Skip to main content

Emergency Care

Emergencies: If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, dial 9-1-1.
If it is after hours and you would like to speak with a nurse, dial the main number (858) 534-3300 and select the option for the "Advice Nurse."

Rape, Sexual Assault and Personal Safety

If you or a friend are a victim of rape, sexual assault or are experiencing personal safety concerns, contact CARE@SARC​, the campus advocacy and education office for sexual violence and gender-based violence (dating violence, domestic violence, stalking). CARE@SARC provides violence prevention education for the entire UCSD campus and provides free and confidential services for students, staff, and faculty impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.

Where To Go for Urgent Care or Emergency Care

Emergency sign

When Student Health is closed, urgent or emergency medical care is available from urgent care facilities and hospital emergency departments in the nearby community. 

If your symptoms are not life threatening, you should seek care from an Urgent Care facility. This would be most cost-effective and provide you with timely care. See "Urgent Care Center Locations" below for a list of nearby facilities. You are urged to call the facility ahead of time to verify their participation in UC SHIP.

For UCSD students with UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP):

  • Student Health Video Visit: MyChart Video Visits (PDF) allows you to have a virtual appointment with a provider using your SmartPhone or Tablet and the MyChart App. Cost for students with UC SHIP or RAFT: $0; students without UC SHIP/RAFT: fee-for-service same as a primary visit.
  • Urgent Care: UCSD Health Urgent Care, at Villa La Jolla Drive & Holiday Court — call for hours (858) 249-6800. Copay for UC San Diego Urgent Care is $25.00. Non-UCSD Urgent Cares have a $50.00 copay.
  • Emergency Care: Hillcrest—UC San Diego Medical Center, La Jolla—Jacobs Medical Center, or College Area—East Campus Medical Center. Copay with UC SHIP: $125.00
  • CVS Minute Clinic: The student needs a prior referral from SHS, and there is a nurse charge that is not covered, but the immunizations will be covered at 100%.
  • UCSD Health Express Care: The student needs a prior referral from SHS.
  • Immunizations at CVS Pharmacy (not in the Minute Clinic setting): The charges for immunizations will be billed to Anthem and paid at 100%. Bring your insurance card, no referral is required.

For UCSD students who have waived out of UC SHIP or have RAFT:

  • Check with your private insurance plan to see where emergency care is covered. RAFT is not an insurance plan, it only pays for care provided within the UCSD Student Health clinic, not the Emergency Room.

​Remember, i​nsurance coverage for after-hours care varies according to your health insurance plan. Some plans pay for elective after-hours care while others cover emergencies only.

Urgent Care Center Locations

To find an Urgent Care facility near you, visit: www.anthem.com/ca and select "Find a Doctor". SHS does not endorse any specific Urgent Care facility. We are listing these facilities ​as resources close to campus.

UC San Diego Health Urgent Care
Urgent Care Center
borders on South side of campus
8910 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla  92037
(858) 249-6800

Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines
Urgent Care Center - 24 hours
2 miles from campus
10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla 92037
(858) 554-8638

Partners Urgent Care - UTC
Emergency Medicine Urgent Care Center
2.4 miles from campus
4085 Governor Drive, San Diego 92122
(858) 888-7800

Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Inc.
Multi-Specialty Clinic Urgent Care Center
3.6 miles from campus
10243 Genetic Center Drive, San Diego 92121
(858) 526-6100

Emergency Medical Care Contacts

Medical Emergencies (Police/Fire/Rescue) 911 - from campus phones
Medical Emergencies (Police/Fire/Rescue) (858) 534-HELP from cell phones
UC San Diego Jacobs Medical Center Emergency (east campus)
 Driving directions to Jacobs Medical Center
(858) 657-7600
UC San Diego Medical Center (Hillcrest)
 Driving directions to UCSD Medical Center
(619) 543-6400
Kaiser Hosp. (San Diego) (619) 528-5700
Mental Health Crisis Line (800) 479-3339
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Hotline (858) 272-1767
Poison Information (800) 876-4766

What to do AFTER an Emergency Room visit

Helpful information "After You've Been to the Emergency Room (PDF)" about campus resources you may need. Included are: Student Health, UC SHIP, Deans' Offices, Res Life, Psych & Counseling Services, Disabled Student Services, and Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention.

Fees for Students With ​​UC SHIP

  • In-network Urgent Care copay: $50.00
  • Emergency Room patient copay: $125.00
  • Out of network Urgent Care covered 60% after $1,000 deductible (patient responsibility)

person-crutchesDoctors do leave Anthem's network from time to time. There may be higher fees associated for a doctor who is not in Anthem's network or for services not covered by SHIP. You may be responsible for those costs. To avoid higher fees, we recommend that you call Anthem at (866) 940-8306 prior to seeking services with any provider.

 Insurance coverage for after-hours care varies according to the student's health insurance plan. Some plans pay for elective after-hours care while others cover emergencies only.

Insurance Information

doctors-checking-xrays The Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) covers after-hours care for emergencies only. UC SHIP requires a written referral from SHS staff for non-emergency care. Follow-up care at an Emergency Room also requires a written referral from SHS staff. A referral from an Emergency Room doctor is not a valid referral. Please refer to the UC SHIP brochure for plan limitations and exclusions.​

You can speak with a Student Health Insurance Coordinator at (858) 534-2124 during business hours, or visit the insurance web page.

Additional Contacts

Nurse Advice Line for After Hours

Student Health Service has an After Hours Nurse Advice Line available for students. Any time Student Health Services is closed, you can call our regular telephone number (858) 534-3300 and select option #1,  "After Hours Advice" to speak with a registered nurse who will assist you in obtaining the appropriate care.

LiveHealth Online

If you are traveling, do not have access to Student Health, or Student Health is closed, another option for non-life threatening symptoms is LiveHealth Online. LiveHealth Online offers live telemedicine visits with a physician and is available 24/7.    

SPECIAL COUPON: Students with UC SHIP insurance can use the coupon code UCSDMEDICAL to receive a LiveHealth Online visit at no charge. Students with other insurance should check with their insurance carrier about reimbursement/covered charges. 

UCSD Offices