to discuss a specific topic, encouraging you to share your experiences and learn from others.
The group is entirely anonymous; other participants won’t see your name, nickname, or avatar. You won’t be able to respond directly to other participants; however, your therapist will be there if you need additional support. You are not required to participate in the discussions or share any information in the group.
Can children and adolescents use Meru Health?
Currently, we can only provide our services to patients 18 or older. We recognize the importance of mental health care for minors and are working hard to obtain the necessary licenses to improve their access to mental health care through Meru Health.
Here are some alternative resources available for minors. Additionally, we partner with Brightline Health for this purpose. They provide services similar to ours but for children and adolescents. Please check out their website to get started!
Your therapist
How do I interact with my therapist?
The program starts with a 30-45 minute intake video call with your dedicated master’s or doctoral-level licensed therapist to identify your treatment goals and personalize your program experience.
During the program, you will communicate with your therapist through a secured in-app chat ─ discreetly and without any pressure. The therapist will always be there to discuss everything you have in mind, guide you through the program, and provide additional resources that might be helpful for you.
You can message your therapist anytime and as frequently as you want. Your therapist will reply to you as soon as possible during their workdays. You can also schedule video sessions with your therapist during the program. It’s also a great way to review your therapist’s feedback and tips when you need it most.
Are Meru Health therapists licensed?
Yes, our team consists of master or doctoral-level licensed therapists who have at least three years of experience and have verified background checks.
Can I use Meru Health if I’m already seeing a therapist?
Yes! Our program has served as a valuable addition to existing therapy for many of our participants as it offers practical skills to decrease anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
Do you consider a person’s faith when providing support?
Our therapists go through extensive diversity training to respect and embrace the religious views and beliefs of any person we help. Please be sure to bring this up with your therapist during your first video session so they can consider your faith while supporting you.
Can I specify the gender/ethnicity/specialty of my therapist?
You can request a therapist with a specific background or identity, and we will try to find the best match for you. However, we cannot always accommodate specific requests.
Our licensed therapists are trained to work with people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Your personal therapist will ensure care is tailored to you. If you would like to switch therapists, please let us know.
How can I reschedule my therapist call?
You can reschedule your therapist appointment using the Meru Health app.
How do I switch my therapist?
When considering changing your therapist, it’s important to prioritize your comfort and well-being. We understand that finding the right fit with a therapist is crucial, and we encourage you to make a change if you feel it’s necessary.
To request a change of therapist, simply utilize the “get support” button in your app and provide us with any relevant information that can help us better understand your needs. Our clinical team will then assist you in selecting a new therapist to work with.
We want to ensure that you have a positive and supportive experience, and we are committed to helping you find the right fit for your therapeutic journey.
Eligibility & costs for health plan members
When and how do I pay?
We send all invoices by email, with a link to pay online via credit card, debit card, or FSA/HSA account.
We understand that the billing process for healthcare services can be confusing, so we’re here to help Here’s how it works: First, we submit a claim to your insurance company to see if the services are covered. Once your insurance company processes the claim request, we send you a bill for the amount you are responsible for paying for Meru’s program.
The processing time may take up to 3 months from when we submit the claim, so don’t worry if you don’t receive the bill <right after your intake call or at the end of each program month>. We’ll send your bill to the email address we have on file for you as soon as your insurance company processes your claim.
Can I pay with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
Yes! If you have a copayment or deductible for the program, you can pay it using your HSA/FSA account.
How can I be sure of my coverage?
At Meru Health, where possible we will try to provide you with a cost estimate based on the data available to us. However, it’s important to note that the actual amount that you are responsible for paying will ultimately be determined by your insurance company and any information we provide to you in advance of a claim being submitted to your insurance company is simply an estimate. For exact details about your costs and your health insurance plan, you should reach out directly to your insurer.
What if my coverage changes?
Note that our cost estimates are based on your health plan status and the information available to us at the time you registered. Our cost estimates may not fully reflect your financial responsibility.
If you have any changes to your health plan, please submit a participant support form or contact us at [email protected] with your new health insurance information.
How can I cancel my participation in the program?
Although we’d be sad to see you go, you can cancel the Meru Health program at any time. You will not be charged for any month of the program that you haven’t started.
Just be sure to cancel before each month-long period begins. The second period starts in week 5 of the program and the third month period begins in week 9.
If you have started a new month of the program and then decide to cancel, you will be charged for the month in which we receive your cancellation request and maintain access to Meru Health’s program for the month you’ve paid for, and the cancellation will take effect the following month.
To cancel, please submit a participant support form or contact us at [email protected].
To cancel, please submit a participant support form or contact us at [email protected].
Why are the program fees different than my cost estimate?
Program fees depend on whether you’ll meet your deductible during the program. While your cost estimates have been calculated taking your deductible and coinsurance into account.
If you have a high-deductible plan and you don’t meet your deductible during the program, your insurance company may not cover any of the Meru program costs and in that case, you would be responsible for paying Meru for all costs associated with the Meru program.
Please note that cost estimates are based on your health plan status and the information available to us at the time you register for the program. A cost estimate may not fully reflect your financial responsibility.
Is the biofeedback device free?
Yes! The biofeedback device will be sent to your address free of charge.
Our biofeedback practices are designed to enhance your heart rate variability, help you perform better in challenging situations, and recover optimally from stress.
As a token of our appreciation, you can keep the device after the 12-week program ends and continue using it as much as you’d like.
Other
What if I need immediate help?
If you or someone you know is at risk of danger, call 911 immediately. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline**: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) National Crisis Text Line: Text “NOW” to 741-741
Will my information be private? Even from my employer?
Privacy is a fundamental right and core value at Meru Health. We follow HIPAA-compliant regulations and requirements to ensure your information stored is protected and safe, according to federal and state laws. Our HIPAA-compliant platform ensures your personal information is protected and encrypted at all times.
We value your privacy and will not share any identifiable information with your employer or anyone else, except where permitted by law.
Can I get an evaluation for a leave of absence from work?
While our therapists are licensed clinicians, they do not provide evaluations to support accommodations of any type, including requests for a medical leave of absence, workplace, educational or housing accommodations, or animal-emotional support assessments.
Can you renew, change, or start me on a prescription for mental health medicine?
Our psychiatrists are available to answer questions about mental health medications and discuss your existing medications during the program. They can coordinate with your primary care physician upon request.
We do not prescribe or modify any medication directly. However, we will happily refer you to a provider who can.
Can I print out the program content?
The program content is available on your smartphone at any time, even after you complete the program. If you would like a printed version of some of the practice reflections you’ve completed or items from your resilience toolkit, contact your therapist, who can provide additional support.
Still have questions? Let's talk.
Book a 15-minute intro call with our
Outreach Specialist team
or email us.
