Comprehensive Guide to Tufts University Student Health Services

Tufts University prioritizes the health and well-being of its students, scholars, and employees by providing a variety of resources, including health insurance plans and programs, student health centers, and wellness initiatives. This article provides an overview of the health services available to Tufts students across its various campuses.

Importance of Health Insurance

International students and scholars should be aware that health care in the U.S. is extremely expensive, and the health insurance system is extraordinarily complex. There is no national health insurance system; instead, each individual is responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health insurance coverage while in the US. Failure to have health insurance can lead to extraordinarily high medical costs and extreme financial hardship. All Tufts students are required to be covered by health insurance by Massachusetts state law.

Dental care procedures are often not automatically covered by health insurance and may require purchasing additional plans. Students at the Medford and SMFA campuses have the option to purchase additional dental care coverage alongside their health insurance.

Health Services by Campus

Tufts University has several campuses, each offering specific health services tailored to its student population.

Medford/Somerville and SMFA Campuses

These campuses include the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, The Fletcher School, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. Students on these campuses have access to the following services:

Health Service: This is the primary health care site and service provider for all undergraduate and graduate students who have paid the Health and Wellness Fee. Health Service offers both in-person and telehealth appointments for acute illness or injury, management of chronic conditions, and routine healthcare needs. Appointments can be scheduled online using the Health and Wellness Patient Portal or by calling the office during business hours at 617-627-3350. The location is 124 Professors Row, Medford, MA 02155, across from Fletcher Field. Office visits are covered for all undergraduate and graduate students who have paid a Health and Wellness fee.
Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS): The diverse clinical team at CMHS delivers high-quality mental health services to help prevent and address behavioral and mental health challenges that may become impediments to students' academic and personal goals.
Health Promotion: This service provides a continuum of education, prevention, and recovery programs and resources related to alcohol and drugs, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and more.
Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center: Provides academic support through one-on-one coaching, writing consultations, tutoring, study groups and study strategies, and discipline-specific workshops. The StAAR Center also works to implement reasonable accommodations for Tufts students with access concerns related to documented disabilities.
Sexual Misconduct, Health, and Well-Being Support: The Center for Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) team offers free, confidential, trauma-informed support for any Tufts student affected by sexual misconduct. They can assist with academic flexibility, reporting options, appointments, and referrals to other resources.

Read also: Your Guide to Tufts Transfer Admissions

Boston Health Sciences Campus

This campus includes the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine, the Public Health Professional Degree Programs, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and the Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Students on this campus have access to:

Student Health Services: Our on-campus team can treat acute illnesses (like respiratory and urinary tract infections), provide required immunizations, follow-up care for chronic issues, medication refills, and more.
Mental & Behavioral Health Resources: Navigating academic stress, personal challenges, or just need someone to talk to, students on the Boston Health Sciences campus have access to a range of mental and behavioral health resources. Behavioral health counseling and psychiatry services are also included in our health fee.
Office of Student Wellness: Team members work with students to offer practical approaches to managing everyday stresses and life challenges, provide confidential advice for personal challenges, and make referrals for therapy or psychiatric care as needed for depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.
Sexual Misconduct, Health, and Well-Being Support: The Center for Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) team offers free, confidential, trauma-informed support for any Tufts student affected by sexual misconduct.

Tufts University provides all Boston Health Sciences students with an array of health services to support their well-being.

For students studying in-person on the Boston Health Sciences campus only, Tufts Medical Center’s Collegiate Center for Wellness (CCW) offers convenient access to medical care. Remote and hybrid students are not eligible. Tufts University is piloting the CCW service for Boston Health Science campus students on a limited basis.

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine prioritizes student well-being through accessible, student-centered care.

Student Health Services: Offers in-person appointments and telehealth (available to students in MA and CT).
Behavioral Health and Counseling: All students have access to onsite and virtual behavioral counseling services as well as a full range of in-person and virtual psychiatric services, including patient education, consultation, evaluation and treatment, and crisis management.
Sexual Misconduct, Health, and Well-Being Support: Student Health Services staff are trained to provide appropriate care and connect you with resources, including academic support. If you're considering rape evidence collection, they can refer you to a S.A.N.E.

Specific Health Services

Tufts University provides a wide range of specific health services to cater to the diverse needs of its student population.

Read also: Exploring Tufts Athletics

Immunizations

Massachusetts law does not allow philosophical exemptions for immunizations. All students living in a campus residence or other congregate housing are required to receive the meningococcal vaccine unless they sign a waiver or qualify for an exemption. To request the meningococcal vaccine waiver, please complete the form provided here and submit to the Health Service Immunization Coordinator. Massachusetts students must provide documentation of immunization, according to school requirements, or submit a medical or religious accommodation. Medical accommodations come from the student’s primary healthcare provider or medical specialist and must document a contraindication - the reason why an individual cannot medically receive the vaccine.

