ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, affects millions all over the world. It is commonly referred to as ADHD and is characterized by persistent symptoms of either lack of attention or hyperactivity-impulsivity. These can get in the way of your daily life and hinder your ability or growth.
Here are the commonly observed behaviors associated with ADHD in adults:
- Fidgeting due to restlessness
- Chronic inattention – it is hard for patients to stay attentive for too long
- Tendency to interrupt constantly
- Impulsive behavior
- Forgetfulness & disorganized behavior
- Hyperactivity
- Excessive talking and issues with multitasking
Many youngsters are diagnosed with ADHD as the symptoms manifest early on. This causes them to struggle in school. As they transition to adults, the effects of ADHD may continue to have a negative impact on their personal and professional lives.
Recent Statistics About ADHD in Patients
According to a National Library of Medicine report, persistent adult ADHD had a prevalence of 2.58%. In comparison, symptomatic adult ADHD had a higher prevalence of 6.76%, resulting in 139.84 million and 366.33 million adult patients globally in 2020.
The statistics are equally concerning for children and teenagers. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9.4%, or 6.1 million children aged 2 to 17 experienced ADHD symptoms or were diagnosed with ADHD.
To add to this, almost 30% of kids diagnosed with ADHD cope with depression. And over half of those affected by depression, according to mental health experts, will seek help for it at some point.
If you connect the dots, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and stress might be closely related and can possibly develop or co-exist together in an individual. This calls for a combination of best treatment approaches.
If you have ever wanted a simpler way to access high-quality mental healthcare without spending crazy amounts of time commuting, your wish is already a reality.
The world has changed, and convenience has gone to the next level, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. So, in all likelihood, the answer lies in telehealth and telemedicine.
It has become an increasingly widespread and practical approach to treat an extensive range of mental and emotional health issues without leaving the house.
In this article, we will take a look at Klarity, a virtual ADHD diagnosis and treatment platform offered by online psychiatric service providers.
If you suffer from ADHD, Klarity can help you with on-demand online consultations for efficient assessment and tailored medication management.
Now let’s dive into the detailed review so you can decide what is best for you.
About Klarity
Klarity, popularly known as Klarity ADHD (Klarity Health Inc.), was founded by Victor Zhou in March 2021. It is based out of San Francisco, Bay Area, Silicon Valley, West Coast.
The platform aims to make mental healthcare easier, affordable, and more accessible to all age groups across the US. The company particularly focuses on solutions for ADHD, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and more.
Klarity ADHD is now available in more than 30 states and has a community of more than 100 certified psychiatric specialists to provide cost-effective and readily accessible online mental health services.
Please note the platform currently does not provide mental health therapy services for ADHD.
Klarity ADHD Review
Read everything you wanted to know about Klarity.
1. How Does it Work?
Klarity ADHD has board-certified providers to majorly treat ADHD, Depression, Insomnia, and Anxiety. Therefore, the platform’s website has individual pages dedicated to information about how treatment works for these problems.
Getting started is simple on Klarity ADHD, but the platform has two different questionnaires for evaluation. You can click on “Find Providers” to look for a psychiatric provider in your state. This is a brief set of questions and can be completed in less than a minute.
The free self-evaluation button on the website takes you to a slightly longer evaluation quiz for a detailed assessment of your condition. This can take anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes. The provision of two forms on the platform can possibly confuse a lot of potential customers.
When we attempted both questionnaires, we found that Klarity services were not available in the state of Arkansas.
However, the platform suggested a physical consultation with a local psychiatrist for the state of California. This can further add to the confusion of clients. Klarity also requests your phone number for you to access the final result of your assessment – this is a bit of a turn-off!
For some customers, revealing their personal information, such as their contact number, before receiving any kind of meaningful service can be an absolute deal breaker.
Here are the steps to consult Klarity ADHD – definitely not rocket science! It’s similar to and as easy as most other mental healthcare platforms in the market.
- Fill out the self-evaluation questionnaire
- Find out if virtual care is right for you and is available in your state
- Choose your provider if Klarity has online psychiatry services in your area
- Read up on their background, performance history, patient reviews, and area of expertise before you pick the right provider and schedule an appointment
- Consult your psychiatrist for a thorough checkup on your first visit, which will last for about 30 minutes
- Based on your evaluation, your provider will create a personalized treatment plan for you
- You can attend follow-up sessions based on your progress and other requirements
- Your provider will also help you with the correct prescription as per your custom treatment plan – this might take a while, and a single visit or consultation may not be enough
Cancellations or rescheduling appointments is also a straightforward process. However, a 24-hour prior notice would be mandatory. Moreover, a $10 refundable booking fee will be charged for your initial few sessions.
The refund is valid only if you cancel or reschedule your session at least 24 hours prior to the actual appointment.
How Do You Switch Your Provider at Klarity?
Changing psychiatric providers requires a new collaboration effort. So, this request has to be specifically made to the customer support team via email (info@klarityadhd.com). If approved, your new provider will get a medical release consent form.
