Charges and Insurance

Information:
(512) 475-8394
Email: healthyhorns_billing@utlists.utexas.edu

Billing and Insurance Hours (Remote):
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday and UT Holidays
1st and 2nd Wednesdays of the month CLOSED 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Semester hours exceptions

There are charges associated with a visit to UHS. However, we believe that finances should not prevent students from getting necessary healthcare. Your tuition helps cover the cost for many UHS services, and we work hard to keep care affordable.

Costs

The financial responsibility for most office visits is $10 for UT Students. This charge may be higher for certain visit types such as physicals, well-woman annual exams, physical therapy, initial travel visits, and appointments with the registered dietitian, and there are additional charges for all medications, supplies, diagnostic test, procedures, etc. used or performed as part of an office visit. We accept most major insurance plans. You do not need insurance to use UHS.

Healthcare costs depend on what kind of care you need and your insurance plan if you have one. Health insurance plans vary a great deal, and usually cover only part of the costs. You are responsible to pay any part that isn't covered by health insurance or by tuition.

Good Faith Estimates

University Health Services provides Good Faith Estimates to students who:

Do not have insurance.
Have insurance that is not accepted by University Health Services or the Counseling and Mental Health Center. This includes Medicaid (including CHIP),Medicare, MAP, ChampVA, and international insurance. If you are unsure if your insurance is accepted, please call the UHS/CMHC Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394.
Have insurance, but do not want to use it and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.

The GFE process will begin when you book your appointment through the MyUHS portal. Learn more about your rights for protection against surprise billing and to receive a good faith estimate from our clinic.

Patient Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate (PDF)

Before Your First Appointment: Insurance

Before your first appointment, complete required forms in the MyUHS portal and enter your insurance information, if insured, even if UHS is out-of-network with your plan.

For details, click the section below that matches your situation.

I don't have health insurance

You do not need health insurance to use UHS. A discounted rate is available to students who don't have health insurance, who are covered by Medicaid or Medicare, or are otherwise underinsured.

The student administrative health fee (included in your tuition) helps cover part of the cost for appointments at UHS. With a few exceptions, your financial responsibility for most office visits is $10, and additional charges apply for tests and treatment. If you don't wish to pay on the day of your appointment, we will bill your What I Owe.

Read the UHS Charges Statement.

We strongly urge all students to have health insurance. The UT Student Health Insurance Plan provides great, affordable coverage plus an option for dental insurance. Explore your health insurance options by clicking on the link on this page.

University Health Services provides Good Faith Estimates to students who:

Do not have insurance.
Have insurance that is not accepted by University Health Services or the Counseling and Mental Health Center. This includes Medicaid (including CHIP) and Medicare. If you are unsure if your insurance is accepted, please call the UHS/CMHC Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394.
Have insurance and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.
Have insurance, but do not want to use it and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.

This process will begin when you book your appointment through the MyUHS portal. Learn more about your rights for protection against surprise billing and to receive a good faith estimate from our clinic.

Patient Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate (PDF)

I have Medicaid (including CHIP) or Medicare

Medicaid (including CHIP) and Medicare cannot be used at UHS, so students with these plans will receive a discounted rate as if they had no insurance.

University Health Services provides Good Faith Estimates to students who:

Do not have insurance.
Have insurance that is not accepted by University Health Services or the Counseling and Mental Health Center. This includes Medicaid (including CHIP) and Medicare. If you are unsure if your insurance is accepted, please call the UHS/CMHC Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394.
Have insurance and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.
Have insurance, but do not want to use it and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.

Patient Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate (PDF)

Read the UHS Charges Statement.

Explore your health insurance options by clicking on the link on this page.

I have health insurance

We accept and are in-network with most major US-based insurance plans.

If we are not in-network with your insurance, we can file a courtesy claim with them. You will receive a discounted rate, either from UHS or your insurance company.

Find out if UHS is in-network with your insurance

Upload your insurance information to the MyUHS portal before your first visit.

To enter your insurance information:

Log in to the MyUHS portal.
Click Insurance Details.
Click on “Add Insurance Plan”.
Upload images of the front and back of your insurance card.
Rank – primary insurance is billed first when you receive healthcare. Secondary insurance is billed when your first insurance plan is exhausted and may help cover additional costs.
Enter the insurance carrier name (ex. “Aetna”), the ID or policy number and group number listed on your card. (A limited number of plans, like Tricare, do not have a group number, if this is the case please type in N/A).
Select your relationship to the primary insurance policy holder (ex. “Child”, “Self”, etc.)
Then enter the name, home address, date of birth, and gender of the primary policy holder.
Click Save
The plan will show as unverified until a staff person has been able to verify your insurance details. If they are unable to verify your insurance coverage, they may reach out to you for clarification.

