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Medical Services

What medical services does UChicago Student Wellness provide? 
Please see the Medical Services page to learn more about these services. 

How do I make an appointment? 
Students can make an appointment by calling UChicago Student Wellness at 773.834.WELL (773.834.9355) during business hours or logging in to the my.WellnessPortal to schedule online. Please note that not all appointments can be scheduled online. If you do not see the type of appointment you need as an option, or do not find a suitable time, please call UChicago Student Wellness.

What are the options for urgent or after-hours care? 
Please visit the Get Help Now page for information on urgent and after-hours care.

What services are covered? 
This page outlines the services that are covered, at no cost, for students who are enrolled in an eligible program of study.

Where can I go to fill or re-fill a prescription? 
Students can fill or re-fill prescriptions at DCAM Pharmacy located in the University’s medical center (5758 South Maryland Avenue). Students also have access to local pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens. 

Can parents get medical records? 
Students who are 18 years of age or older must provide UChicago Student Wellness with written permission to discuss their health information with anyone. Please obtain a request and authorization form and submit to our staff.

Can I walk in to UChicago Student Wellness to seek treatment?
UChicago Student Wellness is an appointment-based service. We encourage all students to call or make an appointment online. At this time, we are not taking walk-in appointments for students with symptoms of COVID-19. Students in urgent need of mental health support may walk in during business hours to meet with an urgent care counselor.

How long will I be at UChicago Student Wellness for my appointment? 
Most appointments take forty-five minutes to one hour from check-in to check-out. If you require x-rays or another procedure, your visit may take additional time. 

Counseling and Psychiatry Services

What is the role of UChicago Student Wellness in providing mental health services? 
UChicago Student Wellness provides mental health care to eligible University of Chicago students. This care includes needs assessment, psychotherapy, psychiatric consultation, the Academic Skills Assessment Program, support groups, referrals, emergency services, and health promotion and wellness programs.

Students who are actively enrolled in an eligible program of study, as well as their dependents who are on U-SHIP, are eligible for services at UChicago Student Wellness, including diagnostic assessment and short-term treatment, as determined by their clinician.

Who are the counseling and psychiatry providers at UChicago Student Wellness?
We employ a multidisciplinary and diverse staff of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, an advanced practice psychiatric nurse, clinical social workers, as well as administrators. Our clinicians share a dedication to providing culturally informed mental health services. Our providers have expertise in a wide range of specialty areas, including: alcohol and other drug use/misuse, eating concerns, LGBTQ mental health, and academic skills support services. Unlike most university counseling centers, UChicago Student Wellness has a psychiatric team that provides psychiatric evaluations and ongoing medication management. 

What counseling and psychiatry services and resources does UChicago Student Wellness provide? 
Please see the Mental Health Services page to learn more about these services. 

What services are covered? 
This page outlines the services that are covered, at no cost, for students who are enrolled in an eligible program of study.

How do I make an appointment?
Initial appointments can be scheduled by calling 773.834.WELL (773.834.9355) during business hours. Subsequent appointments are generally decided upon and scheduled directly between the clinician and student.

What is TimelyCare?
TimelyCare is a mental health support service created by TimelyMD, a leading telehealth company specializing in higher education. The University of Chicago has made TimelyCare’s virtual mental health services available at no cost to eligible students. TimelyCare’s licensed providers help students address common conditions that can be safely diagnosed and treated remotely. TimelyCare offers on-demand and scheduled services to enhance students’ access to mental health support and gives students a greater variety of options, with ease of scheduling the time and modality that best fits their needs.

Are there other ways to access counseling services apart from scheduling an Initial Appointment?
Students who are reluctant to access traditional therapy services have access to anonymous, drop-in, one-on-one consultations with our clinicians through the Let's Talk program.

Students with urgent concerns or seeking immediate mental health support have 24/7 access to a Therapist-on-Call by calling 773.702.3625.

Eligible students also have access to TimelyCare, which offers virtual on-demand and scheduled mental health services. For more information, visit the TimelyCare page.

