Health Services
The university provides a student health service primarily for diagnosis, first aid, and treatment of patients with minor or short term acute illnesses or injuries. These services are provided under the supervision of a physician. Health Service is open weekdays throughout the semester from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Summer semester hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Health Service is frequently closed when residence halls are closed.
While most illnesses are treated by the staff in Health Services, sometimes it is necessary to refer a student to other medical personnel or facilities for special services such as X-ray, surgery, and dentistry. Whenever this occurs, or whenever a student chooses the services of medical personnel or facilities other than those available at Health Services, the expenses for such services are paid by the student. Prenatal care cannot be provided by Health Service. Any prescriptions needed and not stocked at Health Service must be purchased at an outside pharmacy at the student's expense.
Many tests done within the Health Services laboratory are included in the students' health fee. Other lab tests done in house or processed by Carrollton or Atlanta laboratories are charged to the student at cost. X-rays at Tanner Medical Center also are charged to the student.
Students may be referred by the Health Service's staff to the emergency room at Tanner Medical Center, the local hospital. In such cases, the hospital will consider the student responsible financially. Students are responsible for all medical expenses related to treatment off-campus, including ambulance transportation.
Students should remember that if they are covered by personal or parental insurance it is essential that an insurance policy number be in their possession.
Students who do not have health insurance should obtain it. The University System of Georgia has contracted with Pearce & Pearce, Inc. to provide insurance for students. For more information, please contact the Graduate Financial Aid Counselor in the office of Financial Aid at 678-839-6421.
Graduate Assistants are required to have health insurance. If they do not have insurance, they will be required to purchase and enroll in the Pearce & Pearce Mandatory Graduate Insurance Policy. This policy is automatically added to all assistants' accounts when they are hired. If a student is covered by a policy held by a spouse or parent, they may apply for a waiver for the Pearce & Pearce policy. For more information, students should contact the Graduate Financial Aid Counselor in the office of Financial Aid at 678 839 6421.
