Boston College Student Health Insurance for Therapy
Boston College is an esteemed academic institution where students learn, grow, and play. To thrive at Boston College, students need to have a good balance of health and wellness. To achieve this goal, Boston College requires all students to enroll in their student health insurance program. This health insurance plan was created in partnership with UnitedHealthcare, a large health insurance company that provides millions of people across the country with medical coverage. Under this plan, students have access to many mental health benefits — including therapy!
Does the Boston College student health insurance cover therapy?
Yes, the Boston College student health insurance plan provides coverage for therapy services. Boston College believes that overall student wellbeing must include a focus on mental health, therefore it makes mental health services accessible for all.
Students enrolled in the Boston College student health insurance plan can see an in-network or an out-of-network therapist for mental health services. This plan uses the UnitedHealthcare provider network, as the Boston College student health insurance plan is a UnitedHealthcare PPO plan.
How do I check if my Boston College student health insurance plan covers therapy?
To check if your Boston College student health plan covers therapy services, look at your Summary and Benefits document. Here you’ll find a cost for each type of service, including therapy. This document lists out all of your copayment or coinsurance rates. To learn more about your therapy coverage, find the “outpatient mental illness mental health” section, where you’ll find your coverage for outpatient services.
If you cannot find this information through your Summary and Benefits document, try calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card where the customer service department will share with you the coverage available to you through your specific university’s plan. You might also visit the UnitedHealthcare Student Resources website and search for Boston College.
How much does therapy cost with Boston College student health insurance?
For an in-network therapist, UnitedHealthcare will pay for all of your therapy costs — so you won’t be responsible for any out-of-pocket payments. For an out-of-network therapist, UnitedHealthcare will cover “usual and customary” therapy costs in full after you’ve reached your deductible (that is, they’ll pay what they find to be a “normal” session fee, so you’ll have to pay the difference for any therapy services that cost above this amount). The deductible is the amount of money that you need to pay from your own pocket before coverage kicks in — in this case, it’s $150.
This cost may change across school years. To find the most accurate information on therapy costs, refer to your specific plan’s Summary and Benefits document.
What types of mental health conditions does the Boston College student health insurance cover?
The Boston College student health plan covers many mental health conditions, including those that are common in the student population. UnitedHealthcare requires that each client receives a diagnosis from their therapist for reimbursement purposes. This diagnosis guides treatment and insurance coverage.
Examples of eligible mental health conditions include:
There are many more diagnosable — and reimbursable — mental health conditions, all of which the Boston College student health plan covers.
What types of therapy does the Boston College student health insurance cover?
The Boston College student health insurance covers many different types of therapy provided by credentialed professional therapists. As long as your therapist provides an evidence-based, clinically rigorous therapy modality that is appropriate for the given diagnosis, you’ll receive coverage.
These evidence-based therapy modalities include, but are not limited to:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness practices
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Often therapists blend their therapy approaches. As long as they meet UnitedHealthcare’s requirements, their services are eligible for reimbursement.
What types of therapy does the Boston College student health insurance NOT cover?
The Boston College student health insurance only provides coverage for therapy costs associated with services that are evidence-based and clinically-backed. This means that all treatment modality needs to have empirical research backing its efficacy.
The Boston College student health plan does not cover life coaching and career coaching, as these disciplines are less based on evidence and are more reliant on goal-setting and achievement outcomes. There is also no coverage for holistic approaches to treatment like aromatherapy, massage therapy, reiki healing, or nutritional therapy. They also do not cover ketamine, psychedelic, or hypnosis treatments, even if the purpose of this treatment is for a mental health condition.
Does the Boston College student health insurance cover online therapy?
Yes, the Boston College student health plan offers coverage for online therapy. This opens the doors for many clients who aren’t able to physically attend therapy sessions each week, whether for a physical limitation or because of the constraints of a busy student schedule.
Your coverage for therapy costs will remain the same, whether you visit your therapy in-person or online. As this plan coves the majority of therapy costs, this will continue no matter where you see your therapist.
Does the Boston College student health insurance cover couples therapy?
No, the Boston College student health plan does not provide coverage for couples therapy. Often, health insurance companies do not have mental health benefits for couples because of the lack of a reimbursable diagnosis, so it is not uncommon for this health insurance plan to deem couples therapy ineligible.
However, you can find couples therapy services through Boston College’s University Counseling Services. There are also ways to access affordable couples therapy that doesn’t require health insurance coverage.
Do I need to see my primary doctor before starting therapy?
No, you do not need to see your primary care physician before starting your search for an excellent therapist. This is because the Boston College student health plan is a PPO, meaning you do not need a referral for specialist services.
So when you’re ready to start your mental health journey, you’re all set with therapy coverage!