If a student is having a mental health crisis, can they get help at UChicago Student Wellness?
Yes.Students have 24/7 telephonic access to a Therapist-on-Call (773.702.3625). Students can also call 773.834.WELL (773.834.9355) during business hours, 8:30 am–5:00 pm, Monday–Friday or drop-in to the Student Wellness Center and ask for the crisis counselor. Students can seek assistance from the University’s emergency response services, such as the Dean-on-Call (to contact, call the UCPD at 773.702.8181 and ask for the Dean-on-Call to be paged). More information can be found on the Get Help Now page.

Eligible students also have access to TimelyCare’s on-demand service, TalkNow. TalkNow is available 24/7 and connects students with a mental health professional. The staff are trained to work with any level of concern. For more information, visit the TimelyCare page.

TalkNow and the Therapist-on-Call provide similar services, although TalkNow offers both video and phone capability. If you are in a crisis and haven’t downloaded the TalkNow app, we encourage you to call the Therapist-on-Call at 773.702.3625.

Where can I go to fill or refill a prescription?
Students can fill or refill prescriptions at DCAM Pharmacy located in the University’s medical center (5758 South Maryland Avenue). Students also have access to local pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens. Please see our Prescription Refills page for more information.

In what kinds of situations does UChicago Student Wellness refer students to outside providers? Why is that necessary? We are committed to making the best use of available resources, and to serve the entire student community quickly and without a waitlist. UChicago Student Wellness focuses on providing timely access to therapy, and does not provide open-ended, long-term individual or couples therapy.

It is important to note that the majority of student issues can be adequately addressed through short-term therapy. However, some students may benefit from more intensive or longer-term therapy services than UChicago Student Wellness is able to provide, a referral helps ensure that students receive the most appropriate care available.

We are able to provide a number of clinical services on a longer-term basis. For example, many therapy groups meet for longer periods of time. And we are typically able to provide ongoing medication management to students throughout their time at the University.

Does UChicago Student Wellness help students find outside providers?

Yes. When a therapist recommends treatment by an outside provider, the therapist will work with a student to identify possible providers and, as appropriate, facilitate the referral.

For students on U-SHIP, UChicago Student Wellness can direct students to a list of community providers who have agreed to provide psychotherapy services to UChicago students for a reduced copay of $10/session. Students on U-SHIP may also access through their MyAccount the list of providers in the UnitedHealthcare StudentResources “Live and Work Well” Behavioral Health network.  $20 copay plus coinsurance will apply.  

For those students who have insurance plans other than U-SHIP, the outside providers who may be available will vary depending on the student’s health insurance coverage. Students who have other health insurance coverage will need to access their insurance company’s website to generate a list of local, in-network providers. Our clinicians will help as much as possible with that referral process.

Are outside providers covered by U-SHIP?Outside providers, including psychiatrists, are covered by U-SHIP. Students receive a greater insurance benefit if they work with an in-network provider through the UnitedHealthcare StudentResources “Live and Work Well” network, available through the student’s MyAccount.  UChicago Student UChicago Student Wellness can also direct students to a list of community providers who have agreed to provide psychotherapy services to UChicago students for a reduced copay of $10/session. Many of these providers are in Hyde Park. When the cost of seeing an outside provider (such as insurance co-pays) presents an obstacle to a student receiving services, we will work with the student to try to find lower-cost options.

If a student is working with an outside provider, does that mean they will not be seen at UChicago Student Wellness?Students often continue to meet with one of our providers for “bridging sessions” until treatment with an outside provider is established. Students who are working with outside providers continue to have access to walk-in and after-hours crisis services. Sometimes a student will see an outside provider for therapy, and a UChicago Student Wellness provider for psychiatric care. Additionally, a student may see an outside provider for a period of time, and then may return to UChicago Student Wellness for additional services in the future. Finally, students who are seeing an outside provider are always encouraged to let their UChicago Student Wellness therapist know if there is any difficulty in establishing care with the outside provider, including a desire for guidance on selecting a different provider.

