Health Services & Insurance Information
Visiting the Doctor
All Ohio University students can use OhioHealth Campus Care, which is located on the first and second floors of Hudson Hall (building 35 on the campus map). For OhioHealth Campus Care hours, see their website or call 740-592-7100.
Family members/dependents of students are not allowed to go to OhioHealth Campus Care unless they are also students at Ohio University. However, they can visit any of these clinics (see #2 below): Express Care, Holzer Clinic Urgent Care, or consult any other doctor in town. In the case of a true emergency, then go to O’Bleness Hospital.
The ISSS website (https://www.ohio.edu/international-student-scholar-services/health-care) provides the following information regarding emergency, urgent, and routine healthcare:
- Emergency Care: If you find yourself in a life-threatening situation and you cannot wait to see a doctor, go to a hospital's emergency room. The closest hospital is: O'Bleness Memorial Hospital which is located at 44 West Union Street in Athens. The phone number for the hospital is: (740) 566-4925. If you cannot make it to the hospital emergency room, but still need immediate medical help, you can call 9-1-1 for an ambulance to take you to the hospital.
- Urgent Care: Urgent medical conditions are ones that are not considered emergencies but still require care within 24 hours. Some examples of such conditions include: accidents and falls, sprains and strains, moderate back problems, cuts, eye irritation and redness, fever or flu, and vomiting. If you have any urgent medical condition you can go to the Holzer Clinic URGENT CARE located at 2131 East State Street in Athens. The phone number for the Holzer Clinic is: 740-593-3594. You can also go to EXPRESS CARE located at 265 West Union Street, Athens. The phone number for Express Care is: 740-594-2456. Please make sure that you carry your health insurance card with you.
- Routine Health Care: If you do not feel well or if you have a minor illness, you can go to the OhioHealth Campus Care Center. Examples of minor illnesses/issues are: the flu, sore throat, check-ups, and minor injuries. For more information about the University Hudson Health Center, you can visit their website or you can call them at 740-592-7100. Please make sure that you carry your health insurance card with you. **Please note that dependents of international students cannot get health care service at the OhioHealth Campus Care Center.**
Ohio University Student Health Insurance
Health insurance is very important in America; it probably works differently here than in your home country. Since medical care is quite expensive in the United States, OHIO requires that all international students enroll in the International Student Health Insurance plan. You are automatically enrolled in the insurance plan, and the insurance fee will be charged each semester to your school account. Please see the Ohio University Student Health Insurance website (opens in a new window) for more information about the International Student Health Insurance plan.
If you have brought your family with you, you must visit the Student Health Insurance Administrator (located in OhioHealth Campus Care, the campus health clinic), and purchase health insurance for them, too. Important: You must purchase insurance coverage for your dependents before you register for classes each semester.
Each time you visit a health care facility (e.g., OhioHealth Campus Care, doctor’s office, hospital, urgent care, etc.), you are expected to show your health insurance card.
Here are some frequently asked questions about insurance and insurance cards.
Q1: How do I get Ohio University health insurance?
A: As an international student, you are automatically enrolled in the Ohio University health insurance program upon registration.
Q2: How do I get my health insurance card?
A: After you are enrolled into Ohio University’s health insurance program, you will receive an email from United Healthcare Student Resources approximately (1) week after the posted waiver deadline. ID Cards will not be available prior to receiving this email. (Check your Bobcat account for this email. If you forward your Bobcat mail to another address, check your spam or junk folders as well.) This email will give you instructions on how to set up your online account. Once your online account is set up, you can print your health insurance ID card, upload a digital copy to a smartphone or tablet, or request a permanent card to be sent to you by the insurance company. (Cards are no longer automatically mailed to you.) If you need assistance printing your ID card, you can make an appointment to see Ohio University Health Insurance Administrator, Anna Casteel, at Hudson Hall, Room 227 or write to studentinsurance@ohio.edu. If you need assistance regarding the setup of your online account, call United Healthcare Student Resources at 1-800-767-0700.
Q3: I am a scholarship student and my government already provides health insurance for me. Do I still have to purchase Ohio University’s insurance?
A: If your government sponsors you and provides health insurance, you may not be required to purchase Ohio University health insurance. Students may apply to waive the Student Health Insurance Policy if they have an existing health insurance policy that meets the waiver criteria. However, you must provide proof of existing insurance through the online waiver application prior to the posted waiver deadline.
Waivers must be renewed each academic year prior to the Fall Semester deadline.