Bring your valid photo ID and your insurance card to every visit.
How to Read Your Insurance Card

The student administrative health fee (included in your tuition) helps cover part of the cost for appointments at UHS. Your financial responsibility is $10 for most office visits (see exceptions).

Additional charges apply for tests and treatments. Your health insurance may cover some or all of those costs. If you don't wish to pay on the day of your appointment, we will bill your What I Owe.

The cost of healthcare depends largely on what kind of care you need and the details of your insurance plan. Health insurance plans vary a great deal, and they usually cover only part of the costs. You are responsible to pay the remainder.

To learn what your plan covers at UHS, call your insurance company and give them our tax ID 74-6000203. You can also learn about your plan at the website listed on your insurance card.

University Health Services provides Good Faith Estimates to students who:

Do not have insurance.
Have insurance that is not accepted by University Health Services or the Counseling and Mental Health Center. This includes Medicaid (including CHIP) and Medicare. If you are unsure if your insurance is accepted, please call the UHS/CMHC Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394.
Have insurance and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.
Have insurance, but do not want to use it and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.

Patient Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate (PDF)

Read the UHS Charges Statement.

My insurance is an HMO

HMO plans typically do not pay for services at UHS. However, if you have an HMO plan, call your primary care provider (PCP) and ask them to request an authorization for you to be seen at UHS for the entire current (or upcoming) semester. Give your PCP the UHS tax ID number (74-6000203). You must do this before each semester.

Students with an HMO plan who have not received authorization to be seen at UHS will receive a discounted rate as if they had no insurance.

Explore your health insurance options by clicking on the link on this page.

My insurance is from a company based outside the United States

Health insurance from companies based outside the United States cannot be used at UHS, so students with these plans will receive a discounted rate as if they had no insurance.

Explore other health insurance options by clicking on the link on this page.

I’m concerned about privacy

If you have insurance but you don't want the policy holder to know about your visit to UHS, you may choose not to use your insurance for that appointment. But medical care typically costs more if you don’t use your insurance.

When you use your health insurance, UHS bills (files a claim with) the health insurance company for the charges incurred at your visit. When the insurance company processes that claim, they send the policy holder a statement called an Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

How this decision affects privacy and cost:

If you don’t want to use your insurance for a specific appointment at UHS, you must notify the UHS Billing and Insurance Office at the time of your appointment.
Your appointment may cost significantly more than $10.

Due to insurance regulations, the student administrative health fee is not available to students who have insurance but choose not to use it.

UHS will extend the discounted rate to you, but it will still cost more than if you had used your insurance and you must pay in full on the day of your appointment.

Learn about the Student administrative health fee by the clicking on link on this page

About lab tests: Occasionally, lab test results indicate a need for further testing, which is done using the specimens that were collected at your appointment. If this happens, UHS will notify you. If you don't want UHS to bill your insurance company for those additional tests, you must pay the cost within two business days after we notify you.

Learn more about Patient Privacy at UHS

UHS Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA notice)

Other helpful information

I have insurance but I don't want to use it

If you have insurance but you don't want the policy holder to know about your visit to UHS, you may choose not to use your insurance for that appointment. Before you decide, you need to be aware of these important considerations:

If you don't want to use your insurance for an appointment at UHS, you must notify the UHS Billing and Insurance Office at the time of your appointment.
Your appointment may cost significantly more than $10. Because of insurance regulations, UHS cannot use the student administrative health fee (included in your tuition) to help cover office visits or other costs for students who have insurance and choose not to use it.
Learn about the Student administrative health fee by clicking on link on this page
UHS will extend the discounted rate to you, but it will still cost more than if you had used your insurance, and you must pay in full on the day of your appointment.
If you get lab tests at your appointment, the results could indicate a need for further testing, which will automatically be done on the specimens collected at your appointment. If this happens, UHS will notify you. If you don't want UHS to bill your insurance company for those additional tests, you must pay for them within two business days after we notify you.

University Health Services provides Good Faith Estimates to students who:

Do not have insurance.
Have insurance that is not accepted by University Health Services or the Counseling and Mental Health Center. This includes Medicaid (including CHIP) and Medicare. If you are unsure if your insurance is accepted, please call the UHS/CMHC Billing and Insurance Office at 512-475-8394.
Have insurance and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.
Have insurance, but do not want to use it and request to receive a Good Faith Estimate.

Patient Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate (PDF)

Learn more about Patient Privacy at UHS

Patient Privacy

To protect your privacy, we don't post medical details to What I Owe. We will give you an itemized statement upon request. Anyone with eProxy privileges to your What I Owe will see the amount due to UHS, but not why you came in or what services you received.