The cost of immunizations varies, with some being inexpensive and others costly. The business office can provide information on the cost of needed immunizations. If you decide to receive an immunization at Health Service and have private insurance, the charge for the vaccine will be put on your tuition bill. Student insurance covers the cost of most immunizations, though travel immunizations tend to be excluded from most insurance plans. You may download your statement on the Patient Portal.

Reproductive Health Services

Health Services provides comprehensive reproductive health services, including:

Methods of Birth Control: Consultation about all available methods of contraception. For students with Tufts student health insurance plan, we offer insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants at Health Service. We can remove an IUD or implant regardless of a student’s insurance plan.
Emergency Contraception: Emergency Contraception (EC) is a safe way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. There are several forms of EC and all forms are available at Health Service. If you are unsure which form is right for you, call to speak with a nurse or make an appointment with a clinician.
Pregnancy Counseling and Medication Abortions: Health Services provides counseling for planned and unplanned pregnancies. We can also provide medication abortions.

STI Testing and Treatment

Health Service provides routine testing (screening) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as evaluation for symptoms or care after an exposure. Call or schedule an appointment online if you are worried about a symptom or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with an STI. If you want routine testing (screening) you can use the STI Express form found on the portal or schedule a telehealth visit. Make sure your insurance information at Health Service is up to date.

HIV Prevention and Post-Exposure Care

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): PEP is medication that should be taken as soon as possible AFTER a high-risk exposure to reduce the chance of acquiring HIV. It needs to be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure, and ideally within 24 hours. Typically you will need to take a combination of three medications for 28 days. If you are concerned about a possible HIV exposure, please schedule an appointment. If there are no same-day visits available, call our main number and ask to speak to a nurse. If Health Service is not open, call the main number and follow the prompts to reach our nurse triage line. The nurse can connect you with the clinician on call or other resources, if needed. Most insurance, including Tufts student health insurance, covers the cost of PEP.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): HIV PrEP is medication that can protect you from HIV infection. PrEP is for people who are not HIV positive but are at risk of infection. PrEP can be a single pill that is taken daily or an injection given every 2 months. It is highly effective if taken consistently. If you are interested in discussing PrEP, please set up an “HIV Prevention” telehealth visit through the portal. Most insurances, including Tufts student health insurance, cover the cost of medications for PrEP. We will help you connect with patient assistance programs that will cover the co-pays, so that PrEP will be available to you without any out of pocket expense. If you are interested, make an appointment at Health Service to speak with one of our clinicians. Tell the appointment secretary that you want to discuss PrEP.
DoxyPEP: DoxyPEP is medication that can be taken after sexual contact to help prevent sexually transmitted infections.

Gender-Affirming Care

Health and Wellness welcomes and affirms students of all gender identities, expressions, and sexual orientations. They offer a range of services for trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming students including:

Inclusive environment for medical and mental health care
Individualized care based on your goals
Initiation or continued prescribing of hormone treatment
Consultation about and referrals for gender affirming surgery and other specialty care
Letters of support when needed to access specialty care

They can support you in navigating insurance coverage and billing concerns.

Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment (GAHT): Health Service (HS) follows the standards of care developed by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH). Students who are interested in GAHT may schedule an appointment directly with a Health Service clinician. Appointments can be scheduled online using the Health & Wellness patient portal or by calling during regular business hours. For students already taking hormones Health Service can help with lab monitoring and managing prescriptions. HS clinicians can coordinate care with other prescribing providers if needed. HS can help students who need assistance with injectable medications.
Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS): HS provides referrals to specialists for students seeking gender affirming surgery or other specialized care. Both Counseling and Mental Health (CMHS) and HS are able to provide letters of support for specialty care, including gender-affirming surgeries. Students already established may ask their regular clinician about referrals and letters of support. Students who have not been seen before should schedule a new patient visit and discuss their needs. Call Health Service or Counseling and Mental Health with any questions or for assistance finding a clinician who is a good fit. Students may also review the HS staff bios and CMHS staff bios as a starting point.
Insurance Coverage: The Tufts University sponsored student health insurance plan is provided through UnitedHealthcare StudentResources. This policy covers a full range of health benefits, including gender affirmation surgeries, hormones, and mental health services. Although surgeries and hormones are covered, there are co-pays and out-of-pocket costs associated with all medical care (i.e., the coverage does not mean you will not incur any costs). For more information about what is covered under UHCSR, visit our Gender Affirming Care page.
Medical Record Documentation: The Tufts Health Service Pre-entrance Health Questionnaire will ask for both sex assigned at birth, current gender identity, and pronouns. This information will be reflected in your medical record. If the name you use is different from your legal name, you can enter this and your pronouns when you check in for a visit, or your clinician can do this for you. Both names will show up in your medical record but we will refer to you using your chosen name. To change your name in other university departments (Registrar, ID card, Student Information System), please see this guide. If you have legally changed your name, please use this guide.
Ongoing Support and Other Healthcare Resources: While seeking gender affirming treatment can be exciting, the process can also feel stressful and having support is important. In addition to short-term individual counseling at CMHS and healthcare at HS, students also have access to many other Tufts supports including CMHS groups, and peer facilitated support groups offered by the LGBT Center. If you’re seeking ongoing counseling and support, you can schedule an appointment with the CMHS Case Manager to help with a referral.

