Referrals & Insurance

It is your responsibility to cover the costs for your private care, but most insurance plans have some form of benefit for inpatient, outpatient, or assessment services.  Sometimes you pay nothing for your care, sometimes you pay part of the cost and your insurance company pays the rest.  Sometimes your insurance company will pay different benefits if you see a "preferred" provider than if you see a provider who is not on their preferred list.  Every plan is different, and it is up to you to determine what your coverage is.  It is your responsibility to obtain the information you need and make decisions about your own insurance and finances.

ATTENTION AU-INSURED STUDENTS! Please note that all mental health referrals become obsolete at the end of the insurance year, and must be renewed every August at the start of the new insurance year. If you plan to continue to receive mental health services in the new year, you must obtain a new referral from the Counseling Center by calling (202) 885-3500. In most cases, the new referral can be handled with no appointment necessary. Your off-campus services will not be covered if you do not have a new referral for the new insurance year!

IF YOU HAVE THE 
AU STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
IF YOU HAVE 
ANOTHER INSURANCE PLAN
A formal referral from the Counseling Center is required to use your mental health or assessment benefits. This referral must be obtained prior to your first appointment with a provider, and must be renewed the beginning of each new insurance year in August. 


If you have already located a provider you wish to see, you still need to obtain referral or renewal approval from the Counseling Center.  If you need guidance locating an appropriate off-campus provider, make an appointment with a Counseling Center counselor to discuss your particular situation. See our referral page for more information.

For more information about your benefits and the conditions under which a Counseling Center referral is or is not required, consult the Chickering and AU Student Health resources listed below. 

NOTE:  A referral from the Counseling Center does not guarantee that the private services you receive will be covered by your plan or that a claim for those services will be paid.  Read your plan carefully and work directly with Chickering regarding your coverage and claims.

To make an appointment with a Counseling Center counselor, or to arrange for a referral or renewal, contact:

AU Counseling Center
(202) 885-3500
To locate the names and contact information of Aetna preferred providers, contact:
Aetna DocFind:
www.aetna.com/docfind
(select OpenChoice PPO as the health plan)


For information about your benefits under the AU Student Health Insurance Plan, contact:

The Chickering Group.
1 Charles Park
Cambridge, MA 02142-1254
1-800-678-4576
www.chickering.com

or 

American University Student Health Center Insurance Office
(202) 885-3378
www.american.edu/healthcenter
For information about a particular claim, contact:
The Chickering Group.
1 Charles Park
Cambridge, MA 02142-1254
1-800-678-4576
www.chickering.com
 A formal referral from the Counseling Center is generally not required to use mental health or assessment benefits from non-AU insurance plans. Your non-AU insurance plan may have their own referral requirements, however.


If you already know you want private care, you can work directly with your insurance plan to locate a provider and arrange for benefits.  Otherwise, you can make an appointment with a Counseling Center counselor to discuss your particular situation and obtain guidance with regard to locating an appropriate off-campus provider..

To make an appointment with a Counseling Center counselor, contact:

AU Counseling Center
(202) 885-3500
To locate the names and contact information of your plan's preferred providers, contact:
Your insurance plan.
For information about your benefits or a particular claim, contact:
Your insurance plan.