If you have insurance, learn about health insurance and your privacy at UHS by opening “I have health insurance” above, then click the section “I’m concerned about privacy.”

Learn more about Patient Privacy at UHS

UHS Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA notice)

Explore Health Insurance Options

Unexpected healthcare costs can disrupt your education. UHS strongly urges all students to have health insurance. Please consider these options:

Student Health Insurance Plan. The UT System Student Health Insurance Plan (AcademicBlue, which is a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas plan) provides affordable coverage designed specifically for UT students and their eligible dependents. This plan has all essential features required by the Affordable Care Act plus optional dental coverage. Click here for details.

Most international students are already enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Texas Global can assist - call 512-471-2477.

Students who enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan may use University Health Services as soon as their insurance coverage begins, which may occur before the semester begins.

Your parent's insurance plan. Most people ages 25 and younger can be on their parent's insurance plan. Ask your parents if they have health insurance that you could enroll in.

If your parents have insurance, ask them to help you compare the benefits and cost of their plan to the UT Student Health Insurance Plan to see what option would be best for your family.

Health Insurance Marketplace. Sign up for a plan at Healthcare.gov (sometimes called the "exchange"). Financial help is available to qualifying individuals.

People under age 30 with a limited income may qualify to enroll in a "Catastrophic" health plan as a way to protect against worst-case scenarios. But you would still have to pay for most routine medical expenses yourself. Learn More about Catastrophic Plans.

Your employer's insurance plan. If you have a job, ask your supervisor or human resources contact if you're able to get insurance through your workplace.

State of Texas Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to certain people with very limited income or with disabilities. Find out if you qualify for Medicaid by calling 211. While Medicaid cannot be used at UHS, students with Medicaid will received discounted rates at UHS.

Travis County Medical Assistance Program (MAP) is for people who live in Travis County, aren’t able to afford health insurance, and who do not have other healthcare coverage like Medicaid or private insurance. Learn more at Travis County MAP.

Remain uninsured. Uninsured people are responsible to pay for 100% of their medical expenses. UHS does not recommend this option.

In 2018, if you are required to have insurance and you don't get it, you may have to pay a tax penalty in compliance with the Affordable Care Act.

Billing Questions and Payment Options

To protect the health of our patients and staff by reducing face-to-face contact, all UHS charges will be posted to the student’s What I Owe, where they can be paid online or by calling 512-475-8394.

To discuss charges, arrange a payment plan or clear a financial bar, call the number above, email healthyhorns_billing@utlists.utexas.edu or send a secure message through your MyUHS Patient Portal.

Read the UHS Charges Statement.

To protect your privacy, UHS does not post medical details to What I Owe. Anyone with eProxy privileges to your What I Owe will see the total amount due, but not the reason for your visit or the services received. We can provide an itemized statement upon request.

For more information click on the Privacy with Regards to Billing link on this page

Missed Appointment/Late Cancellation Charges

We ask all patients to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their appointment time. If you arrive late, you might not be seen and will be charged a missed appointment fee.

Please cancel/reschedule an appointment you cannot make, so another student can be seen in your place. Arrive on time to maximize your interaction with your healthcare provider and avoid increasing waiting times and disrupting schedules of students with appointments following yours.

Appeal a missed appointment/late cancellation charge.

About the Student Administrative Health Fee

Each year, the Student Services Budget Committee allocates money from tuition to student services.

Funds allocated to UHS are called the Student Administrative Health Fee (SAHF).

The SAHF helps keep healthcare affordable by covering part of the student’s financial responsibility for certain medical services, tests, and supplies for students, whether or not they have insurance.
UHS cannot use the SAHF to help cover costs for students who have insurance but choose not to use it.

Highlights of SAHF coverage:

Effective January 2020 for the 2019-20 academic year, the SAHF covers:

All but $10 for an office visit charge with the following exceptions where office visit charges are higher:
- Preventive physical exams
- Annual women’s health exams
- Physical therapy
- Initial travel health appointments
- Visits with a registered dietitian
Visits to UHS Urgent Care on holidays.
50% of the student's financial responsibility for preventive physical exams (e.g. well-women annual exams; routine physical exams; and medical clearance physicals for travel, study abroad, sports, internships/work, and volunteering).
70% of the student's financial responsibility for dietitian appointments.
70% of the student's financial responsibility for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing. Some lab tests are sent to an outside laboratory, and UHS cannot guarantee discounts for these tests.
50% of the student's financial responsibility for durable medical equipment (e.g. crutches, knee brace, etc). Discounts cannot be given if the discount lowers the charge below the actual cost to UHS of the product/service.