Dear Alice,
How do students get the student insurance to pay for therapists that are off-campus? I know the student health insurance will only pay half the fee, but does our psychological services have to recommend a therapist in order for our insurance to cover it? There is a therapist who I want to go to but I'm not sure if health insurance will cover it. Is there a list of all the therapists student health insurance will cover half of? -Poor and insane
Dear Poor and insane,
What you need to do is to make an appointment at Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) by calling 4-2468. One of the Columbia therapists will then talk to you and get a sense of your problems and your particular needs. If they think that you need longer term therapy than what can be provided on campus, or a specialized service that is not available through CPS, they will make recommendations for a private therapist. The student health insurance will not cover a therapist of your choice, and will not cover you if you decide on your own to see a therapist off-campus, even if they are on the Columbia referral list. That list is not available to the public, by the way.
Your best bet is meet with one of Columbia's trained, sensitive professionals and let them be the judge of the most appropriate treatment course for you. Good luck!
- Alice
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Insurance for Off campus Therapists
