The Student Counseling Service operates within a short-term counseling framework in order to use resources most effectively and meet the significant student need. Generally, students who are referred to community resources include those whose needs would be best met by longer-term services (determined during the initial consultation or during a course of therapy in SCS) or those whose needs require a specific expertise not available at SCS. Students sometimes choose a community referral for a variety of reasons including the desire to access therapy services more quickly than the SCS can provide following the initial appointment. When a student is referred to a community provider, the SCS Clinical Care Coordinator may assist the student to determine an appropriate provider and make the initial appointment. In other cases, the Clinical Care Coordinator may follow-up with students who have been referred to other services helping to assure that recommended care is being received.
Please download our Community Therapy Referral Guide that includes information about local providers, their specialties, and information about what insurance they accept. We update this document at least once a semester so please re-download if you have not recently obtained a previous copy.
TIPS FOR SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT WITH COMMUNITY A PROVIDER
Know your insurance information:
- Have a copy of your insurance card available. Photo copies of the front and back of the card are helpful in the absence of the actual card. Know what company holds the policy.
- Know the name of the employer.
- Know the date of birth of the person who carries the insurance.
- If you do not have access to the card or a photo, you will need the member number, policy number & the name & phone number of the insurance company. Plus the name of the employer and person carrying the policy name & date of birth.
Know what services you are seeking from the agency: individual, couples, family, intensive outpatient or group therapy. Identify the issues you would like help working through.
Verify insurance coverage:
- Call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card.
- Verify the provider you have chosen is an approved provider with your insurance company.
- Ask, “Do I have a deductible?” A deductible is the amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself (i.e., the whole amount for the appointments). After you pay your deductible, you usually pay only a copayment or coinsurance for covered services.
- Ask, “Do I have a co-pay?” A co-pay or coinsurance is your share of the costs of a health care service. It’s usually figured as a percentage of the amount the insurance company allows to be charged for services. You start paying coinsurance after you’ve paid your plan’s deductible.
Scheduling your first appointment:
- Call the agency and ask if they take your insurance. Have the above information available.
- Inquire about intake paper work and if it is best to complete it prior to coming in. Ask how you get the paper work?
- Talk with them about when the co-pay is due. If you cannot pay the co-pay all at once, ask if there are options for paying the co-pay in ways other than paying up front.
- Ask how payment is accepted (cash; check; debit or credit card).
What if I do not have insurance?
- There are a very few agencies that offer a sliding fee scale. You will be expected to pay some toward your therapy. It can range from $5 – $60.
- A few agencies offering sliding fee scale include: Eyerly Ball Mental Health Center, Kai Lani Center, Amu Kuehl, LISW and Ames Therapy & Consulting. Make arrangements with the agency regarding the payment at the first session.