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Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Frequently Asked QuestionsQ. I hear that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is managed by Cigna Behavioral Health. I have Vytra (HIP, Aetna) insurance. How can I still use EAP? A. EAP is a prepaid benefit that is provided by BNL through a contract with Cigna Behavioral Health. All employees and their eligible dependents can use this service, no matter what their elected health insurance plan is. If you or your family member uses EAP, if the problem needs additional treatment, you will be referred to a provider within your health insurance network. Q. If EAP only offers 1-3 visits, why should I bother coming to EAP? How much can you accomplish in 3 visits? A. EAP's were never intended to offer long term care for stress or other mental health issues. However, they can effectively be used for problem identification, location of resources and expeditious referral. In many other cases, an EAP counselor can offer quick solutions to a crisis or through talking things out can help and support you through a difficult time. Q. I have a sensitive issue to discuss but do not want to see an EAP onsite out of concerns about confidentiality. How can I use my 3 free visits? A. Because Cigna has an extensive network of EAP affiliates (mental health clinicians in private practice who are contracted and experienced in EAP), you can choose to use your EAP benefit in your local community, or any other community. Just call 1-877-622-4327 or you can do a web search at www.cignabehavioral.com (user ID: bnl; password: employee). If you begin EAP counseling with a provider who additionally is on your own insurance plan, after your EAP visits are used up you can then continue on without switching providers if the problem is still unresolved. Q. I think I may have a problem with (depression, marital, sleep, etc.) but am not yet ready to see someone to discuss it. Is there anything else I can do? A. There are many stages to "changing for good." You are in Contemplation or Precontemplation. You can learn more by visiting www.cignabehavioral.com and taking a self assessment or browsing articles from their library of topics. You can also attend a talk on one of the varied topics we offer, usually on the second Thursday of the month. If you find that your area of concern has not come up for training you can call X4567 to see if it will come up in the near future or you can suggest it to be considered for the future. Q. I heard that EAP offers "sleep screenings." What exactly is a "sleep screening?" A. People who are suffering from lack of quality sleep usually do not know where to turn to get help and will resign themselves to suffering in silence. A sleep screening will ask questions about how much sleep you get, if you have awakenings in the night, how rested you feel in the a.m. and if you have a history of any other problems that could affect sleep (asthma, depression, etc.). The sleep screening will also ask questions about sleep hygiene (distractions to sleep, sleep environment, etc.), and will take into account feedback you may have received about your sleep behavior from your sleep partner (spouse, roommate, etc.). After this information is collected, if it is determined that a serious sleep disorder may exist, a referral will be made to the most appropriate medical resource. Q. I don't feel that I have a mental health problem but I need some help talking me through a difficult issue I'm facing. I'm concerned that if I go to the EAP, I will "diagnosed" and I want to avoid that. A. EAP will offer telephone coaching to anyone who self-refers, if there is no job performance or supervisory mandate. Telephonic coaching can address some of the following: a difficult relationship with a co-worker or supervisee/supervisor; where to turn for information for specific problems (finances, adoption, senior resources, etc.), or frustrations you may be experiencing with a system (school, health insurance, medical). Or, you may have a concern we have not mentioned here. Call EAP at X4567 to see if a telephonic coaching session could be effective.
Last Modified: April 25, 2008 |
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