The Golden Trident

By Jax McKinnon

If you have ever walked past Mitch’s office or simply taken a lap around the school you may have seen posters for free therapy or healthcare. At first glance it seems there must be a catch or hidden fees, but these services actually have no cost. Many kids are often reliant on their schools and teachers for support with emotional and material issues, like breakfast, lunches, and reliant adults. Schools do lots of things to try and remedy these issues, such as food and gift drives for low income students who don’t have the luxury to afford Christmas presents or meals every day. One of the ways Golden High School is striving to support students in need is by offering free therapy as well as physical exams through Hazel Health.

Hazel Health is a service that offers online therapy and health exams to students at no cost. While this might seem too good to be true, Hazel Health is partnered with Jeffco Public Schools to allow students to use these free resources even if the student is uninsured. According to Hazel Health’s website under “Cost”, they are able to do this through money they get from students’ personal insurance companies- if they have one- as well as the school district’s insurance plan so families don’t pay any fees out of pocket. When applying for this service guardians are asked to put in their insurance so that if applicable, the insurance is billed rather than the guardian of the student. If the student is uninsured or their insurance will not cover it, the student and family is still not charged as the cost is absorbed by the school district. 

Hazel Health is available to any student within a partnered school district, which Jefferson County is. According to Jeffco Public Schools’ website under “Hazel Health”, a parent or guardian needs to consent for any services on minors, as well as sign their student up and a school staff member such as a counselor needs to complete a referral for the student as well. If the student is 18 or older they can register themselves. While Hazel Health offers online services, the patient must be in the same state as their partnered school district at the time of their consultation. Each student is matched with a licensed therapist who caters towards the student’s concerns. Therapy services are temporary solutions for non-emergencies, the student can expect an intake visit and up to two months of sessions depending on the case before being discharged. If need be, Hazel Health offers resources to the patient’s family aiding them in the transfer to a long-term solution. 

Physical health concerns are also dealt with over video call, whether in school or at home, and similarly requires legal guardians to give permission and be involved in treatment. While the actual consultation is free, any medications prescribed to the student are not and will need to be paid out of pocket or with help from insurance. There is no limit on the number of visits and Hazel Health provides resources to families who need assistance outside of this service or who present extreme medical cases. The physical exams offered by Hazel Health are more catered towards minor inconveniences such as the common cold or minor infections and are not adequate for emergency services such as broken bones. On Hazel Health’s website under “Frequently Asked Questions”, it states they “will not evaluate or treat symptoms related to sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy, nor prescribe or recommend contraception.”

Overall Hazel Health is a wonderful resource for those who need it and can be extremely helpful for families and students who can’t afford insurance or don’t have the resources to routinely see a doctor. Although there are a few limitations, this resource is a step in the right direction to free healthcare for all students and better mental health resources. Whether you or a friend may need this service, it is a huge advantage to many students and we are incredibly lucky to have access to free healthcare through Hazel Health and Jeffco Schools.