Health & Wellness Orientation FAQs

What is UHC?

University Health & Counseling (UHC) supports the health and well-being of the campus community. We are inspired to help students realize their potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively, and connect meaningfully with others.

UHC is made up of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which offers counseling services, and University Health Service (UHS), which offers medical services. There are multiple options to best meet your well-being needs

Making a medical appointment
Medical appointments are required for clinician visits. To make an in-person or virtual appointment, do one of the following:

• Self-schedule or send a request through your patient portal (available for select services--some clinics that require referrals are not available for self-scheduling)
  • Your portal must be set up before you can self schedule. Questions about setting up your portal? Learn more here.
• If you do not see an appointment that fits your needs, please call UHS at 734-764-8320 or send a request via email to uhs-apptschd@med.umich.edu

Meeting with a Counselor:
Students that desire to meet with a counselor have several options available as well, including:

• Meeting with an Initial Access Specialist who will work with you to determine the best next step in addressing your mental health needs. You can schedule an initial access appointment through your patient portal , by visiting our office on the fourth floor of the Michigan Union, or by calling 734-764-8312. Virtual and in-person appointments are available.
• CAPS has therapists embedded in the various Schools and Colleges. Follow this link to find your embedded therapist, then email them directly about scheduling an appointment.
• Access to Uwill , a virtual counseling service that connects students to a therapist of their choice via the mode of their choice — video, phone, chat or messaging. Teletherapy services are available during the day, as well as evenings, weekends, and holidays. Go to Uwill and register using your UM email address. UM students get six free sessions per year.

Are there resources for parents?
Our staff is available to help students have a successful and growth-promoting experience at the University of Michigan. Resources for parents are available here:

UHS: For Parents | University Health Service

CAPS: Parents & Loved Ones and Tips for New U-M Parents

What should I do if I am sick, injured, or facing a mental health issue when UHC is closed?

• Nurse advice for medical concerns is available 24/7 at 734-764-8320.
• Counselor advice for mental health concerns is available 24/7 at 734-764-8312 
• For illness or injury, we recommend calling for nurse advice first for assistance in deciding whether you should seek care right away and where to go (for example, wait for UHC to open, go to urgent care, or go to the emergency department).

How can a student visit a UHC specialist?

• Some clinics require referrals from a UHC clinician, including Dermatology, Psychiatry, and Sleep Medicine.
• Students can schedule directly for most other clinics, including the Eating and Body Image Clinic, Addiction Medicine, Gynecology and Sexual Health, Nutrition, and Sports Medicine.

Can varsity athletes get physicals at UHC? 
Yes. However, most athletes visit the varsity sports medical complex for authorization to be able to participate in varsity athletics. For students playing club sports (such as rowing), UHC can do physicals.

Can the UHC lab run tests if the lab requisition is from another clinic/doctor?
No, the UHC lab is certified only to run tests ordered by UHC clinicians.

Mental health medication management

• All medication management at UHC is handled by UHS providers (CAPS providers offer clinical counseling services and other resources especially designed for college students, but do not handle medication management).
• UHS clinicians provide medication management of common mental health issues, e.g. depression and anxiety disorders.
• For students coming to campus on a stable medication regimen, clinicians may also be an appropriate resource. Prescription refills are always subject to the clinicians’ judgment. 
• Our psychiatrists are able to evaluate and manage more complex mental health concerns, and are available only by referral from a UHC provider (either at UHS or CAPS).
• Medications used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD are controlled substances with significant abuse potential. To renew these medications, UHC requires written documentation of an ADHD diagnosis through neuropsychiatric testing, from a psychiatrist or psychologist, or through documentation of the diagnosis by a previous primary care physician. Prescription refills are always subject to the clinicians’ judgment.
• For complex cases, UHC clinicians may refer to external resources (not covered by the health service fee) such as Michigan Medicine.
   

Are students asked about allergies when they first visit UHC?
Yes. Allergies, especially to medications and any history of life-threatening reactions, are taken very seriously. This information is documented in the health record initially and updated when necessary.

Does UHC have a separate asthma clinic? 
No. UHC clinicians can evaluate and manage patients with asthma. In severe cases, a student may be referred to Michigan Medicine. 
 

Are vaccinations recommended?

Yes, U-M recommends that students come to school fully vaccinated to protect their health. Vaccines are one of the most effective public health measures in preventing communicable diseases. This is especially true for those living in congregate settings.

How do I submit my vaccination records?

Information on this process is available at the Health Response site. Completing the vaccination history form is required for students living in Michigan Housing and encouraged for all students.

