Navigating Student Health Services: A Comprehensive Guide
Maintaining good health is crucial for academic success and overall well-being during your college years. Many institutions partner with Gallagher Student Health to provide comprehensive health insurance plans and resources. This article aims to provide a detailed overview of student health services, focusing on insurance plans, access to care, and important resources.
Understanding Your Student Health Insurance Plan
Most universities require students to have comprehensive health insurance coverage. Often, they offer a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), such as the one administered by Gallagher Student Health.
- Eligibility: Typically, all students are eligible for SHIP.
- Automatic Billing: Your student account is usually automatically billed for the health insurance every fall and spring semester.
- Voluntary Enrollment: All non-international undergraduate students enrolled in 9 credit hours or more and graduate students enrolled in 6 credit hours or more are eligible to enroll in the University of Maine System’s voluntary health insurance plan.
- Cost: An annual health insurance charge of $4,863.00 will be payable to Gallagher Health upon enrollment. The coverage period is from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.
- Spring Enrollment: For eligible students whose initial enrollment at the University begins with the Spring semester, a spring-only health insurance plan will be available. Cost of coverage is (to be determined)for coverage from January 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.
- Waivers: Eligible students who already have adequate health insurance can opt out of the SHIP by completing an online waiver process. It is important that you submit by the due date to avoid being charged for the student insurance.
- Waiver Deadlines: The waiver must be submitted before the start of each new academic year in the fall. A spring waiver is available for newly eligible students only, who must then resubmit annually in the fall.
- State Medicaid: If you have a state Medicaid plan in a state other than Massachusetts, it most likely will not cover you, and you will be enrolled in the student insurance.
- Losing Coverage: If a student loses their private insurance due to a life event, they can add the student insurance within 60 days by completing a petition to add.
- Accessing Plan Information: For questions about the student insurance coverage or enrollments, please log into Gallagher Health or call Gallagher Student Health at 833-882-3592.
- Cancellation Policy: Students enrolled in SHIP at the start of the academic year (Fall) will have no option to cancel mid-year unless they graduate, enter the armed forces, or become ineligible.
Understanding Gallagher Resources
To waive or actively enroll, log on to gallagherstudent.com/uop using your MyPacific username and password. For general information about SHIP visit Gallagher Student Health or call Gallagher Customer Service at 833.233.0764.
International Student Health Insurance
International students often have specific health insurance requirements.
- Mandatory Coverage: International Student Health Insurance is mandatory for all international students, unless proof of insurance is provided.
- Waiver Process: Eligible students with adequate health insurance must complete an online waiver process to opt out of the plan before February 4th, 2026.
- Cost: Cost of coverage is $3,286.00 for individual student coverage from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026 and will be charged to student accounts.
- Spring Enrollment: For eligible students whose initial enrollment at the University begins with the Spring semester, spring-only health insurance coverage will be charged at a cost (to be determined).
- Summer Coverage: Summer-only coverage is also available.
- Further Information: Information from the Office of International Programs about health insurance requirements can be found here.
Accessing Healthcare Services
Knowing how to access healthcare services covered by your student health plan is essential.
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- University Health Service (UHS): The University Health Service (UHS) is a primary resource for health needs in the Ann Arbor U-M community.
- Nurse Advice Line: You can seek advice from a nurse 24/7 at 734-764-8320, by selecting the nurse advice prompt.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is free, confidential, and available to currently enrolled students on the Ann Arbor Campus. Their services include brief counseling for individuals, couples and groups; consultation to students; assistance with referrals to community resources; and crisis interventions.
- Emergency Care: If you have a life-threatening emergency, go to the Emergency Room or call 911.
- Urgent Care: If it is urgent but not life threatening, you can go to an urgent care center which will usually cost you less money.
- Mobile ID Cards: Mobile ID Cards will NOT be available until the term start date, or 3 weeks after enrolling in the plan, whichever is later.
- Sydney Health App: Access your ID card with Sydney Health app… With the Sydney Health app through Anthem Student Advantage, you have instant access to: Your member ID card, The Find a Doctor tool, More information about your plan benefits, Health tips that are tailored to you, LiveHealth Online and 24/7 Nurse Line , Student support specialists (through click-to-chat or by phone). From your mobile device or tablet go to the App Store or Google Play and search for the Sydney Health app to download it today.
- Anthem.com: Use Anthem.com to keep track of your Student Health plan benefits and information - all in one place. If you already have a registered account, click login and enter your username and password. Enter your student ID number, name and date of birth.
- BlueCard Program: The plan includes BlueCard, a program of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
- Provider Verification: You should always verify the provider is part of the Blue Care Network (BCN) before you receive treatment.
- Preferred Name: If you have a preferred name that is different from your legal name, all your prescriptions, lab work and referrals still need to be in your legal name. If your legal name is not used, then the insurance will not cover the service.
Important Considerations
- Insurance Information: It is important to have accurate insurance information on file at the health center to ensure you don’t receive bills for services that your insurance would cover. You can upload your insurance information through our patient portal.
- Timely Submissions: Waivers should be submitted by the due date to avoid being charged for the student insurance.
- Confirmation of Benefits: We advise to call your insurance company to confirm your insurance benefits.
- Presenting Insurance Information: Students are required to present their insurance information at the time of medical appointments.
- Copays: There will be a $10 office visit copay for medical appointments off campus. Excluded from this are outpatient mental health visits and preventive care services. These are at no cost when you use in-network providers.
- Updates in the System: Please note, it can take up to 3 weeks for the change to reflect in the insurance company system.
Additional Resources and Support
- Gallagher Student Health: For questions about the student insurance coverage or completing waivers/enrollments, please call Gallagher Student Health at 833-882-3592.
- Amherst College: Please do not contact Amherst College nor the Amherst College Health Center regarding login or waiver access issues. These types of inquiries should only be submitted to Gallagher. They will report this to Gallagher to address the problem.
- Student Health Center: The Student Health Center supports the university by evaluating, treating, maintaining, and promoting optimal physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of APU students.
- Insurance Office: 1041 Brookside Road Cowell Wellness Center Room 218.
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