Finances can increase your stress and negatively impact your mental health; when struggling with mental health, we might find difficulties earning money or managing money.
As we start the Fall semester of 2024, it seems timely to name a few resources for UT employees to save money and making your benefits go further.
Saving money through your UT Select health insurance:
- MD Live is available for free on-call medical telehealth appointments. MD Live also has free ongoing telehealth appointments with psychiatry or counseling. The services are free in that MD Live bills your UT Select insurance and your copay is waived. Your account will need to include your insurance information in order for the service to be covered and copay waived. Insurance does not cover missed sessions. Please use the following link for MD Live in Texas and can connect your account to your UT Select benefits: https://members.mdlive.com/bcbstx/landing_home
- Lower copays from UT Health. An office visit with a primary care physician is $20 at UT Health and $30 at other in-network providers. Learn more at this summary of UT Select insurance: https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publication/2024/ppo-network-summary-of-benefits-and-coverage/sbc-ppo-fy2025.pdf
- BCBS Health Advocates Members can contact 1-866-882-2034 to meet with Health Advocates, who are Social Workers who help assess a member’s needs and Health Advocates have special teams for Diabetes, Oncology, Behavioral Health Case Management. Whenever an Advocate engages with a member, they (can) assess for:
• economic stability
• barriers to transportation
• access to healthy food
• physical environment
• safety concerns
Assistance from UT with commuting, financial wellness, or in an emergency
- Staff Emergency Fund provides limited financial assistance when an employee has a temporary need related to an emergency. https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/staff-emergency-fund
- Faculty Menzes Award for faculty members facing hardships: https://provost.utexas.edu/the-office/faculty-affairs/faculty-awards/
- Financial Wellness Seminars and Employee Discount Program https://healthpoint.utexas.edu/employee-value-and-affordability
- Commuter Subsidy Program through UT at https://hr.utexas.edu/current/compensation/commuter-subsidy-program
- CapMetro buses are free to UT employees with an ID https://parking.utexas.edu/transportation/capmetro
A few community resources:
- Free Fridges https://www.atxfreefridge.com/atx-resource-map
- Central Texas Food Bank https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/food-assistance/get-food-now
- Gas Buddy app https://www.gasbuddy.com/app
- Utility Assistance through Travis County https://www.traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/apply-for-assistance/utility-assistance
By calling 211 or going to 211texas.org, you can ask find extensive information about other community services.
And your local Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free, confidential counseling with licensed counselors for benefits eligible employees and their adult dependents, as well as retirees. Call 512-471-3366 to make an appointment or check out more about EAP services at https://eap.utexas.edu.