Ginger for Residents and Fellows
Ginger is an app that offers confidential, on-demand emotional and mental health support for life challenges through coaching via text-based chats, self-guided activities, and video-based therapy and psychiatry. Coaches are available to chat 24/7, 365 days per year. Private video sessions with a therapist or psychiatrist are available outside of business hours on evenings and weekends.
You may also visit the Virtual Behavioral Health webpage on the UCOP website for additional information about all of the virtual and app-based coaching, therapy, and psychiatry services available to you through the UC resident and fellow health insurance coverage.
Residents and fellows who are enrolled in UC health insurance, and their dependents age 18 and older, will have unlimited access to Ginger’s coaching services and self-guided activities, as well as up to 15 virtual therapy sessions per plan year (July 1 through June 30).
No one at UC will have access to who is using Ginger’s services or to the conversations with coaches, therapists, and psychiatrists. Information is securely stored and protected by law, as described in Ginger's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
For more information about Ginger, please review the following FAQs below as well as the FAQs provided by Ginger, which includes basic information about Ginger (eligibility, access, cost); description of The Ginger Library; information about coaching; how to specify gender/ethnicity/specialty of coaches and therapists; information about Ginger therapists, coaches, and psychiatrists, including qualifications, Ginger's cancellation policy; and more.
FAQ's
- How do I enroll in Ginger?
- Shortly after starting a UCSF residency or fellowship program and enrolling in UC insurance, you will receive an invitation email directly from ginger with log-in instructions. You are only eligible for Ginger's services if you have enrolled in UC insurance. Note, however, that using your included Ginger benefits (unlimited coaching and up to 15 session of tele-therapy or tele-psychiatry per plan year) is NOT billed/filled through your insurance. The email address that is on file in Plansource, the website where you manage your health insurance, is where the email will be sent.
- I didn't receive an invitation email. What do I do?
- You should check Plansource to ensure you are signed up for health insurance and to verify the correct email, either your UCSF or personal email, is listed. If you have further questions and/or are still unable to locate the invitation email, please email [email protected]. You should receive a response within two business days.
- How do I enroll in UC insurance, so I can use Ginger?
- If you are new to UCSF graduate medical education program, you have within 30 days of your start date to add or change your health insurance. For all other residents and fellows, changes may be made to insurance only during the open enrollment period, which is June 1 through June 30 each year. You may enroll or make changes in Plansource.
- Am I able to request therapy and not participate in coaching?
- Yes. You may request to go directly to therapy when you make contact with a coach. If you do, you will be referred to Ginger Member Services and will have to complete a brief intake form that will take about 15minutes to complete. After completing the form, you will likely hear back within 24 hours to schedule an appointment.
- How do I request specific specialization or preferences for my therapist (i.e. BIPOC, sexual orientation, etc.)?
- For coaching, when you are initially connected to a coach, you can request to be matched with a coach from a specific background or demographic. To request a therapist from a specific background, when you are connected to a member services, you can let them know that you would like to be matched with a therapist from a specific background or identity group.
- What is Ginger's cancellation policy for therapy or psychiatry sessions?
- If a Ginger member cancels their appointment less than 24 hours prior to their appointment or is a no show, one of their sessions will be deducted from their total covered sessions, which is 15 per plan year for UC residents and fellows.
