Talkiatry vs Frontier Psychiatry: Montana, Idaho, and Alaska

By Eric Arzubi, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine; CEO and Co-Founder of Frontier Psychiatry

Last updated September 2026

The short answer: Talkiatry is a well-known national company, but in our three states it has real gaps. It has no providers in Alaska. It does not take Medicaid or offer self-pay. It does not treat people whose main problem is alcohol or drug use. It does not take patients with schizophrenia. If any of those describe you, Frontier Psychiatry is the better place to start. If you have commercial insurance in Montana or Idaho and need help with depression, anxiety, or ADHD, both are real options. This guide will help you choose.

A note up front: I run Frontier, so I am not neutral. I've tried to keep this fair. Every claim about Talkiatry comes from Talkiatry's own website or an independent review. Sources are linked at the bottom. Policies change, so confirm anything important before you book.

If you've been searching for a psychiatrist in Montana, Idaho, or Alaska and keep landing on Talkiatry, you're not alone. It comes up often. For some people it's the right fit. For others, the gaps matter a lot. This guide tells you which situation you're in.

At a glance

Last verified September 2026. Insurance networks and provider counts change. Confirm coverage with your insurer and the practice before booking.

Alaska: Talkiatry has no clinicians there

Search for a psychiatrist in Alaska and Talkiatry may come up in the results. As of September 2026, Talkiatry's own locations page lists zero providers in Alaska. Independent reviews also list Alaska among the states it does not serve. Talkiatry is recruiting Alaska-licensed psychiatrists, so that may change.

If you live in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kodiak, or a village off the road system, you need a psychiatrist licensed in Alaska. Frontier's providers are licensed there. We accept Alaska Medicaid, Medicare, Moda, BCBS, Aetna, TRICARE, and TriWest VA in Alaska.

Montana and Idaho: check the numbers, not just the map

Talkiatry does see patients in Montana and Idaho. Its locations page lists 8 providers in Montana and 6 in Idaho. That is enough to be a real option for some people. It is also a small number for two states covering more than 230,000 square miles combined. When only a few providers serve a whole state, openings for your specific need or insurance plan can be limited.

Insurance: where most people get sorted

Does Talkiatry take Medicaid?

No. Talkiatry's insurance page says it plainly: "We don't take Medicaid at this time."

That matters here. Medicaid covers many rural families, tribal members, agricultural workers, and children across Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. Frontier accepts Medicaid in all three states, including Healthy Montana Kids in Montana and Denali KidCare in Alaska.

This is a business decision, and I understand why a national company makes it. Medicaid pays less and requires more paperwork. We made a different call. Serving people here means accepting the coverage they actually have.

Does Talkiatry take Medicare?

Yes. Talkiatry accepts Original Medicare (Part B) and select Medicare Advantage plans, though accepted plans vary by state. On Medicare, the two practices are close. Frontier accepts Medicare and Railroad Medicare in all three states.

Does Talkiatry take TRICARE?

Talkiatry does not list TRICARE or TriWest VA community care among its insurers. Frontier accepts both. Many veterans in our region live hours from the nearest VA facility. Telehealth community care can close that distance.

Can I use Talkiatry without insurance?

No. Talkiatry states: "we do not currently offer a self-pay option." Frontier offers self-pay rates and takes HSA and FSA cards.

Addiction care: the biggest clinical difference

This is the difference most people don't know about until they need it.

Talkiatry's own substance use page says it does not treat primary substance use, meaning cases where drug or alcohol use is the main or only concern. It will treat substance use when it comes alongside another condition, like depression or PTSD. If alcohol or drugs are the main problem, you will need to look elsewhere.

Talkiatry's reason is fair. These cases often need in-person support, like lab monitoring and injectable medications. Talkiatry cannot provide those online.

Frontier treats both:

• Primary substance use disorders, such as alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder, where drinking or drug use is the main concern
• Co-occurring conditions, where a mental health condition and a substance use disorder happen together

For alcohol use disorder, our providers prescribe oral naltrexone and the monthly Vivitrol injection in Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. Vivitrol must be given in person. We coordinate with a clinic near you to give the shot while managing your care by video.

For opioid use disorder, we provide medication for addiction treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine. Buprenorphine lowers cravings and withdrawal and cuts the risk of overdose. It can be prescribed by telehealth.

We solve the in-person problem Talkiatry describes by working with local clinics. That is only possible because we know the clinics in this region.

In rural areas, addiction specialists are hard to find. A separate referral for addiction care is often where people stop trying. Having both psychiatric and addiction care in one place removes that barrier.

Psychotic disorders

Talkiatry says it cannot take on complex conditions requiring in-person care, such as eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Frontier treats psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. For families in our region, this matters. Someone living with psychosis in a rural town often has no psychiatrist within driving distance. The gap between hospital stays is where things fall apart. Regular follow-up with a psychiatrist who coordinates with the local clinic and hospital helps close that gap.

Children and teens

Both practices treat young people. Talkiatry sees patients ages 5 and up and has child and adolescent psychiatrists. Frontier sees children as young as 2.

That difference matters for families of toddlers and preschoolers. Concerns about behavior, sleep, development, or early trauma often show up before age 5. Child psychiatrists who see very young children are rare in rural areas.

I'm a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Care for kids and teens is a core part of Frontier. Parents and caregivers are part of visits. Younger children usually meet with a parent in the room. Teens often get family time and one-on-one time with their provider. We also do formal ADHD evaluations.

For families in Alaska, families on Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids, or Denali KidCare, and families of children under 5, Frontier is the one that can see your child.

