Penn State offers many benefits to its employees, including a robust employee assistance program (EAP) that provides workers with access to health care and work/life assistance.
Health Advocate is a free, confidential resource available to all benefits-eligible employees, their spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a variety of topics related to health advocacy and EAP+Work/Life.
Health Advocate provides assistance to employees in finding health care providers and second opinions, and even transferring medical records to new providers with an employee’s written consent. Help resolving medical billing issues with insurance companies and medical providers; and tobacco cessation programs also are available. Employees can access estimates for specific procedures and receive assistance in getting the appropriate approvals for covered services.
“It’s important that our employees know about the assistance offered through Health Advocate,” Jerry Henry, human resource strategic partner for the College of Education and the College of Arts and Architecture, said. “The University’s EAP program is intended to help our faculty and staff manage their personal needs and live healthy lives. Health Advocate can help those dealing with issues affecting their personal lives such as stress or those coping with the loss of a loved one, or just helping locate a provider because they do not have the time to search and review physicians.”
In addition to assistance with health care needs, Health Advocate also offers an EAP+Work/Life program, which provides services such as short-term counseling and assistance in locating eldercare or in-home care for a family member. The program provides training to advance personal growth and professional developing, all of which can be accessed online through the Health Advocate website.
For more information about the University’s EAP program, visit http://ohr.psu.edu/health-matters/employee-assistance-program/.