MiResource

MiResource is a referral management platform designed to match students to the right mental health resources in their community.

Browse the MiResource Database

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to use my health insurance to help pay for off-campus counseling?

You are not required to use your insurance to help pay for off-campus care, but many people do. You are responsible for paying any fees you incur that are not covered by your health insurance.

For more information about using your health insurance to pay for counseling, visit our Health Insurance page.

What if I have SHIP?

If you have the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and want to visit an off-campus provider, it is best to find a provider who is in-network with SHIP.

You can access a list of these providers on the Aetna Student Health Website for George Washington University.

What if I am covered by another health insurance?

It is your responsibility to cover the cost of your mental health care. Most insurance plans have benefits for mental and behavioral health services. If you’re not sure what your benefits include, it may be helpful to call your insurance to learn more about your coverage. To avoid any surprises about the cost of your treatment, you may call your insurance company to verify your coverage and ask about the cost associated with specific providers.

You may want to ask your insurance the following questions:

What regions and states does my health insurance cover?
What is my deductible?
How much have I currently paid toward my deductible?

If you have another insurance policy, you need to determine your policy's requirements by contacting your insurer directly. If you are on your parents' plan, you may have to speak with your parents to gain access to your insurance. Contact us if you need help deciding how to have this conversation with your parents.

Does my deductible apply to in-network mental health services?
Does my deductible apply to out-of-network mental health services?
What are my in-network mental health benefits?
Do I need to pay a copay for each visit? If so, how much is the copay?
Is there a limitation on the number of visits I am allowed? Does the copay change after a certain number of visits?
What are my out-of-network mental health benefits?
Do I need to pay coinsurance for each visit? If so, how much is coinsurance?
How can I find the “allowed rate” or “usual, customary, reasonable” (UCR) rate to know how much I will be paying in coinsurance?

Beyond MiResource, how else can I search for off-campus counseling?

To utilize your individual health insurance coverage for counseling, you can also search for mental health providers using your insurance provider’s website. If you’re searching for a counselor, clinical social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist, you’ll likely need to use “Behavioral Health” as a search parameter.

Online resources and databases like Psychology Today and Good Therapy also can assist students searching for long-term providers in the community.

We also make our How to Find a Therapist 101 Packet available to the GW community below should you wish to access this information without engaging with CAPS and conduct an independent search.

Quality of Care

Although CAPS can help you find off-campus care options, we do not monitor or guarantee the quality of care you may receive. That is the responsibility of the off-campus provider.

If you have any concerns about the quality of care you receive from a provider in the community, we encourage you to consider sharing those concerns with that provider. In addition, you may contact CAPS and have a walk-in session to meet with a clinician who can listen to your concerns and help you determine your next steps.

More specialized, intensive, and/or long term mental health treatment is considered a personal healthcare responsibility and is not a service provided by the University. CAPS can assist you in providing resources and information in regards to connecting to treatment, support, or assistance in the community. Information provided by CAPS does not constitute an official clinical or medical referral.

You are welcome to come in or contact us at [email protected] for support accessing community resources or a mental health provider.