If students, faculty, or staff are concerned about a student’s mental health, to whom can they turn for help?
UChicago Student Wellness is available for consultation 24 hours a day for emergent issues. Anyone with a concern about a student’s mental health is encouraged to reach out to us during or after hours for consultation. In addition to our services, concerned individuals have access to the University’s emergency response services, such as the Dean-on-Call.

If a student doesn’t want to go to UChicago Student Wellness, what other options are there?

Students who are reluctant to access traditional therapist services have access to anonymous, drop-in, one-on-one consultations with our clinicians through the Let’s Talk program.

Students who would like to be connected with therapy services but know that they would prefer not to receive these services on campus at UChicago Student Wellness are encouraged to contact us for assistance with identifying a non-UChicago Student Wellness provider.  For more information see the section above “Does UChicago Student Wellness help students find outside providers?” 

Eligible students also have access to TimelyCare, which offers virtual on-demand and scheduled mental health services. For more information, visit the TimelyCare page.

How can UChicago Student Wellness ensure confidentiality?
It is entirely the student’s choice whether or not to discuss use of the UChicago Student Wellness with family (including parents), friends, and University personnel. Other than authorized UChicago Student Wellness staff, no one will have access to student mental health records without the student’s signed consent. They will not become a part of the student’s academic record, and even the fact that the student came to UChicago Student Wellness will not be shared with anyone inside or outside the University without the student’s permission, except as permitted by law.

There are some modest exceptions to the principle of confidentiality, including when a student is assessed to be a danger to themselves or others. In this situation, UChicago Student Wellness has a legal obligation to take appropriate action to help ensure a student’s safety, even if that means sharing confidential information. If students have any questions about this policy, they should raise them with their therapist or with Dr. Meeta Kumar.

How does UChicago Student Wellness communicate with parents whose children are receiving services?
Except in rare circumstances related to acute risk, UChicago Student Wellness providers need permission from a student to communicate with parents about their care.

Sometimes, a provider believes that communication with a parent is clinically indicated, in which case the provider will discuss this with the student. It is up to the student to decide what if any information the provider is able to share with a parent.

Health Promotion

How can the health promotion programming available through UChicago Student Wellness benefit students? 
UChicago Student Wellness health promotion programming empowers you to make healthy lifestyle choices to advance your academic, personal, and professional goals. We utilize evidence-based practices and apply UChicago health behavior data to create programming tailored for you.

We focus our efforts on seven key Facets of Wellness to develop innovative initiatives that address the needs of our students by utilizing a public health approach to wellness. We work collaboratively with campus partners to enhance the UChicago community to promote lifelong healthy behaviors and empower students to improve their quality of life and reach their highest potential.

What are the Facets of Wellness?
Wellness is more than just physical health, exercise, or nutrition. The Facets of Wellness framework is a way to show that in order to achieve holistic wellness, one has to find balance among each of these facets. Each facet contributes to healthy living in its own way and they interact together to help determine your full quality of life.

One of our goals is to enhance the environment and community at the University of Chicago to promote lifelong healthy behaviors and to empower individual students to improve their quality of life and reach their highest potential. We do this by working collaboratively with campus partners to focus on all facets of wellness.

Who can attend your programs? 
UChicago Student Wellness programs and events are open to all registered undergraduate and graduate students.

How can I get involved in the health promotion programs at UChicago Student Wellness?
Our department has unique student groups that you can apply to join:

How can I request a speaker?
UChicago Student Wellness offers presentations to RSOs, teams, Houses, and departments. Topics include alcohol and other drugs, body image/self-esteem, mindfulness, self-care, sexual health promotion, sleep education, and stress management. Please complete a request form to get started.

How can our office collaborate with you? 
We are always interested in new ways that we can partner with others. If you are interested in collaborating with us, please email healthpromotion@lists.uchicago.edu or call 773.834.WELL (773.834.9355).