If applicable, they will assess your medical history and chalk out a new treatment plan during your visit. Since you have been utilizing Klarity services, this session is considered a follow-up, and the appointment cost is brought down to $59.
The same process would be followed in case your provider quits working with Klarity ADHD. Providers are autonomous and can choose to switch to other platforms at any time.
You will be transferred to a new psychiatrist who will decide whether or not to accept your case, continue the same treatment, or tweak your treatment plan.
How is Your Progress Tracked?
Your service provider will evaluate you on a monthly basis. This exercise includes an assessment of your mental and emotional well-being. You and your provider together can easily keep track of the change in symptoms and the impact of medication over time.
Do You Need to Present Proof of Your Earlier Diagnosis?
No! The good news is that you do not need any referral from your primary care doctor to be eligible for treatment by providers at Klarity ADHD. The chosen psychiatric provider will take care of the appropriate diagnosis and medication by carefully evaluating your medical history and current symptoms.
Based on your state of residence and the severity of your condition, you may be recommended to opt for in-person consultation and treatment, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Klarity ADHD is clear about this approach, and the platform also mentions that they provide hybrid services on a case-by-case basis.
2. Pricing/Affordability
Klarity ADHD offers no-frills, fuss-free pricing as it does not have a membership or subscription-based plans. You will only be charged for individual visits and service refills.
The prescribed medication will cost extra and is covered by insurance. You can request a “superbill,” which is an exhaustive list to be shared with your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.
Here is the Structure of Appointments Along With their Costs:
First Online Consultation/Visit – It is a 30-minute evaluation where you will be given a comprehensive treatment plan and a detailed prescription if required.
The cost of the first session is $149 and is relatively cheaper than traditional services costing $400 to $500 per consultation.
Follow-Up Sessions – These cost $59 and start after your initial consultation. The follow-up appointments will be video calls that will last for about 15 minutes.
These sessions mostly focus on a re-discussion or a review of your treatment plan, the medication prescribed, its dosage, and any other modifications needed to achieve better results.
Refill-Only Sessions – Once your treatment plan is frozen, you can book refill-only appointments for $25 per session. The platform hands out a form for you to fill out so you can apply for refills of your current medication.
This service at Klarity ADHD is only available in a limited number of states at present. So, it is advisable to ask your provider about refill-only options.
In-Person (Physical) Consultation – Klarity offers a hybrid consultation model to customize its services based on your needs or the severity of your mental illness. Therefore, face-to-face sessions might be required in certain cases.
Also, since not all states have virtual consultations, you might have to opt for the hybrid consultation structure at Klarity Health.
However, the availability of this service depends on the provider and other factors such as your location, the average cost of psychiatric treatments in your region/area/state, etc. It could be anywhere from $99 to $250.
So, in a Nutshell – follow-up, in-person consultation, or refill will be scheduled based on your individual needs or treatment plans. While follow-up visits are cheaper and cost $59, in-person visits are expensive, costing between $99 and $250. And a prescription refill costs $25.
It is best to fix your follow-up session before your prescription refill is due.
Also, it is important to note that different states would have different regulations. So, we would recommend talking to your doctor to plan out your in-person visits to decide how often you need to see them.
Sometimes your provider might want to check in on you every two weeks to see the short-term impact of your medication.
Last but not least, no refunds will be processed if you miss an appointment.
The only accepted payment types are cash-pay, via credit cards, debit cards, HSA or FSA accounts. Currently, the providers at Klarity do not accept digital payments through PayPal or ApplePay, bank routing & insurance.
All in all, the pricing of Klarity services is quite transparent, and there are no hidden or misleading costs. The absence of a subscription-based model gives you the freedom to stop using its services anytime.
Note – You are required to pay at least 24 hours before your appointment. And as long as you give 24 hours prior notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment, your payment will be refunded.
3. Insurance Coverage
Services provided by Klarity ADHD are not covered by insurance. The pay-per-visit consultation structure makes the platform affordable. So, insurance coverage is neither available nor needed for treatments.
Your insurance plan may help you separately pay for your prescription and the suggested medication. You can also get low-cost medicines at GoodRX.com in case you do not have prescription drug insurance.
Your insurance typically covers the full price of your medication. And it can be easily picked up from your local pharmacy. But a PA or Prior Authorization demand from your insurance company may delay pick-up at the pharmacy.
You are even permitted to use a discount card or concession at the discretion of your practitioner since they are independent service providers. The platform is just a means to connect you with the right one.
While Klarity does not accept insurance, the platform does process payments via HSA or FSA accounts. Some of the services may be covered by your insurance plan. And if so, the platform will help you file an out-of-network claim.
4. Accessibility
Currently, Klarity ADHD services are available in more than 30 states of the United States. Your initial assessment will also give you an idea of the availability of mental healthcare services in your state/region/area.
In case Klarity does not have practitioners in your state of residence, you can join the waiting list and keep checking back every 2 weeks. You will be informed once your first visit is scheduled.
Regarding treatments for patients with ADHD under 18 years of age, not all providers accept children or teenagers. Some of them might provide consultation and treatment with parental consent.
