Seeking psych support through your benefits plan: which service should you use?

Following the transition to our new Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, GreenShield Health on November 1, we have received a few questions about when to use EFAP for counselling and when to use the psychological services provision with a $3,000 annual maximum through our Extended Health Benefits plan provider Sun Life.  

Seeking support for psychological health  

Faculty and staff at UBC have two primary ways to access mental health and psychological support.  

1. GreenShield Health: EFAP provider 
   • Coverage: Confidential, unlimited short-term and solution-focused one-on-one counselling 
   • Key difference: the service has an extensive list of counsellors you can match to, either by calling GreenShield Health or going on their app. There is no cost to you or your dependents. 

2. Sun Life: Extended Health Benefits plan 
   • Coverage: 100% coverage for licensed psychologists, social workers, or registered clinical counsellors, up to a maximum of $3,000 per person per benefit year (includes counselling services and psychological testing). Typically this option is used to source counselling that addresses more complex, longer-term and/or specialized care. 
   • Key difference: You need to source your own counsellor (we have some advice to help you choose) and seek reimbursement for costs up to the reasonable and customary charges for the counsellor from the extended health plan provider, Sun Life. This is also a good option if your preferred counsellor is outside the GreenShield Health network. 

Choosing the right support 

If you're unsure how to start, consider contacting GreenShield Health first. The health navigator service can match you with a counsellor who can determine if longer-term support is necessary or if a counsellor in their network would be suitable.  

Through the GreenShield Health platform and app, you can match with a counsellor based on your specific needs and preferences across more than 50 search criteria. Their network of over 500 counsellors in BC is available across over 100 specializations, all with masters-level credentials and with over 12-years experience (on average) — this is a great first step to help you seek the support you need at no cost to you or your eligible dependents.  

This approach ensures that the annual $3,000 maximum for psychological services is available for circumstances requiring support that may be considered more complex, longer-term, and/or specialized.  

Existing counsellors 

If you are already working with a licensed psychologist, social worker, or registered clinical counsellor and these costs are reimbursed through Sun Life, this arrangement doesn’t need to change. 

If you have any more questions or need further clarification, please reach out to efap.info@ubc.ca.