Navigating healthcare & accessing care

Recommendations for students being prepared to access healthcare on their own

• Know about your insurance plan
  • Insurance card or photo of the front and back in their phone
  • Learning basic information about health insurance, our broker created this video about PPO plans: https://student.jcbins.com/storage/app/public/Insurance_101.mp4
  • Know what out of pockets costs and what providers you can see
    This Health Insurance Worksheet is a good place to start.
• Plan ahead for what pharmacy, urgent care, and emergency room you would use if needed that is in-network for your health plan, If you are not  not feeling well and it is after-hours or the SHC does not have availability, then you already have a plan.
• Add SU Public Safety non-emergency line in the phone to be able to quickly ask for help, 206-296-5990 as well as the emergency line if the situation is more emergent, 206-296-5911.
• First aid kit including a thermometer and medications you would commonly have on hand at home should be purchased to have on hand as a student.  This will allow you to be able to take care for yourself when sick and not need to go out to the pharmacy.

Urgent Healthcare Options

• SU Student Health Center – Functions as a primary clinic but does reserve same day appointments for more urgent needs. These appointments fill quickly during cold/flu season.
• Telehealth through TimelyCare is available 24/7
• Local Urgent Care center with transportation available through SU Public Safety at 206-296-5990. For a list of urgent care centers please see https://www.seattleu.edu/student-health/emergencies--after-hours/
• Other telehealth visit. Most insurance companies have an option of telehealth. Information about some other options including Teladoc for Aetna Student Health please see https://www.seattleu.edu/student-health/emergencies--after-hours/0

Scheduling appointments

• SU Student Health Center – For non-urgent health concerns, students can usually get an appointment within 1-2 weeks. Care provided by nurse practitioners with full prescriptive authority. There is not priority for urgent type visits given to students who are already established at the SHC; the same day appointments are filled by any student. 
• SU is located in the middle of 3 major medical centers with many primary care providers within walking distance including Swedish Family Medicine and Polyclinic.
• If your student was seeing a specialist back home, it is recommended that they establish themselves with a specialist in Seattle.  Their primary care physician and/or health care plan should be able to make recommendations.