Can I complete a vaccination series at UHC? 

Yes. Students should submit the vaccination information that they have and they can get any additional doses at UHC.

What is U-M doing to prepare for outbreaks of contagious diseases?

U-M has planned extensively for contagious disease outbreaks and other types of emergencies such as weather-related events and power outages. In addition, UHC, Applied Public Health, University Housing, Michigan Medicine, other campus units and the Washtenaw County Health Department have planned for contagious disease prevention and response. In case of disease outbreak or other emergency, check the U-M main website, the Health Response website, and/or UHC website for information.

How much is the health service fee?

The health service fee is paid as part of tuition and is approximately $226.44 per semester beginning in fall 2025.

What does the health service fee cover?  

• Most clinic visits
• Nurse advice by telephone
• Nutrition counseling
• Eye care for medical problems 
• Physical Therapy initial evaluation 
• Radiology (x-ray and ultrasound)
• Laboratory tests performed and processed at UHC, including many common STI tests

What is not covered by the health service fee? 

• Contraceptive devices 
• Physical Therapy return visits 
• Immunizations & allergy shots
• Medications 
• Routine eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses 
• Laboratory tests sent to Michigan Medicine for processing

NOTE: Students are responsible for all health care costs incurred outside of UHC, including Michigan Medicine (hospitals and clinics).

Is the health service fee optional if my student already has a health care provider in the area or if they will make appointments at home?

The health fee is not optional. It provides treatment when a student is ill, as well as preventive care like physicals, Wolverine Wellness services, etc. We highly encourage students to come to UHC first before going to an urgent care or a provider at home--our clinicians are specially trained for and experienced in college health.

Are UHC services available even if students have no insurance? 

Yes. Students don’t need insurance to visit UHC. Some fees will apply (see “What is not covered by the health service fee?” above).

Eye care clinic: 

• Offers comprehensive full eye examinations and can update spectacle and contact lens prescriptions.
• Student health fee does not cover full eye exams.
• Student health fee does cover office visits for medical concerns, such as red eye, discharge, eye pain, eyelid pathology, floaters, etc.

To get eyeglasses:

• If you have a prescription valid for eyeglasses from UHC or from outside UHC, you can order glasses at the Optical Shop.
• The UHC Optical Shop is a Davis Vision Provider. Eyewear costs are comparable to local optical shops in the area.
• We have a special eyeglass package starting at $149 that includes: a frame, single vision lenses, and standard anti-reflective.
• All the eyeglass products we offer outside of this package qualify for a 20% discount for students, staff, and faculty. 
• We also offer 50% off the purchase of a second pair of eyeglasses/sunglasses.
• We can service eyeglasses purchased at UHC for adjustments and basic repairs at no cost to you.

To get contacts:

• If you have a contact lens prescription that is less than one year old, we can fill your prescription. However, we cannot accept contact prescriptions from outside the U.S.
• If your contact lens prescription was prescribed over one year ago, you must first receive a complete vision exam through the Eye Care Clinic for a contact lens evaluation.
• The UHC Eye Care Clinic is a Davis Vision Provider. Purchasing contact lens costs are generally less expensive than local/online. 
• We offer a 15% discount on the purchase of a 6-month supply of daily contacts or a 1-year supply of extended wear contacts (not combined with insurance benefits).

Contacts can be ordered in four ways: call us at 734-763-0291; order at your appointment once your prescription is finalized; order via MiChart; or order online at YourLens.com (registration is required which you can do at your appointment or by calling 734-763-0291).

Do I need to contact the pharmacy to see if my prescription insurance plan is accepted? 

Yes. Sometimes health insurance and prescription insurance are administered through separate companies. It is important for students to carry the information from both cards. Please either stop by or call the pharmacy (734-764-7387) with your prescription insurance information available (either have the physical card or pictures of the front and back).

Does a student need to see a clinician to get a prescription refilled at UHC? 

There are several options for obtaining prescription refills. Pharmacy staff are able to clarify and advise on the best option to obtain a prescription refill. For assistance with any of these questions, please call Pharmacy staff at 734-764-7387.

Does the pharmacy fill out-of-state prescriptions?  

Yes, the majority of out-of-state prescriptions can be filled at our pharmacy. 
For assistance with any of these questions, please call Pharmacy staff at 734-764-7387.

If the pharmacy doesn’t accept my prescription insurance, how can I get prescriptions? 

Students can use another pharmacy or they can pay at the UHC Pharmacy and apply for reimbursement from their insurance company. For assistance with any of these questions, please call Pharmacy staff at 734-764-7387.

