This step-by-step guide covers how to complete the sign-up process to become a Rula patient, select a provider, and complete the registration process to ensure your initial appointment is confirmed.
Step 1: Sign up to see a therapist or psychiatric provider with Rula
If you are new to Rula, click either of these links to sign up to see a therapist or sign up to see a psychiatry provider.
At the beginning of the sign-up process, you’ll be asked to provide the following information:
- Date of birth
- Location (state you will be receiving care in)
- Insurance provider
- If your insurance plan is not listed as an option in the dropdown list, select I Don’t See Mine - the last option on the “Insurance” list. Rula will verify your coverage details during the registration process.
- Type of care you are interested in
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number
Entering this information should only take a few minutes. Once you've done so, you’ll be able to browse all of the providers that contract with Rula in your state and that accept your insurance!
Step 2: Select your provider and reserve an appointment date and time
You will be able to browse a curated list of providers, based on the information you entered to begin the signup process. While browsing providers, you’ll be able to view their profiles which includes details such as their license and therapy types, specialty areas, written bio, accepted insurances, and more.
Once you find a provider that meets your needs and selected preferences, you can check their availability and schedule an initial appointment by selecting a date and time for your first visit.
You can see a provider as soon as tomorrow! Same-day appointments are not available for new patients of Rula.
Step 3: Complete the patient registration process
Once you have reserved an initial appointment slot with the provider you selected, you'll be asked to complete additional registration information to finalize and confirm your appointment booking.
During this brief registration process, you’ll be asked to provide the following information:
- Interest in additional Rula services
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Address
- We collect this information because it is required for insurance and billing purposes.
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Subscriber ID and primary member on your insurance
- Many times, Rula will be able to automatically verify your insurance (as In-Network or Out-of-Network) in seconds after this information is entered. However, in some instances, you'll need to upload photos of the front and back of your insurance card for our team to manually verify your benefits.
- In all cases, once we verify your benefits, we'll send you a personalized estimate of your out-of-pocket costs prior to your first appointment.
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Sex assigned at birth
- Insurance companies require the collection of "sex assigned at birth" for billing purposes. Rula recognizes the diversity of gender identity and expression. During the intake process we will collect detailed information that is more inclusive.
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Credit card information
- Rula requires all patients to keep a valid credit card on file to cover any patient financial responsibilities—such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles—assessed by your insurance benefits, and for a no-show or late cancellation (less than 24 hours prior to visit) when applicable.
- You can learn more about credit card charges and your role in a smooth billing process, as well as find other billing and insurance resources in our help center.
That’s it! After completing the patient registration process, your initial appointment is confirmed, and you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly containing appointment details and instructions, as well as a calendar invite email for the session.
Important: patients must complete registration prior to their initial appointment
Patients who are new to Rula must complete the registration process to confirm their initial appointment. If they do not complete the registration process prior to their initial appointment, Rula will automatically cancel the appointment.
Details about automatic cancellations of initial appointments if registration is not complete:
If you reserve your initial appointment slot but do not complete registration in the same online session, you'll receive periodic emails prompting you to complete registration until you do so. If you don’t complete the registration process before your first appointment, your appointment reservation will be automatically canceled either: 1) six days after you reserve your initial appointment slot, or 2) 14 hours prior to your initial appointment time (whichever comes first). So, to confirm your initial appointment, please complete the registration process as soon as possible!
Troubleshooting
Why does my first appointment status say "Pending"?
An appointment is marked as "Pending" when it has been successfully held on a therapist's calendar, but the registration process is not yet complete. To move your appointment from "Pending" to "Confirmed," you must finish the registration form sent to your email.
Common reasons for a pending status include:
Incomplete Registration Form: You may still need to provide your insurance details, address, or payment information.
Insurance Verification: In some cases, Rula is still in the process of verifying your benefits coverage.
Payment Method: A valid credit card must be on file to secure the appointment.
Important Note: Pending appointments that are not confirmed (by completing registration) are subject to automatic cancellation. Typically, if registration isn't finished at least 14-24 hours before the session, the "hold" will be released.
How do I confirm my first appointment if it's "pending"?
Check your inbox for a "Complete your registration" email from Rula. Once you submit the required information, your status will automatically update to "Confirmed," and you will receive a calendar invitation with your secure Telehealth link.
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