Healthyhorns Billing Office
The staff are here to help you with your billing needs so you can readily access the services provided by University Health Services.
Keep in mind, your ability to pay should never be a barrier to receiving services.
- Health insurance is not required to use the services provided by UHS.
- You will never be turned away due to inability to pay.
- You do not have to pay at the time of your appointment/session.
- Payment plans are available.
- If you are unable to pay, you can apply for limited financial support from the Student Emergency Services Emergency Fund.
- UHS will file claims on your behalf to many insurance companies, as long as you provide UHS with your insurance information
Contact Information
512-471-8394
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday-Friday
First and Second Wednesdays of the Month, closed from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
healthyhorns_billing@utlists.utexas.edu
Charges
There are charges associated with visits to UHS.
The student administrative health fee (included in your tuition) helps cover part of the cost for appointments at UHS.
Healthcare costs depend on what kind of care you need and your specific 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. More information is available below for those who are uninsured and seeking our services.
What I Owe
UHS charges will be billed to your What I Owe. There, the charges can be paid online or by calling 512-475-8394. Charges typically become viewable in your What I Owe 3-4 days after your visit for those who are uninsured or have no insurance on record OR after we receive your Explanation of Benefits (from your health plan) if you are insured.
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.
To avoid having charges posted to What I Owe: Students must pay by 5 p.m. on the same day of their appointment by calling the Healthyhorns Billing Office at 512-475-8394.
Before Your First Appointment: Insurance
Let UHS know your insurance situation before being seen.
For details, click the section below that matches your situation.
In-Network Insurance Plans
We accept and are in-network with most major U.S.-based PPO and POS insurance plans. Please refer to the insurance carrier name or larger provider network listed on your insurance card to confirm your provider network.
To control costs, health insurance plans contract with healthcare providers and facilities to provide a “network” of services at established rates. It typically costs less to go to an in-network provider or facility than to an out-of-network one.
The following plans are considered in-network with University Health Services:
- AETNA -- PPO, POS
- BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD – PPO
- CIGNA -- PPO/OPEN ACCESS POS, OPEN ACCESS PLUS POS
- FIRSTCARE – PPO
- FIRSTHEALTH – PPO
- HEALTHSMART ACCEL – PPO
- HEALTHSMART PREFERRED CARE, INC. – PPO
- HUMANA -- PPO, POS
- INTEGRATED MEDICAL SYSTEMS – PPO
- MULTIPLAN, INC. – PPO
- OSCAR EPO -- Texas Plans ONLY
- UNITED HEALTHCARE -- PPO, POS (Choice, Choice Plus)
- UNITED STUDENT RESOURCES – PPO
- USA MANAGED CARE -- PPO
If you want to know specific member benefits of your plan (e.g. what your plan covers), please contact your health plan’s member services at the phone number listed on your insurance card. Please reference the Tax ID for University Health Services as 746000203 during your call.
Let UHS know who we should file a claim to by submitting your insurance information in your MyUHS/CMHC portal under Insurance Details OR confirming the information on file for you is up to date. If your current insurance information is already showing in your Insurance Details as a “Submitted Insurance Requests” or as a verified insurance, there is no need to resubmit your information.
AcademicBlue waives your deductible, co-insurance, and copayment for all covered services occurring at University Health Services.
If you need more detailed information on what your plan does and does not cover OR for services not at University Health services, please refer to the online benefits information or call the member services phone number listed on your insurance card. The Tax ID for University Health Services is 746000203
.Let UHS know who we should file a claim to by submitting your insurance information in your MyUHS/CMHC portal under Insurance Details OR confirming the information on file for you is up to date. If your current insurance information is already showing in your Insurance Details as a “Submitted Insurance Requests” or as a verified insurance, there is no need to resubmit your information.
Instructions on how to obtain an electronic copy of your Student Health insurance card.
You do not need health insurance to use UHS.
Additional subsidized services are available to students who don’t have health insurance and let UHS know they are uninsured.
We recommend all uninsured students review the Cost of Services to gauge their out-of pocket-costs. Let us know you are uninsured by selecting ‘I want to send a message to the billing department’ in your MyUHS/CMHC portal.
We strongly urge all students to have health insurance. The Student Health Insurance Plan (AcademicBlue) provides great, affordable coverage plus an option for dental insurance. Explore your health insurance options by clicking on this section below.
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. Medical care typically costs more if you don’t use your insurance. Before you decide, you need to be aware of these important considerations:
- 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). This is a statement with information about your visit. This includes the date, what services were provided (including lab tests), how much insurance paid, and any amount you may be responsible to pay. You may contact your health plan directly to see if your Explanation of Benefits can be sent to your address instead of the primary plan holder’s address OR see how detailed the Explanation of Benefits sent are.
- If you don't want to use your insurance for an appointment at UHS, you must notify the Healthyhorns Billing Office at the conclusion of your visit. You can do so by phone, email, or by sending a message in your portal. If your visit also includes lab services, you will need to inform the lab at check-in also. Billing/Insurance will provide you with a “Good Faith Estimate” of your charges and you can review and decide if you wish to proceed. If so, you will be required to either have charges sent to your What I Owe OR pay in full by 5pm on the day of your visit.
- 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.
If you receive lab tests at your appointment, the results could indicate a need for further testing, which will automatically be completed 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 you are notified
These plans cannot be used at UHS. Students with these plans are eligible to receive additional subsidized services, as long as UHS knows your insurance status.
We recommend all students with these insurance plans review the Cost of Services to gauge their out-of-pocket costs. Or contact your health insurance for assistance in finding an in-network provider to use instead.