Support After Sexual Assault

Health Service can provide confidential medical care after a sexual assault including trauma informed examinations, emergency contraception, STI prevention and testing, and referrals to other resources.

Laboratory Services

Health Service has a moderate complexity CLIA-certified lab that can draw blood and perform laboratory tests ordered by Health Service clinicians. All testing requires an order and students should not make a lab appointment unless their clinician has told them that they have lab orders ready. Some tests cannot be processed on-site and are sent to our reference laboratory, Quest Diagnostics. Labs done by Quest are billed directly to the insurance company. Students with insurance plans other than the Tufts student health insurance plan should determine if Quest is an "in-network" clinical laboratory, to ensure that testing is covered and paid for by their insurance company. Additional information about how laboratory services are billed can be found by reviewing our billing information. The lab cannot support sample collection and processing for testing ordered by clinicians outside of Health Service.

Acupuncture Services

New England Integrated Health, LLC (NEIH) is offering on-campus services for Tufts students. Appointments are one hour long and students will have access to all of our typical services, including acupuncture, cupping, and gua sha. Acupuncture appointments are offered on campus in the lower level of the Health Service by appointment. New and existing patients can book online. Appointments can also be made by phone by calling 617-297-8549.

Student Health insurance through United HealthCare Student Resources covers acupuncture. There is no copay for the acupuncture services provided by NEIH and 24 visits per school year are allowed. For all other insurance plans please schedule online, complete your intake forms, and we will verify your insurance coverage prior to your first visit.

There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Appointments canceled without 24-hour notice will be charged a fee of $50.

Chiropractic Care

Donovan can also treat students at his private practice located at 2 Haven Street, Reading, MA 01867. Donovan accepts most major insurance. Student Health insurance through United HealthCare Student Resources covers chiropractic care and a $0 copay is applied for treatment with Dr. Donovan.

Massage Therapy

Melissa Poplaski is our on-site massage therapist. Availability is 7:15am to 5:00pm Fridays (by appointment only). Appointment Durations: 15-minute chair, 30, 60 and 90-minute table sessions available. Massage therapy isn't covered through insurance and will be an out of pocket expense.

Pharmacy Services

Pharmacies bill insurance plans for the cost of prescribed medication and your out of pocket cost may include a co-pay, the percent of the overall cost of the drug you are responsible for, which depends on your insurance plan. Listed are some local pharmacy options but students can discuss their pharmacy preference with their clinician.

Capsule Pharmacy: Capsule provides free prescription delivery to your residence hall or apartment within most of the greater Boston area, including Fenway, Medford, and Somerville. Most insurances accepted.
Inman Pharmacy: Deliveries of prescriptions are made to Health Service on a pre-arranged, once-a-day schedule during the academic year. To process your prescription, Inman Pharmacy will need your insurance information and a credit card to which the co-pay can be charged. Inman Pharmacy provides this delivery service as a convenience to the students. If you use this service, any communication is strictly between you and the pharmacy. Tufts University is not responsible for providing payment information or collecting payment for services or products. Once the prescription leaves the pharmacy it cannot be returned.

Support During Crisis

Assists students throughout their time at the Cummings School, including periods of critical transition and crisis, by providing support, guidance, and intervention. Provides counseling and referral services by appointment or walk-in consultation. Crisis support is also available 24/7 by phone.

Services for Students Under 18

Students under 18 are eligible for general counseling and medical services at CMHS and HS. Due to limitations of confidentiality in healthcare settings, your parents are legally able to request and access certain information about your healthcare. Please discuss any privacy concerns with your clinician.

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