Navigating Student Health and Well-being at the University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh prioritizes the health and well-being of its students, offering a comprehensive suite of services designed to support their physical, mental, and emotional health throughout their academic journey. From medical insurance plans to counseling services and health education programs, Pitt aims to provide students with the resources they need to thrive.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
The University of Pittsburgh partners with UPMC Health Plan to provide students with comprehensive health insurance coverage. The medical plan includes a modest deductible. UPMC Health Plan is part of the Insurance Services Division of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), one of the nation's top-ranked health systems. UPMC Health Plan maintains an "Excellent" rating (the highest available from NCQA) for its commercial HMO/POS, Medicaid HMO and Medicare HMO products.
Enrollment and Coverage Details
It's important to note that student coverage does not automatically continue each academic year. Re-enrollment is required every fall to maintain active coverage. All coverage ends August 31 without re-enrollment. Graduate students with academic appointments, Fellows and Certificate Trainees (as Defined in University Policy) may have different coverage ending dates depending on their appointment ending dates or graduation date. For general plan inquiries, contact the University's Benefits Department by calling 833-852-2210 or submit an inquiry online.
Understanding Health Plan Terminology
Navigating health insurance can be confusing, especially with unfamiliar terms. Pitt has put together a glossary of commonly used terms to help students understand their health plan.
UPMC Health Plan Support
UPMC Health Plan provides a dedicated customer service unit comprised of a team of highly trained Health Care Concierges. UPMC Health Plan won the 2012 Global Call Center of the Year award in the large call center category from the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI). ICMI recognizes call centers that make a commitment to superior service and have done the most to deliver a quality customer experience.
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Additional Insurance Options
Dental Coverage
Dental benefits are administered through United Concordia, which provides access to a large network of dentists. United Concordia administers dental benefits for more than 8 million members and 26,000 clients, including state and local governments, unions and many of the top 100 Fortune® 500 companies. The Advantage Plus network includes more than 73,600 unique dentists at more than 149,000 access points nationwide. Their network includes both University Dental Health Services and the University of Pittsburgh Dental Medicine Clinic. For questions regarding the dental plan, contact United Concordia’s Member Services at 1-877-215-3616.
Vision Coverage
Vision benefits, eye care and eyewear are available through Davis Vision by MetLife, providing a seamless member experience with unparalleled ease of use and value to over 55 million members. Davis Vision by MetLife is one of a select few vision care programs in the country with NCQA’s Certification in Credentialing, maintained since 2004. Davis Vision by MetLife's labs and Customer Service Center are the only ones in managed vision care to be certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards.
Support for International Students
All international students are required to have health insurance coverage during the time of their exchange terms or visiting terms. Students have the option of purchasing coverage through the official UPMC Student plans or through an alternate private provider. International insurance plans will not be accepted. For J1 visa applicants and their dependents, federal government standards require medical insurance coverage with minimum benefits as outlined in [22 CFR 62.14]. For UPMC student plan holders, they will be charged a monthly premium for the full 12 months.
Travel Assistance
Through UPMC Health Insurance, University travelers are automatically eligible for Assist America services. Assist America services include emergency medical services such as help with hospital admissions, referrals to qualified physicians, and emergency medical evacuation.
Mental Health and Well-being Resources
The University of Pittsburgh recognizes the importance of mental health and offers a variety of resources to support students' emotional well-being.
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LifeSolutions
LifeSolutions is the University of Pittsburgh's Assistance Program that provides a broad range of services to assist University students and their household members to balance school and the stresses of daily life. This includes a specialized program for students. LifeSolutions offers personalized care services, 24-hour support, online resources and tools, and more, all at no cost. You can speak with a LifeSolutions specialist in-person, through video, or by telephone by calling 1 833-223-5754 (TTY: 711).
University Counseling Center (UCC)
The University Counseling Center (UCC) provides support to students, offering individual, couples, and group therapy, as well as workshops. If you are experiencing a crisis but there is no imminent risk of harm, you may walk in directly to the Counseling Center and indicate to the person at the front desk that you need to speak with someone immediately, or you need an emergency appointment. Specific groups are set up for regular weekly meetings in Group Therapy.
Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric services are now provided in the Student Health Service (SHS) by a board-certified psychiatrist. The psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, and emotional disorders.
Health Education and Promotion
The Office of Health Education & Promotion provides a variety of programs and services to enhance personal and community health, while promoting healthy lifestyles. The Wellness and Recreation Support Fee covers annual flu vaccines, rapid HIV testing, visits with a registered dietician, Stress Free Zone programs, and other health education resources and services.
Student Health Services (SHS)
Student Health Services offers an array of health care services. Therapies are available to treat adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and other conditions.
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