Information for Parents

Student Health is part of the Well-being Cluster which is comprised of Student Health Services (SHS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Recreation, and the Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention Resource Center (SARC).

This "Well-being" Cluster supports students in achieving a more balanced and healthy lifestyle by using a collaborative and holistic approach. Learn more about the variety of well-being programs at wellness.ucsd.eduwellness.ucsd.edu.

The Zone in the Price Center is a collaborative space for Student Well-being programming and resources. The Zone's programs are free and designed to introduce resources and build skills for students to flourish.  

 

Below are some important reminders you may find helpful. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Student Health Services staff by phone (858) 534-3300, or email studenthealth@ucsd.edu.

All registered students, regardless of insurance, are eligible for SHS care. Please encourage your student to use SHS - we provide a relaxed, friendly environment so that all students feel comfortable coming to us for help. Our providers love working with the students and are very aware of health issues specific to this age group. Even if your student waives out of SHIP, he/she is still eligible to use SHS for their basic health care. Some charges are incurred for specific services without SHIP, but these charges are modest. Read more about Cost of Services here.

If your student is under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must sign a "Consent for Medical Treatment" form before the student can be seen at Student Health. You can download the consent form, sign it, and fax it to our Medical Records Department at (858) 534-7545. Read about other requirements if your child is under 18 years of age here.

UCSHIP - The Best Health Insurance Option You Can Find

Undergraduate and graduate students at UC San Diego can receive coverage through the UC system-wide insurance plan. The benefit structure is tremendous - all primary care visits, routine immunizations and lab tests at Student Health are completely covered by the plan. This means that your student will have no out-of-pocket costs for appointments, labwork or routine immunizations obtained at Student Health Services. Compare that to the cost for a visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner, labs and immunizations for a student without SHIP which can easily exceed $100. This plan also provides up to 100% coverage for students who are referred to UCSD Medical Center specialists and facilities after their $200 plan year deductible and applicable co-pays.

Quarterly premiums are only $385.46 for undergraduates and $594 for graduate students. Remember that your student will be automatically enrolled in UCSHIP unless they waive out. The waiver deadline is September 21, 2012. For more information about plan benefits, fees and the waiver procedure, please visit the SHS Insurance Page.

TB Screening - It's Required!

All incoming students are expected to complete the tuberculosis screening questions and, if necessary, send in a clearance form by their healthcare provider in order to avoid delays in their registration for classes. Tuberculosis is a potentially serious disease and San Diego is a high-risk area. Therefore, we are undertaking this effort to protect our students from infection and illness. For more TB information or to watch a TB informational video (multiple languages available), please visit: http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/tb.shtml.

Immunization Updates

Meningitis: The CDC recently updated recommendations to include a booster shot to protect from infection. While meningococcal meningitis is rare, it is very serious and can be fatal. We strongly recommend that your student be immunized. If your student was vaccinated once before age 16, and they are currently 21 or younger, the recommendation is to receive a booster. For more information, visit the CDC Web site.

Pertussis: There has been a lot of information in the news regarding the pertussis outbreak that has affected California, and San Diego in particular. We strongly recommend that your student receive the Tdap vaccine. This vaccine is available in our Nurses Clinic. See chart for fees.

Flu: Student Health Services provides flu vaccination through our Nurses Clinic. Flu shots are free to students with SHIP, and will be provided at low cost to students with other insurance. Note: Since we will soon run out of our vaccine supply, students can use this link to locate community sources for vaccine.

We recommend all students have some basic cold & flu items on hand, such as a digital thermometer, acetaminophen, hand sanitizer, cough syrup, cough lozenges, etc. These items are available at Student Health at very reasonable cost.

Personal Healthcare Providers

Student Health Services offers a personal "Primary Care Provider" model of service. Photos and bios can be seen at the link above, "About Us". We strive to better know and be able to serve your student and address his/her wellness needs. Not only does this improve the continuity of care, but other preventive health and well-being issues can be better addressed.

UC Smoke-Free by Jan 2014

University of California President Yudof announced in February that all University of California campuses must make plans to be Smoke-free by January 2014. For students that are smokers, Student Health Services can help them quit. Students can make an appointment (858-534-5571) at no charge for individual smoking cessation counseling, and also receive smoking cessation aides. If phone counseling is preferred, students can call the California Smokers' Helpline at (800) NO BUTTS.

Links to Useful Information

Specialized Services

Our Well-being Cluster

Helpful Publications and Articles