Managing medical bills can be confusing, especially for college students. The UGA Health Center aims to make billing and payments as straightforward as possible for students. This article will explain UGA Health Center’s billing practices online payment options and tips for avoiding billing issues.
About UGA Health Center Billing
The University Health Center provides outpatient medical care to UGA students, They bill most major insurance plans including student health plans like UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
For uninsured students, the Health Center offers discounted rates. Uninsured students are expected to pay at the time of service
The Health Center does not bill internationally or to out-of-state Medicaid plans. Students with these plans need to pay upfront and submit claims themselves for potential reimbursement.
Billing is handled by the central UGA Bursar’s office, not the Health Center. Students receive UGA bills for Health Center services via their official UGA email.
Online Bill Pay Options
The UGA Bursar’s office provides several easy online options for paying UGA Health Center bills:
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Athena Online Bill Pay – Log in to Athena through your MyUGA portal to view billing statements and pay online.
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Athena Mobile App – Download the Athena app to your smartphone to pay bills on the go.
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Automatic Payments – Set up recurring payments from a bank account through Athena.
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Payment Kiosks – Pay in person at payment kiosks around campus using a student ID card.
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Mail Payments – Send checks or money orders to the Bursar office mailing address.
Online payments via Athena are the fastest way to pay UGA Health Center bills. Payments post instantly to the student account.
Tips for Avoiding Billing Issues
Follow these tips to prevent billing problems with UGA Health Center services:
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Provide accurate insurance information at each visit. Notify them promptly of any coverage changes.
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Check that the Health Center is in-network with your health plan. Out-of-network services may have higher costs.
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Know your health plan’s copay, coinsurance, and deductible amounts for medical services.
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If uninsured, be prepared to pay discounted rates at the time of service.
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Check your UGA email regularly for billing notices and statements.
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Set up automatic payments through Athena so bills are paid on time.
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If you receive a bill in error, contact the Bursar office right away to dispute it.
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If facing financial hardship, ask the Bursar about payment plan options.
Communicating with the Bursar
If billing questions arise, students can contact the Bursar’s office by:
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Calling 706-542-2965
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Emailing [email protected]
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Visiting in person at the Bursary office in Holmes/Hunter Academic Building
The Bursar team can explain charges, take payments, set up payment plans, update insurance details on file, and rectify billing errors.
Financial Assistance Resources
UGA offers financial resources for students struggling to pay medical bills:
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Payment Plans – The Bursar can set up monthly payment plans for outstanding balances.
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Short-Term Loans – The Office of Student Financial Aid provides short-term, low interest loans.
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Health Insurance – Students can enroll in the UnitedHealthcare StudentResources plan offered by UGA.
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Hardship Withdrawals – Students can withdraw from classes without penalty due to medical hardship.
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Counseling – The Counseling and Psychological Services staff help students manage financial stress.
Billing for Staff and Non-Students
The UGA Health Center provides care to faculty, staff, and non-students on a limited basis. These patients are subject to different billing practices:
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Non-students must pay at the time of service and file their own insurance claims.
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Faculty/staff with UnitedHealthcare coverage have claims filed automatically by the Health Center.
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Other faculty/staff plans may be billed, but the patient is responsible for uncovered costs.
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Uninsured faculty/staff must pay discounted rates upfront.
Keeping billing information current, monitoring UGA email notices, and utilizing the Bursar’s online payment systems can help UGA Health Center patients minimize billing headaches. Seeking financial assistance and communicating with the Bursar’s office can aid in resolving any issues. UGA provides various resources to help students address medical bills and continue pursuing their education.
Medical Clinics[]
The Medical Clinics, Red, Green, Blue, Gold, are for the traditional “sick” problems such as illness or injury. The Medical Clinics also offer flu shots priced at $15 for students and $25 for non-students. Each student is assigned to a clinic and a Primary Care Provider where the always make appointments with on OpenCommunicator. This service is included in the Health Fee and only other fees would include additional testing and prescriptions. All appointments are made through OpenCommunicator (“Medical Services”).
Psychiatric Counseling[]
Counseling services include couples, group and individual counseling. All counseling is completely confidential and no records will be shared. All appointments are made online and open to all UGA students. There are no fees for the initial appointment, but following appointments are available at a discounted rate for students who pay the health fee. This clinic is located on the second floor (“Counseling and Psychatric Services (CAPS)”).
OpenCommunicator is the online system to make appointments at the Health Center. Almost all divisions of Health Center use OpenCommunicator and there are usually a wide range of appointment times available at time. When a making a first appointment, a student must complete the health history form in order to get into the system. OpenCommunicator also tracks charges to student at the Health Center and this where the student can pay for all of his or her medical expenses (“Medical Services”).
University Health Center, University of Georgia
FAQ
Is the UGA health Center free for students?
Each semester full time students pay a health fee. There is no charge for the first appointment with Counseling and Psychiatric Services for students who have paid the health fee. For subsequent visits, psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring and group therapy, charges apply.
How do I cancel my UGA health center appointment?
Call 706-542-1162. If you need to, you must cancel or reschedule your appointment by 5:00 p.m. on the business day before the appointment to avoid a
Does the UGA health Center do bloodwork?
UHC Laboratory offers cheap, easy, and private STI testing with a simple blood draw and/or urine samples. Results are available in two to three days.
What is the fax number for UGA health center?
Where can I get a prescription at UGA?
Located on the 1st floor of the University Health Center, open MON-FRI, 8AM – 6PM. The Pharmacy’s main goal is to give University of Georgia students quick, professional, private, and cheap prescription service. Pharmacy services are now available to UGA faculty / staff, retired faculty / staff, and dependents.
Who is eligible for health care services at UGA?
All enrolled students at UGA are eligible for care at the University Health Center. They may continue to get health care for one semester after their last semester of school, even after they graduate.
Does UGA offer health care services after graduation?
After graduation, students may continue to receive health care services from UGA for one semester. Full-time students at UGA have to pay a health fee that gives them access to a wide range of medical and wellness services at lower prices.
How can I pay for extended care at UGA?
The former student must pay all fees that arose during extended care and can do so at the UHC Business Services Office. To pay for extended care at UGA, the student can visit the UHC Business Services Office.
Who is eligible for health services at University Health Center?
Spouses or domestic partners of enrolled students are eligible for services at the University Health Center. They can pay the health fee and get the same benefits as a full-time student, or they can use the health center for a fee for each service.
Does UGA offer Pharmacy Services?
Pharmacy services are now available to UGA faculty / staff, retired faculty / staff, and dependents. The UHC Pharmacy is open for walk-in service for prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
