My spouse recently died and my children and I are having trouble dealing with the grief. Do our medical plans cover counselors for this purpose?
All of the health plans offered by the A&M System provide some counseling benefits. In addition, if you received benefits due to your spouse’s death from the A&M System life and/or accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) plans, those plans provide some benefits for grief counseling.
For example, the A&M Care plans will pay benefits for up to 40 outpatient visits to a mental health provider each plan year. Providers include psychiatrists, psychologists and professional counselors. All of these providers are considered specialists, so you pay the $45 specialist office visit copayment.
Although all HMOs offer similar services, costs and limits differ by plan. Contact your health plan customer service office for specific information.
If you received benefits due to your spouse’s death from the life or AD&D plan, you and your dependents are eligible not only for grief counseling, but also for limited financial and legal counseling. This includes access to a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year toll-free number that is answered by a counselor who will assess your needs and coordinate referrals with trained professionals. The service includes five face-to-face working sessions with a grief counselor, financial planner and/or legal advisor. Benefits are available for up to one year from the date of the initial contact. 