As a parent, you can reach out to the support team at Klarity, briefly describe your child’s condition and get more information about the line of treatment. The customer service will also assist you with a list of available providers in your area.
5. Privacy
Klarity ADHD does not disclose client information to third parties, and the data is 100% safe. The platform uses encryption and is fully compliant with HIPAA guidelines.
Your medical records and details about the ongoing treatment also remain completely confidential.
6. Pros and Cons of Klarity ADHD
Pros
- Offers a pay-per-visit system with the provision to only pay for $25 refills later as the treatment progresses
- No insurance coverage available for treatments
- Services are provided by the top psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, carefully vetted to serve in the respective states
- Controlled substances like Adderall are prescribed in a highly supervised manner
- You get to select your own care provider and have the freedom to switch to another if required
- The platform is well-known for its quick scheduling and provision of a mental healthcare provider in 24 to 48 hours
- The services are available for all permanent, legal citizens of the US, including children with their parent’s permission
- 24×7 access and same-day appointments with providers are also available
- Highly upfront privacy policy
- Prescription medication is covered by insurance and can be bought from your local pharmacy.
Cons
- Klarity services are only available in 30 states of the US
- The jurisdiction of some states mandates opting for a hybrid mental healthcare plan, including both online video calls and offline consultations
- The initial consultation duration might be too short for a detailed discussion
- No talk therapy or counseling services are available at present
- The platform only diagnoses and provides prescription treatments specifically for ADHD, depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia
- Your prescription medication is not home delivered
- The structure of the treatment, treatment plans, and payment via
discounts and insurance will be at the provider’s discretion - Your overall experience and treatment outcome will depend on your provider; the platform does not take major responsibility.
Who Should Seek Help at Klarity ADHD?
If you need affordable psychiatric help and medication management for ADHD, depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia in a hybrid setup that is both online and offline, Klarity ADHD could be a great option.
Anybody who is 18 or older and a legal, permanent resident of the US is eligible to consult Klarity service providers for their mental health issues. Patients under 18 can consult strictly with the approval of their parents.
The platform is designed to put you in touch with highly-qualified, board-certified psychiatrists and nurse practitioners specializing specifically in ADHD, anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia.
So, if you have other concerning mental or emotional health problems requiring dedicated treatment, Klarity may not be the right choice. But your treatment can cover solutions for already co-existing mental issues.
Some providers in the network may be able to help you treat issues other than those mentioned above. But this will need a detailed review of their profiles and an in-depth discussion with the one you choose.
Also, Klarity does recommend stimulants for ADHD treatments if applicable to your situation. So, if you are not okay with using controlled substances like Adderall, you can look elsewhere.
How Does Klarity ADHD Stack up Against its Competitors?
Cerebral and Done are the current competitors of Klarity ADHD.
The platform and its practices definitely have a better brand reputation compared to Cerebral. Cerebral has a wider reach as it has completely expanded into all 50 states of the US. Whereas Klarity is currently only available in around 30 states and is still in its growth phase.
Apart from solutions for anxiety, depression, and insomnia, Cerebral offers both therapy and medication management for many other issues such as chronic obesity, alcohol dependence, Opioid use disorder, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, etc.
Cerebral follows monthly subscription-based pricing, unlike Klarity’s pay-on-visit or consultation model. This makes Klarity more affordable and convenient as customers do not have too much to commit to in terms of payment.
Cerebral stopped recommending controlled substances like Xanax and Adderall to its patients after its controversial practice of overprescribing stimulants came to light.
However, Klarity ADHD does openly mention prescribing Adderall in controlled dosages if required. These prescriptions are strictly monitored and may need in-person visits.
Regarding the mode of communication for consultations, Cerebral is more flexible as it offers both video and phone call sessions. Klarity, on the other hand, only provides video or in-person appointments.
Cerebral accepts insurance and HSA or FSA payments. Whereas Klarity provides no insurance coverage for its treatments, and the medication is insured separately.
Done’s pricing is as transparent as Klarity’s. There are no subscription plans available, and you are required to pay $199 upfront, followed by $79 per month for future appointments.
Done is currently active in 36 states in the US and only offers video consultations at present. It is definitely not as exhaustive as Cerebral and Klarity in terms of treatment.
In comparison to Done, Klarity is more diverse as it covers more treatments for multiple conditions or comorbidities. Done is a low-cost platform dedicated to helping patients with ADHD. So, there are no other conditions and mental problems addressed on Done.
Conclusion
The severity of your ADHD will determine the best line of treatment. But Klarity is a good option for starters if you want to keep financial commitment at bay.
The pay-as-you-go pricing structure is the highlight and works great for patients without any insurance plans. The best part is every aspect of your mental health treatment can be personalized on the go for optimized results.
This convenience and budget-friendly treatment plans make Klarity worthy of being on your mental healthcare consideration list for ADHD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress.
She is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Writer with a decade of expertise in psychology. Skilled in assessment, therapy, and patient care. Committed to helping individuals through clinical practice and mental health writing at Therapyjourney.co. Passionate about promoting mental well-being and awareness. Open to aligned opportunities.