Eligibility and Charges
Eligibility for Services
All full-time and most part-time students are automatically charged a semester health fee each fall and spring, which covers unlimited visits to Student Health. No health fee is required to use Immunization Services.
Students under age 18 are required to have a parent or legal guardian give parental consent prior to receiving medical care at Student Health. The consent form can be found on page 3 of the VCU Certificate of Immunization or separately at this link: Parental Consent Form. Students are encouraged to complete the form in advance so that medical care is not delayed when needed. The form only needs to be completed once and can be submitted via the Web Portal.
Student Health Fee
The student health fee covers unlimited visits to University Student Health Services, after-hours phone advice for urgent medical problems and in-house laboratory tests.
- Full-time students, graduate and undergraduate, are required to pay a health fee. The $120 fee is automatically billed each semester (fall and spring) to the student's account, along with tuition and university fee charges.
- Part-time students (under 12 credits) are charged $10 per credit hour to use Student Health. Students who change their status from part-time to full-time will be charged the full semester fee.
- The summer health fee is a one-time fee charged to students who choose to use Student Health during the summer. The fee is billed to the student account when the student seeks services. VCU students who have been enrolled in the spring and will be enrolled in the fall are eligible to use Student Health in the summer.
Health Fee Refunds
Before add/drop week at the beginning of each semester, students who change their status from full-time to part-time may receive a partial refund of the health fee if they choose.
After add/drop week, no refunds will be given to students who change from full-time to part-time.
Other Clinic Fees
Examples of Student Health services that are charged additional fees are listed below:
- $30 Physical Exam
- $50 Well Woman Exam (includes Pap Smear and testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and syphilis)
- STI Screens
- $20 Gonorrhea & Chlamydia testing
- $15 HIV & Syphilis testing
What's Covered? What's Not?
Students are responsible for medical expenses not covered by the student health fee. Examples include the cost of medications, labs sent to Labcorp for processing, imaging tests, specialist visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations.
Students are strongly encouraged to purchase individual health insurance to cover the cost of medical services not included in the student health fee. When applicable, students may submit receipts from Student Health to their insurance providers for reimbursement.
Services covered by the health fee:
- Most services, examinations, consultations and minor procedures by Student Health nursing, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physician staff.
- Most laboratory tests associated with acute illnesses ordered by Student Health staff.
- After-hours phone consultation for urgent medical issues.
Services not covered by the health fee:
- Emergency room visits, emergency transportation or hospitalization for any reason.
- Laboratory tests associated with chronic illnesses, routine gynecological care, STI screening, and tests that are not medically indicated.
- X-rays and other imaging tests.
- Medications (prescription and over-the-counter).
- Immunizations.
- Referrals to specialists outside of Student Health.
- Dental care, routine eye examination and refraction for eyeglasses, prosthetic devices (such as braces and crutches), speech therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy or any items not listed under covered services.
- Expenses incurred as a result of accidental injury if treatment is needed outside of the Student Health clinic.
Payment Options
Student Health is cash-free. Only major credit cards, debit cards, Rambucks, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay are accepted as methods of payment.