U-M Domestic Student Health Insurance offered through Blue Care Network

• Voluntary health insurance plan available to U-M students and their dependents. This plan complies with the Affordable Care Act. It has coverage comparable to a "platinum" plan on the health insurance exchange. 
• More information is available at uhs.umich.edu/dship

U-M Tuition Insurance offered through GradGuard

• Assists students who must completely withdraw from a term due to a medical or mental health illness or injury.
• Significantly extends the university’s published withdrawal policy by covering students through the final day of a term.
• Covers 100% of the insured term tuition and fees, or tuition, fees, room and board (Michigan Housing only) if applicable, less any refund or credit due you from the University.
• Provides funds to help pay back loans, grants, and scholarships.
• The premium cost is less than 1% of a student’s tuition.
• More information is available at uhs.umich.edu/tuition-insurance.

U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance offered through GeoBlue 

• Required for all U-M students traveling abroad for university-related activities. 
• Available for all U-M students traveling abroad for personal/leisure purposes.
• Student cost for the 2024-25 plan is $1.68 per day with a $5 per trip administration fee. Per day cost for the 25/26 plan year will be available in mid-August 2025. 
• More information is available at uhs.umich.edu/tai.

What is the prepaid plan, and what is its cost? 

U-M students between semesters and recent alumni, among others, are eligible to purchase a Prepaid Plan for access to services. This plan is not an insurance policy. It costs $262 per term (fall, winter, spring/summer) for the 2025-26 school year. Students do NOT need to purchase this if they are enrolled. It is intended for students who are not enrolled for a temporary period (i.e., a summer break). More information is on our website.

If I have an HMO and I need to see a specialist outside UHC (e.g. at Michigan Medicine), what happens? 

• In emergencies, HMOs will usually pay for specialist care through an emergency room. You may need to contact your PCP for authorization, and UHC can assist if necessary. (This is one reason why you should carry insurance information.) 
• If your PCP determines that the situation is not an emergency and can wait until you are home for a break, they may not authorize the referral.  
• A Point-of-Service (POS) plan or PPO (Preferred Provider Plan) may be more flexible than an HMO in providing services when your student is at college out-of-area, if the PPO has providers in the Ann Arbor area.

NOTE: Some HMOs offer “Away From Home Care” for students, which provides greater coverage for the student while at U-M.  Please check with your carrier.

Are UHC services available even if students have no insurance? 

Yes. Students don’t need insurance to visit UHC. Some fees will apply (see “health service fee” in the UHC Medical Services section above).

Confidentiality

UHC recognizes and supports patients' rights to confidential, quality care. Our staff are legally and ethically committed to ensuring your confidentiality. All staff, both permanent and temporary, sign agreements to that effect.

The practices and operations regarding confidentiality and privacy utilized by the UHC staff are informed and guided by law (including the Michigan Mental Health Code, HIPAA, and Michigan Medicine’s Notice of Privacy Practices), by our ethical standards, and our professional standards (via our accrediting bodies).

Our staff cannot release any protected and privileged information to professors, advisers, parents, or concerned friends without your consent. Confidentiality also prohibits staff from confirming that you have scheduled or attended appointments or sessions without your explicit permission.

If you disclose information about sexual misconduct, including assault, to a staff member at UHC, Wolverine Wellness, SAPAC, Athletics Counseling, or CEW+ Counseling, they are not obligated to file a report to U-M’s Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office. Many staff on campus are federally defined individuals with reporting obligations, but these staff listed above are not. Concerns about confidentiality should not prevent you from seeking the care you need.

There are, however, a few narrow exceptions to confidentiality or disclosure of records from UHC, including:

• If you are a student majoring in a professionally regulated area (e g., Law, Medicine, Nursing, etc.) or if your work requires government security clearance (e.g., Department of Defense); those regulatory boards may ask you to authorize disclosure of your UHC records
• If we consider a student-client to be a threat to self or others
• To protect children or minors from current potential abuse
• If court ordered by a judge in a current proceeding

Health Records & Release of Information

If you would like to allow a family member or others to discuss your health information with UHC staff, you may complete the “Authorization for Verbal Communication of Protected Health Information”. This form does not expire but you may revoke the authorization, in writing, at any time.

When you request and provide a release of information, you should be making an informed decision about the nature and terms of the release. Signing the release should always be your choice.

Portal Proxy Access

You may choose to give someone proxy access to your patient portal once your portal is set up. They can request this access by going to myuofmhealth.org/MyChart-PRD and selecting the blue “Request Proxy Access” button on the lower right side of the page.

