Your Aetna EAP Covers Therapy – Here's How to Use It

If you're struggling with stress, anxiety, or relationship challenges at home or work and could use some therapy sessions ASAP, your Aetna Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is designed specifically for this situation. The Aetna EAP provides quick and easy access to confidential mental health counseling with licensed therapists.

As a health journalist and someone who recently used Aetna’s EAP for free couples therapy, I’m here to walk you through how to access your benefits. If you’re reading this at work, you could have your first free session scheduled before the end of the day.

How do I find Aetna EAP therapists?

The quickest way to get started is to go to Resources for Living and create an account. You may be asked for an initial, company-wide code or password, which you should be able to find through your company’s benefits information portal or by contacting HR (they don’t need to know any details about why you want to use your EAP).

After creating an account or signing in, look for the "Connect to therapy" option, then select “Find your best care match.” After answering a few basic questions, you’ll see your options for care, one of which is likely to be Alma.

Alma is different from other options because it connects you with a licensed therapist who will give you the gold-standard of 1:1 in-person or virtual care.

Alma, emphasizes finding the right therapist for your unique needs, so you’ll start with a consultation to ask your therapist questions and get a sense of their personality and therapy style.

When I found a couples therapist through Alma (using my EAP benefits), I got lucky — it was clear in our consultation that she would be a good fit for my partner and me. But it’s also common to schedule consultations with 3-4 providers before settling on the right one. When you find a provider you like, you can schedule your first visit directly with them.

If you have any trouble completing these steps, reach out directly to your company’s HR team.

How many counseling sessions are covered by my Aetna EAP?

That number of covered sessions you can access for each issue depends on your specific program. Aetna allows employers to customize their EAP program based on their organization's needs and size. What this means for you is that there's no universal session count — your coverage depends entirely on which plan your employer selected.

The best way to find out your specific coverage is to create an account on the Resources for Living website. Once your account is set up, you should clearly see how many therapy sessions you’re eligible for.

It’s important to know that your sessions are allocated per issue, not per year. If you use your sessions to address work stress early in the year, you can access another full set of sessions later in the year for a completely different challenge — relationship concerns, grief counseling, or family issues, for example. The program essentially resets each time you face a new situation requiring support.

What information do I need to give to my therapist?

You’ll need to give your provider the following pieces of information, all of which will be available in your Resources for Living account:

• Authorization code
• Benefits effective dates
• Number of authorized sessions

In some cases, this information may be shared with your selected therapist on the backend. But to be safe, it’s best to write this information down and keep it on hand.

Does my Aetna EAP cover couples therapy?

Yes, you can see a therapist who helps with couples therapy through your Aetna EAP — this type of therapy is billed as “family / relationship therapy with client present.” When searching through the provider directory (you’ll need to use the directory link provided to you on the Resources for Living website), look for therapists who specialize in couples therapy.

As long as you provide your authorization code to your therapist and they confirm they can see you though your EAP, your sessions will be covered.

What happens after my Aetna EAP sessions end?

Once you've used your allotted Aetna EAP sessions, you have several paths forward for continued mental health support. Your counselor will discuss options during your final EAP session, helping you transition smoothly to ongoing care if needed.

• Your EAP counselor can remain your provider if they're in your insurance network. Contact Aetna insurance member services (the number is on the back of your insurance card) to verify coverage details, copay amounts, and any deductibles that apply to behavioral health visits.
• You can also switch to a different in-network therapist covered by your standard health plan. Use the Aetna provider directory to search for mental health professionals accepting new patients. Your EAP counselor can provide referrals based on your specific needs.

• You can choose to pay out-of-pocket for continued sessions with your current EAP provider, if they don’t take Aetna insurance. Ask about their rates and payment options during your last EAP visit.

Remember: your sessions reset per problem, so you can access another full set of counseling appointments when facing a new challenge. You’ll need to get a new authorization code, “benefits effective” date, and approved number of sessions for each issue.

Don’t let valuable benefits go to waste

Your HR team has put a lot of work into making sure you have mental health resources at work. Using your EAP benefits requires some online paperwork, but it’s faster and easier than you might think. And if you get stuck in the process, one email or internal message to your HR manager will get you moving again.

Free therapy is no small thing. Even a handful of sessions with an expert can help you gain clarity on your current situation and start shifting your thinking or behavior in helpful ways.

Don’t have an EAP but wanted to get started with therapy? Find a therapist who takes your insurance through Alma.