How can student groups utilize the health promotion resources through UChicago Student Wellness? 
UChicago Student Wellness has a number of resources available for student groups. To learn more about these resources, including student-led workshops, please email healthpromotion@lists.uchicago.edu or call 773.834.WELL (773.834.9355).

Are there fees or costs associated with UChicago Student Wellness's health promotion programs?
No, there are no fees or costs associated with health promotion programs.

Student Insurance (U-SHIP)

Why does UChicago require me to have health insurance?
While the UChicago Student Wellness clinics can provide primary care for students, students often incur additional medical expenses for medications, laboratory work, hospitalizations, and specialty care. It is important that students are able to receive appropriate health care when necessary, without undue financial burden. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act requires most individuals to have health insurance that meets certain standards of coverage. 

What happens if I do not elect to enroll or waive coverage by the set deadline?
You will be automatically enrolled in annual U-SHIP coverage and be responsible for the premium assessed on your student account. The coverage will not be prorated and will be effective September 1. It is important to remember that being default enrolled in U-SHIP due to inaction is binding for the full year (September through August of the following year).

How are U-SHIP charges assessed?
For students who enroll at the University in Autumn Quarter, U-SHIP is billed in three quarterly (Autumn, Winter, and Spring) installments on your student account. Regardless of which quarter a student enters the University, the Spring Quarter premium provides coverage from the start of Spring Quarter through August 31. Students whose first quarter of enrollment is Summer Quarter will be billed for that period’s premium on their Summer bill. Note: students are automatically assessed an installment of U-SHIP on your Bursar bill the first quarter you are registered in the academic year; this does not mean you've enrolled/confirmed your coverage in U-SHIP.

Do any academic programs cover the cost of U-SHIP?
Effective for the 2021-22 coverage year, which begins 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them. If you are a non-PhD student and have questions, please contact your dean of students for more information. 

What is a mid-year qualifying life event?
In certain special cases it may be necessary to change health insurance coverage during the middle of the plan year (“mid-year change”). Specific circumstances that may qualify for a change in insurance enrollment in the middle of the plan year include:

  • Loss of existing health insurance coverage (i.e., aging-off a parent's plan; parent/spouse terminating a job)
  • Addition or loss of health insurance coverage as a result of a change in employment
  • Change in coverage as a result of marriage/divorce or change in eligible same-gender domestic partnership status
  • Need to add coverage due to the birth/adoption of a child
  • Recent immigration of a dependent spouse/eligible same-gender domestic partner or children

Petitions to add or waive* coverage must be made within 31 days of the qualifying life event noted above. If moving from U-SHIP to an alternate plan, that plan must meet the University’s comparable coverage requirements that are set for each academic year.

Your U-SHIP enrollment will become effective retroactive to the effective date of the quarter in which you are requesting to add U-SHIP. Students will be responsible for the full premium for the quarter in which the changed coverage takes effect. The premium is not pro-rated.

Please contact our Student Insurance Office at 773.834.4543 (Option 2) or uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com to inform them of your mid-year qualifying life event.

*Effective for the 2021-22 coverage year, which begins 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them.

Who qualifies as a dependent?

Please refer to the Dependent Enrollment section for further information. 

Does my insurance cover dental and/ or vision?
No, U-SHIP does not include coverage for dental or vision with the exception of services provided as a result of an accident or injury (see U-SHIP Certificate of Coverage for complete details). Voluntary dental and vision plans are available to all students regardless of U-SHIP enrollment for an additional cost. Students may enroll during open enrollment, which occurs twice a year for vision and dental: at the beginning of the academic year and during Winter Quarter. Information about the voluntary (optional) dental and vision programs can be found on the Student Insurance website.

Do I have to waive* U-SHIP every year?
Yes, waivers are valid for one academic year. If you submit a waiver Autumn 2021 you will not need to submit another waiver until Autumn 2022. If you submit a waiver in Spring 2022, you will need to submit another waiver for Autumn 2022. All waivers expire August 31. Exception: if you take a leave from the University for one or more quarters, you will be required to confirm or waive U-SHIP upon your re-entry to the University.