Please note that if you are under 18, we are obligated to release health records (except those related to highly sensitive information such as mental health records, or records containing HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol, sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy and/or birth control information) to your parents or guardian if they request them.

Does UHC have access to health records from Michigan Medicine?

Yes, UHC and Michigan Medicine share an electronic health record. However, when it comes to releasing information UHC and Michigan Medicine are separate. We each release our own records.

How can I share information about my health history, besides vaccinations?  

If you want information on file, please hand-carry a hard copy to your first appointment with a clinician (do not send in advance). Vaccination information should be submitted through the vaccination history form (see above for more information).

Are parents notified during an emergency?

If the situation is life-threatening, next-of-kin is notified. Local emergency rooms follow the same protocol. As a general rule, if a student is seen at UHC for an urgent or less-emergent problem, a parent may be contacted if the student wants and gives permission for parental involvement at the time of their visit.

What about obtaining a durable power of attorney? 

Generally, we recommend that students take the lead on their own health care. UHC is a good place for students to learn about health care systems and advocate for their own needs. Our staff are well-trained in helping college students navigate this process. We encourage parents and students to speak together about the students’ health care plans and enable students to act independently. 

However, we do accept legal documents such as a durable power of attorney (POA) and are happy to include these as part of the patient record. Having a POA on file allows us to speak with the POA so long as it is still in effect. We generally verify this with the student before speaking with their POA because a patient can revoke the power of attorney at any time, for any reason and they are not required to notify the named individual of the change in status. In emergencies, we are allowed to breach confidentiality without either a POA legal document or a release on file any of these. 

What is wellness coaching? A wellness coach works with students to help them feel their best, but they are not a therapist. Think of them as a friendly guide who doesn’t judge and is here to support students. Coaches believe students know themselves best and assist them in setting and reaching important goals.

We offer a 2-credit course, ALA 240: Living Well in College & Beyond, which is designed for developing leaders to integrate researched-based well-being strategies that are not only critical for individuals, but also have a ripple effect on those around us: the community we live in, and social change in the larger world. 

There is also a new online version of our course which is part of Michigan Online: Being Well in College & Beyond.

CRP is a community of students who are in abstinence-based recovery from substance use disorders. We also offer consultation and referrals for students seeking substance use-related support.

The University of Michigan offers online courses for new and returning undergraduate and graduate students on the topics of alcohol and other drugs, sexual assault prevention, and mental well-being. 

Well-being Academy. The Well-being Academy helps faculty, staff, and students support the well-being of students on our campus. 

The Well-being Academy helps faculty, staff, and students support the well-being of students on our campus. 

We offer free well-being supplies for students, including sleep kits, safer sex supplies, naloxone, stickers, and more!

Snooze!

The amount of sleep a college student gets is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. Browse for tips and resources, and don't forget to stop by our office to pick up your free sleep kit!

Stay in the Blue

Stay in the Blue is a campaign informed by students for students to promote less risky drinking.  The campaign works by keeping your blood alcohol content (BAC) at 0.06 or below, the threshold at which most U-M students share that they get the most things they want out of drinking without the stuff they don’t want. If you choose to drink, Stay in the Blue with these strategies that work for other U-M students. Non-drinkers are always in the Blue! Download the companion app in your App store!

I am a Wolverine and...

"I am a Wolverine and..." is a campaign that challenges the notion that Wolverines are only leaders and best – we are so much more! Read about what your peers are doing and share your story with us!

If a student organization is engaged in activities to promote well-being among students impacted by campus health disparities, we provide funding and planning help for student-led health equity projects at U-M! Learn more and apply for a health equity grant.

Wolverine Wellness works with University Health & Counseling to offer mental health and well-being education, workshops, and presentations for students, staff, and faculty. 

Well-being Toolkit

This toolkit is designed for campus leaders, including instructors, staff, and student leaders, who are working in spaces where they are supporting student well-being. Tools can also be used by individuals in their own time and space.

Student Life Wellness Zones are available for students on a drop-in basis. We offer many self-service wellness resources to help students manage stress, rest, and relax as they navigate busy lives at U-M. 

The Well-being Collective at the University of Michigan is a collaborative effort focused on making U-M a better place for our students, faculty, and staff to live, work, and learn by implementing a system-wide approach to supporting well-being across our campus. Wolverine Wellness provides the backbone support for the Well-being Collective.

U-M adopted the Okanagan Charter in September 2021. Read more about our efforts using a Collective Impact framework.