Frequently Asked Questions

• Where is the Student Health Services located?

  
  Student Health Services is on Glenbrook Road, next to the Chemistry Building. Counseling and Mental Health Services is located behind SHS in the Student Health Services Annex.

• How do I get there?

  Bus: Only the red line and apartment shuttle drops off right in front of Health Services. The nearest stop for other lines is the CLAS building.

  Car: We suggest you park in the North Garage. There is 30-minute parking available in 4 parking spaces in front of our building. You must sign the logbook in our lobby upon entry. Please note that there are two additional parking spaces that are for ambulance and handicapped vehicles.
  

• How do I know if I can be seen at Student Health Services?

  Only registered Storrs students who have paid the Storrs General University Fee (GUF) are eligible to use our services. Spouses of eligible students may pay a per semester charge. Eligibility to use the Student Health Services does not require health insurance coverage.

• Is there a charge to be seen by a provider?

  
  Most care rendered by SHS is at no charge to the patient. Patients seen and evaluated by a nurse, nurse practitioner or doctor for an illness or injury are not charged for an office visit.
  
  Chargeable services would include laboratory or radiology services, medications, annual gynecological exams, nutrition follow-up visits, counseling and mental health services, or visits with specialists (e.g. orthopedic clinic.)

• What's the difference between a nurse practitioner and a doctor?

  A nurse practitioner (aka NP or APRN) is a registered nurse with additional education so that (s)he can assess, counsel and prescribe medication to patients as needed. NP's work with the doctors at Health Services.

• Are chargeable services automatically billed to my insurance company?

  Student Health Services is recognized as a participating provider and directly bills the following insurance companies/plans:

  • Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield
  • HealthNet
  • Aetna Student Health

  If you have one of these plans, we will submit the claim directly to your insurer on your behalf. Any co-pays, deductibles or cost shares will be billed to your student fee bill once the EOB (Explanation of Benefits) is received by Student Health. This typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Once the charge has been transferred to your fee bill, payment must be made through the bursar's office.

• What happens if I get sick after hours?

  
  There is an after-hours Advice Nurse available whenever the SHS is closed. This nurse will advise you what to do depending upon the situation you describe. Of course, when we are open, an Advice Nurse is always available at SHS to assess and treat as needed.

• How do I reach the Advice Nurse ?

  If you call 486-4700 or 486-3427 you will be directed to our answering service who will notify the Advice Nurse. The Advice Nurse is located off campus when the SHS is closed and will return your call. If you do not receive a return call within 15 minutes, it is important that you recall the answering service so that they can recall the Advice Nurse and assure connection with you.

• Are there any mental health support groups on campus?

  Please see the list of groups offered by Counseling and Mental Health Services or by calling CMHS at 486-4705.

• Can I refill an existing prescription on campus and where?

  The pharmacy on campus, located in the Student Health Services, is licensed such that they can only fill prescriptions written by Student Health Services clinicians. You may make an appointment to speak to one of our physicians or nurse practitioners by calling 486-2719. In most cases they will do a quick re-evaluation and write the prescription you need so that you can fill it on campus. If you choose not to do this, check the Yellow Pages under "Pharmacies" to select one to fill your prescription. The two pharmacies closest to campus are Storrs Drug and CVS.
  Remember - you MUST bring your prescription insurance card and student ID with you every time you fill a prescription!

• How is confidentiality assured at Student Health Services?

  Your medical record kept by SHS is completely confidential. No one outside the SHS staff may have access to them, and no one may be given information from them without your prior written consent. This prohibition includes friends, relatives, parents, University faculty and administration. Mental Health records are maintained separately from the general medical records and the same strict guidelines of confidentiality apply.

• We recently visited UCONN for the Freshman/Parents Orientation and were told that there is an on-line Health Waiver form that can be found on your website but I had no luck in finding one.

  The Insurance Waiver process is described on our insurance page. It requires that the student log into their Student Administration (PeopleSoft) account to complete the waiver.

  If you are looking for the Health History form, you can find it on the forms page.

• On the Vaccination History section of the health history form it states that this section should be filled out by your health care provider. What if you don't have a designated health care provider, but do have the appropriate information requested on the form. How does one go about getting this section filled out?

  You should fill out the information yourself. Then attach photocopies of the source of the information (e.g. pages from your Baby Vaccination Booklet or other document you were given at the time of vaccination.)

• Are there therapists on campus available for the students to talk to if we are having a problem?

  You should contact Counseling and Mental Health Services at 486-4705.

• I have been on "the pill" since August, but I have had problems getting my insurance to cover it so it has been costing me $30 a month. Is it possible to get it through school for less money?

  You need to be seen in the Women's Clinic at the Student Health Service for a full gynecological exam and pap smear. If you have already had a recent exam with another doctor, we will accept a copy of pap results but we still need to do the physical exam. Oral contraceptives are available to any UConn student without parental permission. If you have any further questions please call the Women's Clinic at 486-4837 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• My major is in a health-related field. What activities can I get involved in at SHS?.

  SHAC (the Student Health Advisory Committee,) Peer Educators, student employment, internship/externship opportunities and HEART (Alcohol and other substance abuse programs.)

• Does Student Health Services offer eye exams?

  No, but the Student Health Services Advice Nurse can provide you with a list of local optometrists and ophthalmologists. Call (860)486-3427.

• If I decide to be put on birth control pills through the school's services, how will my prescribed pills be paid for? Is there a way to pay for them without notifying a parent?

  As with any prescription, you may choose one of three methods of payments: cash, check or charge to university fee bill. Cash and check are the only way to insure your parent does not inadvertently see the charge on the fee bill. Most insurance plans are now covering oral contraceptives, however, our experience has been that the insurance copays (which tend to range from $6 to $30 per pill pack) can often exceed our own student pricing.

• Is HIV testing at the Student Health Service confidential?

  HIV antibody testing at the Student Health Service is done on a CONFIDENTIAL basis. This means that your test result will be documented in your medical record and held in strictest confidence. Information will not be released to anyone without your written permission. Anonymous testing (where the client's name and test result are never linked) is available at Connecticut Alternative Test Sites; call Health Education at 486-0772 for a referral. To make an appointment for HIV testing at the Health Service, call 486-2719 and tell the receptionist that you are interested in getting an HIV antibody test.

THINGS TO REMEMBER!

• Always bring your medical insurance card and student ID with you.
• Allow enough travel time, whether it is on foot, by bus or car. If you are late, you will need to reschedule your appointment.
• If you do not show up for a scheduled appointment, you will be charged a No Show fee.