*Effective for the 2021-22 coverage year, which begins 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them.

If I waive health insurance in one quarter, can I enroll in coverage another quarter?
Yes, but only if you have a qualifying mid-year event.  If you have waived coverage one quarter, but need to elect coverage in a proceeding quarter due to a mid-year qualifying life event, contact the Student Insurance Office at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com or 773-834-4543 (Option 2).

I enrolled in coverage. How long do I have to wait until I can see the doctor?
After you confirm enrollment, your coverage is effective retroactive to the first day of the quarter (September 1 for Autumn Quarter). However, after you enroll in coverage, please allow two business days for processing. Once your application is processed, you will be able to print out your insurance card online through your UnitedHealthcare MyAccount.  If you have a healthcare emergency, or if you need to see a doctor more urgently than two days, your coverage will be effective immediately, but you may need to pay for medical services up front and be reimbursed. For questions, please contact the Student Insurance Office at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com or 773.834.4543 (Option 2).

If I enroll in U-SHIP, how much will I have to pay for healthcare?
Once you enroll in U-SHIP and pay the premium, you will be responsible for meeting the annual deductible on U-SHIP (i.e., the first $500 of your medical costs) before your insurance begins to cover additional medical costs.  After your annual deductible has been met, you will be responsible for a percentage of the cost of obtaining medical care (co-insurance). For more information about the costs associated with receiving care while covered by U-SHIP, please refer to our insurance resources. 

I am new to managing my own health care costs. How can I learn more about insurance terminology and how insurance works?
There are many resources that exist to help you better understand how insurance works. Here are a few suggested resources:

Do I continue to have insurance after I graduate?
If you are graduating in June, your coverage will automatically continue until the termination date of August 31. Students who have been continuously enrolled under U-SHIP for 6 consecutive months prior to this termination date will have up to 31 days after the termination date to enroll into the continuation plan for up to three additional months. Otherwise, you may be eligible to enroll in alternate coverage through a state or federal exchange plan. For more information, refer to the Continuation Coverage section. 

Can I change my decision to confirm or waive* before the deadline? How?
Yes, once you have submitted your initial enrollment/waiver information, any subsequent changes can be made by contacting the Student Insurance Office at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com or 773.834.4543 (Option 2) before the open enrollment deadline. 

*Effective for the 2021-22 coverage year, which begins 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them.

Am I required to get a referral from UChicago Student Wellness before I seek treatment off campus?
A referral is required before seeking care or treatment from a provider outside of UChicago Student Wellness. Only one referral is needed per condition. This referral requirement applies to psychotherapy visits as well as medical/specialist visits received outside of UChicago Student Wellness. Note: providers at UChicago Medicine also require a referral.

Once you are issued a referral from UChicago Student Wellness, it will be entered in UnitedHealthcare's referral system within 24 hours and valid for the duration of your academic program at UChicago. Without a referral, services you receive outside of UChicago Student Wellness will be subject to a $50 deductible non-referral fee per visit. Exceptions: You will not be assessed the $50 deductible if you seek care more than 50 miles from the Hyde Park campus or during the occasional time when UChicago Student Wellness is closed during a holiday break. 

Does this plan cover me when I am off campus, traveling, or studying abroad?
Yes, U-SHIP covers you during quarterly  breaks, summer vacation and even if you’re traveling or studying abroad. You’ll be covered for the period for which you are enrolled and premiums are paid. In addition to being covered for medical treatment and services, you will also be covered by UnitedHealthcare Global for Emergency Medical Evacuation, Dispatch of Doctors/Specialists, Medical Repatriation, and other global benefits*. All services must be arranged for in advance and provided by UnitedHealthcare Global. Any services not arranged by UnitedHealthcare Global will not be considered for payment. For more information, please review the plan brochure. 

*International students are not eligible for Emergency Medical Evacuation, Dispatch of Doctors/Specialists, and Medical Repatriation if they are already in their home country.

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