Parents often have questions about the health services provided at UGA. These are the most commonly 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
Urgent care hours: Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm (currently not available due to COVID-19)
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 offers the first consultation at no charge. For subsequent visits, psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring and group therapy, charges apply. 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 access our web page at www.uhs.uga.edu and e-mail the health center. 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.
The Alcohol and Other Drug coordinators at the University Health Center have compiled a resource for parents concerned with student alcohol use. Please visit the Just for Parents Guide to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Use.