PARENTS OF UGA STUDENTS
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IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunization requirements at UGA are determined by the Board of Regents.
HEALTH SERVICES
The health center has twelve clinics and departments offering a variety of medical, counseling, and prevention services for your students.
HEALTH FEE
The health fee is mandatory for full time students. Students taking 5 or fewer units must pay the health fee if they choose to use the health center.
Here you will find essential information regarding immunization requirements for incoming students, health services available to all students, and tips for students to stay healthy and productive. If you have any questions not addressed on our site, please feel free to send us an email at contact@uhs.uga.edu.
All UGA students are encouraged to carry health care insurance either with the UGA student health insurance policy or through their family policy. If your insurance policy provides out-of-network coverage, our Business Office will file claims for services incurred at the Health Center as a courtesy. We cannot determine whether your specific policy will cover charges incurred at the health center. We suggest you contact your individual insurance company and inquire about coverage. Learn more about insurance providers.
Georgia Pathways to Coverage is a category of Medicaid assistance for Georgians who otherwise would not be eligible for traditional Medicaid. The Pathways program offers no-cost Medicaid coverage to eligible Georgians who are U.S. citizens or legally residing non-citizens, are ages 19-64 who have a household income of up to 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and meet the qualifying activities threshold. Enrollment in higher education is one of these qualifying activities.
If you think you meet these criteria and do not currently have access to health insurance, please visit https://dch.georgia.gov/georgiapathways. There you will find more information on how to apply and the eligibility criteria.
Charges incurred are the responsibility of the student when not paid by the insurance company.
Get the University Health Center Medical Insurance Form here!
Please be sure that your student is aware of any allergies to medications and chronic conditions that he/she may have.
Your first year student will be making many decisions that will impact their health and their academic success at UGA. We offer free programs to support your student through these decisions, like our #BeWellUGA events and the Fontaine Peer Mentor Program. In addition, we recommend you talk to your student about topics including alcohol and drug use, sexual health decision making, eating and nutrition and handling stress.
In the state of Georgia, individuals over the age of 18 can determine who can have access to their medical records. The University Health Center is stringent about guarding patient confidentiality.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The University Health Center, a state of the art outpatient health care facility, is located on the corner of College Station and East Campus Roads. It is easily accessible by bus and has a free patient parking lot.
All patients must check in at registration and show a current insurance card and UGA ID prior to service. If a student does not have insurance there are some options for pay and assistance.
The staff of over 250, including 18 physicians and 65 health care professionals, offer a wide range of medical services including primary care, women’s health, sports medicine, allergy shots, physical therapy, dental care and counseling.
Students can make an appointment 24/7 online or during business hours by calling 706-542-1162.
The health center is open during the fall and spring semesters:
Regular hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
University Health Center (UHC) is in-network with many insurance carriers. However, only your insurance provider can determine what is covered under your insurance plan. Please contact your insurance provider for details regarding services covered at UHC.
IMPORTANT: We must have current insurance and UGA ID to ensure the services are applied correctly.
We first bill your insurance for all costs incurred with the visit. If the insurance does not cover the consultation and exam with the primary care provider, UHC will waive the balance incurred for that exam/consultation. Additional services rendered at that visit, such as lab work, x-rays, medicines, supplies, procedures, dental care, dermatology visits, eye exams, CAPS visits, prescriptions, and physical therapy incur charges and are the responsibility of the patient.
Each semester full time students pay a health fee.
For students who have paid the health fee:
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) offers initial consultations, subsequent visits, psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring and group therapy at no out-of-pocket cost. Call 706-542-2273 for more information.
For students with financial need:
A limited amount of grant money to access fees for counseling and psychiatric services is available through a fund established by the Parents & Families Association. Verification of need is required to access this fund. Students are encouraged to discuss their financial concerns with the therapist conducting the Initial Consultation.
(For more information on fees, please call 706-542-2273.)
We will be happy to bill your insurance company at the student’s request, however we cannot guarantee reimbursement. You should contact your insurance provider and ask if they will reimburse for charges incurred at the University Health Center at UGA. IMPORTANT: We must have current insurance and UGA ID to ensure the services are applied correctly.
Remember, even if your insurance company does not reimburse for additional services, charges are usually minimal. Our staff is always willing to discuss charges with the student prior to any service being administered.
Please visit our financial page for more information.
Our pharmacy works like any other private pharmacy. If your plan does not put limitations on where you fill your prescriptions, our pharmacy will likely work with your plan. It is important that students bring a copy of their current prescription card to our pharmacy when they fill prescriptions.
We do accept prescriptions from physicians outside the health center, even those from out of state.
The health center staff follows the guidelines of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine in prescribing antibiotics only when deemed necessary. The overuse of antibiotics promotes the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As the microbes that cause infectious diseases evolve defenses, the survivors multiply and spread. Over time, antibiotics once used to control bacteria become ineffective.
Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics work only against bacteria. Most colds will resolve in a week or two.
Sore throats are usually caused by viruses and, only in a few cases, bacteria. If tests show a bacterial infection and symptoms include a persistent fever, white spots on the tonsils and swollen glands, but no cough, a narrow spectrum antibiotic, which targets only selected germs, is warranted. If two or three of those symptoms are present, a test for strep infection is needed.
Bronchitis, or a “chest cold” with a persistent cough, is most often associated with influenza, which is caused by a virus. Antibiotics won’t cure it, but for a severe cough that lasts more than 3 weeks a chest x-ray may be warranted to rule out pneumonia or other conditions.
Acute sinusitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Even if a doctor’s examination shows the cause to be bacterial, mild or moderate cases usually resolve themselves. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics may be warranted, but only if the symptoms are severe, have lasted more than 7 days and are accompanied by a greenish-yellow nasal discharge.
Source: Adapted from the clinical practice guidelines of the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine
You can send us an email at contact@uhs.uga.edu and we will get it to the most appropriate staff member to address your concern. You can also contact our administrative office by calling 706-542-8715.
We always tell our students: “This is your health center. If you have concerns and don’t let us know, we can’t help to remedy them.”
We need your help in our efforts to educate students how to be wise health care consumers. Feedback is essential for us to provide the best possible health care. If a student has a concern or question about his/her visit to the health center, they should follow up by either contacting the clinician seen, making a follow-up appointment, or filling out a patient satisfaction form.