Local care coordination

Telepsychiatry works best as one part of a person's care, not as a separate island. In rural areas, that care system is often stretched thin. One primary care provider covers a huge area. A local clinic has no mental health staff. The emergency department handles psychiatric crises because nothing else is open.

With your written permission, Frontier works directly with your primary care provider, therapist, and local clinic. Here is what that looks like:

• Montana: A primary care provider in a small town refers a patient for a psychiatric evaluation. Frontier completes it, starts treatment, and sends notes back so the whole team stays aligned.
• Idaho: A patient with alcohol use disorder starts on naltrexone. When they switch to the monthly Vivitrol injection, Frontier arranges for a nearby clinic to give it and continues managing care by video.
• Alaska: A patient has seen several providers without a clear plan. Frontier reviews the full history, builds one treatment plan, and stays in contact with the other providers involved.

Privacy in a small town

In a small town, people notice whose truck is in the clinic parking lot. For many people, that alone keeps them from getting care.

Telehealth helps with this. Both Frontier and Talkiatry are virtual. Both let you see a psychiatrist from home. On this point, they are equal.

When Talkiatry makes sense

Talkiatry is a reasonable choice if all of these are true:

• You live in Montana or Idaho
• You have commercial insurance Talkiatry accepts
• Your main concern is depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, or bipolar disorder, not alcohol or drug use
• The patient is age 5 or older
• You may move out of state and want to stay with the same company

Even then, it's worth checking Frontier. We accept the same major commercial plans and generally have openings within 14 days.

When Frontier is the clear choice

• You live in Alaska
• You have Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids, Denali KidCare, TRICARE, or TriWest VA
• You're paying out of pocket
• Alcohol or drug use is your main concern, including opioid use disorder
• You or a family member has a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia
• Your child is under 5
• You want your psychiatrist to work with your local care team

Frequently asked questions

Does Talkiatry have psychiatrists in Alaska? As of September 2026, Talkiatry's locations page lists zero clinicians in Alaska. Frontier Psychiatry serves Alaska.

Is Talkiatry available in Idaho and Montana? Yes, with a small team. As of September 2026, Talkiatry's locations page lists 6 clinicians in Idaho and 8 in Montana.

Does Talkiatry take Medicaid in Montana, Idaho, or Alaska? No. Talkiatry's insurance page says it does not take Medicaid. Frontier accepts Medicaid in all three states.

Does Talkiatry treat alcohol use disorder or addiction? Only when it comes with another mental health condition. Talkiatry says it does not treat primary substance use, where drug or alcohol use is the main concern. Frontier treats both, and offers buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

How much is Talkiatry without insurance? Talkiatry does not see patients without insurance it accepts, and it has no self-pay option. Frontier offers self-pay rates and accepts HSA and FSA cards.

Does Talkiatry take TRICARE? Talkiatry does not list TRICARE among its insurers. Frontier accepts TRICARE and TriWest VA community care in all three states.

Does Talkiatry see kids? Yes, ages 5 and up. Frontier sees children ages 2 and up, and accepts Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids, and Denali KidCare.

Does Talkiatry treat schizophrenia? No. Talkiatry says it can't take on schizophrenia or eating disorders. Frontier treats psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.

Do I need a referral? No. You can contact either practice directly.

Is online psychiatry as effective as in-person care? For most conditions, yes. A 2023 review in the British Journal of Psychiatry looked at 32 trials and more than 3,500 patients. Telepsychiatry improved symptoms about as much as in-person care. Depression did slightly better by video. Eating disorders did worse. Some conditions still need in-person support. Your provider will say so if yours is one of them.

How to get started with Frontier

You don't need a referral.

1. Reach out. Fill out our intake form or call (406) 200-8471.
2. Verify your coverage. We check your benefits within 1 to 2 business days.
3. Get matched with a licensed provider in your state, generally within 14 days.
4. Start care with a 60-minute first visit by video from home, then follow-up visits of at least 30 minutes.

Patients rate their Frontier visits 9.4 out of 10 on average in post-visit surveys. Frontier also holds a 4.3 average across 160+ Google reviews.

Frontier does not provide emergency care. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 911, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).

Sources

• Talkiatry, Locations (clinicians listed by state, checked September 2026)
• Talkiatry, Insurance (Medicaid; self-pay; first-visit length)
• Talkiatry, Do you take Medicare or Medicaid? (Original Medicare Part B and select Medicare Advantage; no Medicaid)
• Talkiatry, Substance use disorder treatment (primary vs. secondary substance use)
• Talkiatry, What conditions does Talkiatry treat?
• Talkiatry, How old does my child have to be?
• Talkiatry, Montana substance use page (6-day average to first visit)
• Hagi K, et al. Telepsychiatry versus face-to-face treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Psychiatry, 2023.
• Choosing Therapy, Talkiatry Review (states served; visit lengths; updated September 2026)
• Frontier Psychiatry, Eligibility and Insurance Coverage
• Frontier Psychiatry, Naltrexone and Vivitrol in Idaho
• Frontier Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry, and Addiction Psychiatry

TL;DR: Key takeaways

• Alaska: Talkiatry has no providers there as of September 2026. Frontier does.
• Medicaid: Talkiatry does not accept it. Frontier does, in all three states.
• TRICARE and self-pay: Talkiatry does not offer either. Frontier accepts both.
• Addiction care: Talkiatry does not treat alcohol or drug use as a primary concern. Frontier does, including buprenorphine and Vivitrol.
• Montana and Idaho with commercial insurance: Both practices are real options for depression, anxiety, ADHD, and related conditions.
• Children under 5: Frontier sees them. Talkiatry does not.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Insurance networks and company policies change. Confirm coverage with your insurer and the practice before booking.

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