How to Use Your Aetna EAP Benefits for Counseling | JPB Counseling

Your Aetna Resources for Living EAP may include confidential counseling at no cost. Learn how to request authorization and begin therapy with JPB Counseling.

Aetna EAP Counseling: A Simple Guide to Using Your Benefits

Mental health support may already be included in your workplace benefits, even if you have never used it before. If your employer offers Aetna Resources for Living®, you may have access to a limited number of confidential counseling sessions at no cost to you.

An Employee Assistance Program, commonly called an EAP, is designed to offer short-term support when life feels especially stressful, complicated, or overwhelming. You do not need to wait until things reach a crisis point to ask for help. EAP counseling may be helpful for concerns such as:

• Stress or burnout

• Anxiety or low mood

• Grief and loss

• Relationship or family concerns

• Parenting challenges

• Work-related stress

• Major life changes

• Substance use concerns

• Balancing caregiving, work, and personal responsibilities

At JPB Counseling, we know that figuring out benefits and paperwork can feel like one more task when you are already carrying a lot. Here is what to know before scheduling an appointment through Aetna EAP.

What is Aetna Resources for Living?

Resources for Living is Aetna’s employee assistance program. Depending on the benefit selected by your employer, it may provide confidential counseling by phone, video, or in person. Services are generally available to employees, and some plans also extend support to eligible members of the employee’s household.

EAP counseling is separate from your regular health insurance benefits. That means these authorized sessions are typically provided without a copay or deductible. Your employer determines the specific benefits available, including who is eligible, how many sessions are included, and what services may be used.

How do I start using my Aetna EAP benefits?

You can begin by visiting the Resources for Living website or by using the EAP contact information provided by your employer. You may need an employer-specific username, access code, or phone number. This information is often available through your employee benefits portal or Human Resources department.

You can contact HR to ask how to access the EAP without sharing why you want counseling. Once connected with Resources for Living, you can request counseling support and ask to work with an approved provider.

If you would like to receive services through JPB Counseling, let Resources for Living know that you are interested in working with our practice. Because provider participation and availability can change, Aetna will need to confirm that the selected JPB therapist is eligible under your EAP authorization.

What information will JPB Counseling need?

Before your first EAP appointment, please provide:

• The name of your EAP, such as Aetna Resources for Living

• Your authorization number

• The number of sessions authorized

• The authorization start and end dates

• Your health insurance information, including images of the front and back of your insurance card

Although EAP sessions are not billed to your health insurance, JPB Counseling requests insurance information as part of the onboarding process. Having your complete authorization information before the first appointment helps us confirm the benefit and avoid delays in care.

How many sessions will I receive?

There is no single session limit for every Aetna EAP member. Employers choose the benefit structure they offer, so the number of authorized visits can vary.

Some Resources for Living plans provide a set number of sessions for each distinct concern within a benefit year. Others may organize the benefit differently. Before scheduling, ask Resources for Living to confirm:

• How many sessions are available

• Whether the sessions are authorized per concern, per person, or per year

• The dates during which the sessions must be used

• Whether household members are eligible

• Whether you need a new authorization for a different concern

Your authorization, rather than general information found online, is the best guide to your specific benefit.

Is EAP counseling confidential?

EAP counseling is confidential, subject to the same legal and safety-related limits that apply to other counseling services. Your employer does not receive the details of what you discuss with your therapist. If you have questions about privacy or how information may be reported in connection with your benefit, you can ask Resources for Living or your therapist before beginning services.

Can I use Aetna EAP for couples or family concerns?

Depending on your employer’s plan and the authorization issued by Resources for Living, EAP sessions may be available for relationship or family concerns. When requesting services, describe the type of support you are seeking so Aetna can issue the appropriate authorization and help confirm an eligible provider.

What happens when my authorized EAP sessions end?

EAP counseling is intended to be short-term, but your need for support may continue beyond the authorized visits. Before the final EAP session, you and your therapist can discuss the most appropriate next step. Options may include:

• Continuing with the same therapist using your health insurance, if the therapist is in network and the service is covered

• Continuing as a self-pay client

• Transitioning to another therapist who participates with your insurance plan

• Receiving referrals for a provider or service that better fits your ongoing needs

• Requesting a new EAP authorization if you are seeking help for a separate concern and your plan allows it

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If you plan to use health insurance after EAP sessions end, contact the member services number on your insurance card to ask about behavioral health coverage, deductibles, copays, and whether your therapist is in network. EAP approval does not automatically mean that the same provider or service will be covered by your medical insurance.

Support can start with one small step

EAP benefits are there to make support easier to access. Even a brief course of counseling can provide space to understand what you are experiencing, strengthen coping skills, and decide what you need next.

If you have an Aetna Resources for Living authorization and would like to explore counseling at JPB Counseling, contact us so we can review therapist availability and help match you with a provider. If you do not have an EAP, we can also help you explore options for using insurance or paying privately for services.

EAP benefits vary by employer and plan. Coverage, eligibility, authorization requirements, and provider participation should be confirmed directly with Aetna Resources for Living. This article is for general informational purposes and is not a guarantee of benefits or payment.