Let UHS confirm if we can file to your health plan by submitting your insurance information in your MyUHS/CMHC portal under Insurance Details OR confirming the information on file for you is up to date.
HMO or EPO (Health Maintenance Organization or Exclusive Provider Organization, a type of insurance that, except in medical emergencies, usually pays for care only when provided by doctors who work for or contract with the HMO or in the case of EPOs, these plans have limited provider network tied to a hospital or group or geographical area.) so these plans typically do not pay for services at UHS.
However, if you have an HMO or EPO plan, you can contact your health plan for assistance in finding an in-network provider OR see if your health plan allows any exceptions for students to be seen away from their local primary care provider while attending UT, and if so, please follow the instructions outlined by your health plan. Since no UHS provider is contracted with any HMO plans, no UHS provider can be designated as your primary care physician with your health plan nor will UHS obtain prior authorization for you to be seen at UHS.
If you want to know specific member benefits of your plan (e.g. what your plan covers), please contact your health plan’s member services at the phone number listed on your insurance card. Please reference the Tax ID for University Health Services as 746000203 during your call.
Let UHS know who we should file a claim to by submitting your insurance information in your MyUHS/CMHC portal under Insurance Details OR confirming the information on file for you is current. If your current insurance information is already showing in your Insurance Details as a “Submitted Insurance Requests” or as a verified insurance, there is no need to resubmit your information.
Insurance from Companies Based Outside of the United States
Health insurance from companies based outside of the United States cannot be used at UHS. Students with these plans will receive a discounted rate as if they had no insurance
We recommend all students with these insurance plans review the Cost of Services to gauge their out-of-pocket costs.
Students with these plans may be able to be reimbursed by their health plans, please contact your health insurance directly for more information.
Health Insurance for Specific Medical Services
Laboratory Tests and Insurance
Tests unable to be completed in-house, at the UHS laboratory are completed by Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL). Certain insurance plans cover lab tests only if performed by an in-network lab. View insurance plans commonly billed by CPL or call your insurance company to see if CPL is in network. Provide CPL’s National Provider Identifier number (NPI) - 1194769497.
CPL sends results for tests they perform to UHS but sends the bill for those tests directly to your insurance for payment. If your insurance requires you to pay any or all costs for tests completed at CPL, CPL will mail you a bill for the amount you owe. CPL cannot post charges to What I Owe.
If you prefer not to use insurance for payment of lab tests for privacy reasons, inform lab staff at each visit to which this applies. Before 5 p.m. on the day of your lab visit, it is your responsibility to inform the Healthyhorns Billing Office (512-475-8394, option 2) that you do not want to file an insurance claim and to pay for test charges in full. Discounted charges may not apply.
Gender Affirmation Therapies and Insurance
Many medical expenses related to gender affirmation therapies are covered by the UT System Student Health Insurance Plan - AcademicBlue.
Benefits are subject to medical necessity, and specific criteria must be met.
Students with insurance plans other than AcademicBlue who need these services can verify coverage by calling their health plan directly at the members services phone number listed on their insurance card. If they have further questions not answered by representatives from the health plan, please contact 512-475-8394, option 2 for assistance.
Nutrition Services and Insurance
To help keep the cost of nutrition services office visits low, the Student Administrative Health Fee covers 70% of the student’s financial responsibility for those with insurance and without for registered dietitian nutritional counseling. Ultimately, the patient’s financial responsibility depends on whether they are insured, whether UHS accepts their insurance, and how much their insurance covers for nutrition services.
STI Testing and Insurance
Using Health Insurance
Your bill will be sent to your 'What I Owe' after your insurance processes your claims. Charges sent to "What I Owe" won't include detailed health services or diagnosis information; they will appear as "UHS Medical Services." However, individuals with eProxy access can view information within "What I Owe." Please note that your insurance statement/Explanation of Benefits may still indicate the medical care and diagnosis received at UHS. We recommend contacting your insurance plan to explore practices limiting information release to the primary subscriber, such as sending the Explanation of Benefits to your address.
Not Using Health Insurance, Bill Not Paid in Full at the Time of Visit
The bill will be sent to your 'What I Owe'. Charges to "What I Owe" won't include detailed health services or diagnosis information; they will appear as "UHS Medical Services." However, individuals with eProxy access can view information on "What I Owe." Additionally, not using health insurance for lab tests means they won't be processed at the insurance rate. Consequently, the costs associated with lab testing may increase significantly.
If you are choosing to not use your insurance, you are required to let the Billing department know on the date you are seen so they can process your request.
Paying Bill in Full at the Time of Visit
Opting to pay your bill in full at the time of the visit is an excellent way to maintain confidentiality. No details will be posted to 'What I Owe.'
Off-Campus STI Testing Clinics
Utilize one of the off-campus STI testing clinics in Austin that offer either free or low-cost services. This option ensures privacy and confidentiality regarding your testing and treatment.
Your privacy is crucial to us, and we provide various options to suit your preferences and concerns. If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our staff.
Vaccines and Tuberculosis Testing – Immunizations and Medical Clearance Requirements
The UT System Student Health Insurance Plan, AcademicBlue covers the vaccines and tuberculosis testing required to be completed prior to registration for incoming domestic and international first-year, transfer and readmitted students.
If you do not have the Student Health Insurance plan, please contact your health plan’s member services for more information on your member benefits for vaccines and tuberculosis testing. You may reference the tax ID for University Health Services, 746000203, during your call.
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. This includes Medicaid (including CHIP), Medicare, MAP, ChampVA, Community Health Choice Marketplace and international insurance. If you are unsure if your insurance is accepted, please call the Healthyhorns Billing 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/CMHC portal. Learn more about your rights for protection against surprise billing and to receive a good faith estimate from our clinic.