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VCU Safety and Support

Mental and Emotional Health Resources

Resources for VCU employees

TimelyCare

VCU employees, including those who do not participate in the State Health Benefits Program, have access to 24/7 resources for physical health questions and concerns. Employees can access up to 12 visits per year, resetting August 1. Learn more and sign up at https://app.timelycare.com/auth/login. 

Resources for employees and their family members who participate in state employee health coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Through the EAP, VCU employees can access up to four no-cost counseling visits per issue. Specific EAP offerings depend upon the employee's health plan participation. Learn more at https://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/employeebenefits/employee-assistance.

EAP counseling is separate from behavioral health benefits. Employees can contact their EAP to obtain authorization for visits.

Critical Incident Response

When a traumatic event happens at work, departments can request that VCU Human Resources (HR) arrange a critical incident response, for faculty and staff, through the EAP.

Services available include group and individual counseling via phone support, virtual session, on-site, special training for managers, referrals for individual counseling, and working with local service agencies. They also include immediate access to planning, coping and recovery resources for natural disasters, acts of violence and other traumatic events.

For help responding to a critical event, VCU HR professionals may contact the VCU Work/Life and Wellbeing Program Administrator, Cindi Phares, VCU Human Resources, by emailing cphares@vcu.edu, calling (804) 828-1521 or submitting an HR support request ticket at https://go.vcu.edu/hrsupport. 

COVA Care (Anthem) health plan behavioral health benefits

This plan includes unlimited LiveHealth Online Psychology and LiveHealth Online Psychiatry visits with no out-of-pocket cost. For other providers, the medical plan also includes coverage for ongoing behavioral health visits with a $25 copayment for non-medical professionals and a $40 copayment for medical professionals. Coverage is limited to in-network providers (except in the case of emergency) unless the employee purchases the optional out-of-network coverage buy-up. For more information, visit www.anthem.com/cova.  

COVA High Deductible Health Plan (Anthem) health plan behavioral health benefits

This plan covers LiveHealth Online and LiveHealth Online Psychology visits. The co-pay for each visit is $59 during the deductible period. After the deductible is met, the individual pays 20 percent coinsurance. For other providers, the medical plan also includes in-network coverage for ongoing behavioral health visits with 20 percent coinsurance after the deductible is met. For more information, visit www.anthem.com/cova.

COVA HealthAware (Aetna) health plan behavioral health benefits

This plan covers virtual Teladoc visits. The out-of-pocket cost is $40 per consultation during the deductible period. After the deductible is met, the out-of-pocket cost is 20 percent coinsurance. The plan’s Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) covers the out-of-pocket responsibility until it is depleted. For other providers, the medical plan also includes in-network and out-of-network coverage for ongoing behavioral health visits with 20 percent coinsurance (in-network) or 40 percent coinsurance (out-of-network) after the deductible is met. The HRA covers the out-of-pocket responsibility until it is depleted. For more information, visit www.covahealthaware.com.

Kaiser Permanente health plan behavioral health benefits

The plan covers virtual behavioral health visits for a $25 copay per visit, and provides free access to the Calm, MyStrength and Ginger apps. The EAP includes access to TalkSpace online therapy. For in-person visits, there is a $25 co-pay. This benefit can only be used with in-network providers. For more information, visit https://my.kp.org/commonwealthofvirginia. 

Optima Health Vantage HMO health plan behavioral health benefits

The plan covers virtual MD live visits at 100 percent, including for non-emergency behavioral health concerns. For ongoing behavioral health services, in-person behavioral health visits are covered with a $10 copayment. For more information, visit www.optimahealth.com/cova. 

Resources for uninsured and underinsured VCU employees

Fan Free Clinic

The Fan Free Clinic — located at 1010 N. Thompson St., Richmond — provides assistance with medical and mental health, including community outreach and care coordination. Call the clinic at (804) 358-6343. 

Richmond Behavioral Health Authority

Richmond Behavioral Health Authority can assist with mental health and substance use disorder medication, psychiatry, case management and crisis response. They can be reached via phone at (804) 819-4000 for appointments and (804) 819-4100 for mental health emergencies. Learn more and access care at https://www.rvastrong.org/mental-health-addiction.

Unite Virginia

Connects community members with food, housing, transportation, peer support and other services in Virginia. Learn more and access care at https://uniteus.com/networks/virginia/get-help/.

Peer support resources

The following organizations provide information and peer support resources:

Benefits may change at any time.

More information

For more information on behavioral health coverage in the state employee health plans:

Physical Health Resources

Click the link below to learn more about physical health resources. 

Physical health resources