NYU Student Health Insurance for Therapy

Being a student comes with a large workload – figuring out your therapy insurance coverage shouldn’t be part of it! While many students at NYU remain on their parents’ insurance, others use the NYU Student Health Insurance to cover their medical and mental health needs. The NYU Student Health Insurance uses the Cigna PPO network, managed by Wellfleet.

The NYU Student Health Insurance covers therapy and mental health services on-campus and off-campus. Read on to learn about your therapy options and costs; and when you’re ready, find therapists in-network with the NYU Student Health Insurance on Zencare.

What is NYU Student Health Insurance?

The NYU Student Health Insurance is the default insurance option for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at NYU. Students who do not wish to be covered by NYU Student Health Insurance must complete a waiver in order to opt out; international students must enroll in the NYU-sponsored student plan and may not opt out. The insurance coverage begins and ends in August of each year, even if you graduate within that time.

There are also different insurance plans offered depending on where you are a student – Washington Square students receive one plan and Tandon students receive another. Additionally, there are two options for plans for each – basic and comprehensive – for Washington Square students.

Does NYU Student Health Insurance cover therapy?

Yes, all NYU Student Health Insurance plans cover therapy. But, the extent to which therapy is covered depends on a variety of factors: read on below to learn more!

How much does therapy cost with NYU Student Health Insurance?

The cost of therapy with NYU student insurance is determined by whether your therapist is a preferred provider, in-network provider, or out-of-network provider.

There is no deductible, regardless of the type of therapist you see.

Gold Plan

  • NYU preferred therapists: You pay only a $5 copay/session; there is no deductible.
  • Cigna in-network therapists: The coinsurance is 20%; there is no deductible. This means you are responsible for 20% of the therapist’s fee. Therapists in NYC charge $150 - $200 per session on average, so this comes out to around a $30 - $60 coinsurance per session for you.
  • Out-of-network providers: The coinsurance is 50%; there is no deductible. This means you are responsible for 50% of the therapist’s fee. Therapists in NYC charge $150 - $200 per session on average, so this comes out to around a $75 - $100 coinsurance per session for you.

Platinum Plan

  • NYU preferred therapists: You pay only a $5 copay/session; there is no deductible.
  • Cigna in-network therapists: The coinsurance is 10%; there is no deductible. This means you are responsible for 10% of the therapist’s fee. Therapists in NYC charge $150 - $200 per session on average, so this comes out to around a $15 - $20 coinsurance per session for you.
  • Out-of-network providers: The coinsurance is 40%; there is no deductible. This means you are responsible for 40% of the therapist’s fee. Therapists in NYC charge $150 - $200 per session on average, so this comes out to around a $60 - $80 coinsurance per session for you.

While it can be confusing to figure out what you owe, the therapist or therapy center will often be able to provide you with the copay and coinsurance rates per session prior to booking - so don’t be afraid to ask!

NYU Student Health Insurance Mental Health Benefits - GOLD PLAN, 2020 - 2021 
NYU Student Health Insurance Mental Health Benefits - PLATINUM PLAN, 2020 - 2021

How do I check if a therapist takes NYU Student Health Insurance?

Look for an NYU preferred therapist ($5 copay per session) or Cigna in-network therapist (20% coinsurance per session). When you reach out to the therapists, ask them to verify that they are indeed still in-network with the NYU Student Health Insurance.

What mental health conditions does NYU Student Health Insurance cover?

Mental health conditions NYU student insurance covers may include:

Note that therapists are required to assign you a diagnosis for the above conditions, as well as share the diagnosis with your health insurer. If you are concerned about your parents or guardians finding out information about your reasons for seeking therapy, therapists who offer a sliding scale may be a good option, too.

What types of therapy does NYU Student Health Insurance cover?

NYU student insurances cover most types of therapy, including outpatient and inpatient therapy services, as well as different types of therapy approaches, including:

Any therapy type that is evidence-based and utilized for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions should be covered by NYU Student Health Insurance.

What types of therapy does NYU Student Health Insurance NOT cover?

Like most insurances, it is not typical for NYU student insurance to cover services unrelated to a diagnosable mental health condition, such as:

  • Holistic treatments like acupuncture, hypnosis, or functional medicine.
  • Experimental therapy types or those provided by a non-credentialed provider.
  • Life coaching

Does NYU Student Health Insurance cover online therapy?

Yes, NYU student insurance covers online therapy, which is the preferred option during the pandemic. All therapy sessions through the Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) office are now online only, and many off-campus therapists only offer online therapy sessions.

Do I need to go through the NYU student counseling center first before seeing an off-campus therapist?

You do not need to go through the Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) office for a referral to an outside therapy provider. Finding a therapist outside of NYU can be easy - there are hundreds in New York City to choose from!

Does NYU provide any free counseling services first?

NYU students have access to the Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) office, which offers free therapy to all students, no matter which insurance they have. This therapy is often thought of as “short term,” though it is up to the NYU therapist to determine how many sessions a student receives. Therapists at the Counseling and Wellness Service will often refer to an external provider for issues that require long term care.

When should I seek off-campus instead of on-campus therapy?

Many students feel comfortable with the on-campus options for therapy - others would prefer to see a therapist outside of NYU. This could be for many reasons and neither way is right or wrong!

Because of the volume of students at NYU, it might be challenging to find an opening with a therapist through the Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS). In order to avoid waitlists, it might be useful to look for therapists outside of NYU. In addition, if you seek specialized therapy (such as Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy, for example), you might not find a therapist at NYU - and instead want to look off-campus.

Since CWS is designed to provide short-term services, if you foresee requiring more than 1-3 sessions to address a specific issue or get through a crisis period, it may be helpful to begin your search for a therapist off-campus from the get-go. A big part of the change that happens in therapy is through the comfort and safety of a strong therapeutic relationship: finding a therapist you really click with from the beginning can help you start making progress sooner, rather than seeing an assigned therapist for a few sessions, and then starting over again with someone new.

How many providers are there close to campus that take this insurance?

There are many therapists that take NYU Student Health Insurance around campus. And now, because of everything being online, you can expand your search to therapists outside of Greenwich Village without having to trek across the city or into another borough.

How much is the NYU Student Health Insurance?

The 2020-2021 annual rate for NYU Student Health Insurance for those on the Washington Square campus is $3,545 for the basic plan and $4,053 for the comprehensive plan. For Tandon students, the basic plan costs $1,964 for the year.

Zencare has curated a list of therapists that take NYU Student Health Insurance to make it easier for you. For more complete information regarding your specific student plan, please find more details on the NYU website here.