Policies & Forms

Insurance Enrollment or Waiver 

Saint Joseph’s University requires that all degree seeking enrolled students registered for six or more credit hours, all degree seeking enrolled international students registered for one or more credit hours, and all degree seeking PhD or EdD students registered for one or more credit hours, to have active health insurance while enrolled. At least 50% of eligible students’ credit hours must be on ground/in person.  

In order to complete the waiver or the enrollment process, please go to https://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/sju, and click on either the “Enroll Now - Health Insurance” link or the “Waive Your School’s Insurance” link.

Having active health insurance while enrolled in the university protects students from interruptions to their academic progress due to unexpected medical bills and ensures students have adequate insurance coverage for basic medical care. Students may opt out/waive if they have comparable coverage in another health insurance plan, which is American-based and Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant.

If interested in information about the Affordable Cares Act, please visit Healthcare.gov.

Eligibility

All degree seeking, currently enrolled students are eligible to receive services at the Student Health Center (SHC). Students are subject to all requirements of the SHC (including completion of the Physical Examination Form and Immunization Record and the Health Evaluation Form). All visits and consultations are confidential.

Services

• Nursing assessment and treatment of illness and injury, referral for further evaluation by a physician or nurse practitioner.
• Health and wellness information.
• Men’s and women's health services, confidential consultation with clinicians, STI testing and treatment.
• Student’s questions/concerns and treatment regarding sexual health issues, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, reproductive health, or alcohol / drug / tobacco problems will be answered or treated in a non judgemental, caring manner. The medical providers may treat or prescribe medication directly or assist the student in seeking help from a specialist or another appropriate medical provider/resource in the Philadelphia area. All conversations between students and the health care providers are confidential.
• Nutritional Counseling for students with conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal conditions, adverse effects from medications, and weight gain or weight loss.
• Health related consultations, i.e. hypertension, weight-control, nutritional counseling, and sleep issues. Health related consultations, i.e. hypertension, weight-control, nutritional counseling, and sleep issues.
• Students who need services beyond the scope of the Student Health Center will be referred to appropriate healthcare providers or facilities as necessary. These healthcare providers/facilities will bill the student’s insurance.
• Tampons and liners are available in the Student Health Center bathroom.
• The Student Health Centers do not function as pharmacies and therefore do not dispense or distribute prescription medications.

Fees

Graduate Student Fees

* UC legacy students will not be charged for services at SHC.

• Office Visit $35
• Physical Exams $75
• Injections/Immunizations
  • Tuberculosis testing (skin test) - $15
  • Allergy injections $20 per visit

Undergraduate Student Fees

There are no fees for undergraduate students to be evaluated and treated in the health center except as listed below. Students are responsible for payments for referrals to outside healthcare providers or healthcare facilities.

• Physical Exams $75
• Injections/Immunizations-
  • Tuberculosis testing (skin test) - $15
  • Allergy injections $20 per semester

Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to occur on American campuses. Based on the recommendations of the American College Health Association (ACHA) Vaccine Preventable Diseases Committee and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Saint Joseph’s University requires the following immunizations:

Required Immunizations

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) – Immunization with two doses of MMR, given on or after the first birthday and separated by at least one month. A Surface antibody titer (IGg) proving immunity is required for All students in Clinical Professional Programs. Attach the antibody titer (IgG) lab results if registered in one of the Clinical Professional Program.
• Tetanus/Diphtheria– Three doses of tetanus/diphtheria are required with a booster given within the past ten years.
• Polio– Three doses; Booster only if needed for travel.
• Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine (conjugated) – One dose, on or after age 16 years, is required for students living in University-owned housing (Pennsylvania State Law). Students must complete a written waiver if declining meningitis vaccination.
• Varicella Vaccine (Chicken Pox): Two doses of varicella-containing vaccine at least 12 weeks apart if vaccinated between 1 and 12 years of age and at least 4 weeks apart if vaccinated at age 13 years or older. Students in the Clinical Professional Programs who have never received the varicella vaccine must obtain a surface antibody titer (IGg) proving immunity. Attach the antibody titer (IgG) lab results if registered in one of the Clinical Professional Program.
• Tuberculosis Testing (within the past year) - Recommended for all students;  REQUIRED for:
  • Students in the Education Majors and Clinical Professional Programs
  • Anyone who has lived in or visited South America, Central America,
    Easter Europe, Asia or Africa in the last 5 years
  • Students in contact with a known case
  • A QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QTF) or T-Spot test is the recommended method for TB infection screening. PPD’s will only be accepted for low risk students in the education program.
• Hepatitis B – Series of 3 doses; 0, 1-2mo., 6-12 months. A surface antibody titer (IGg) is required for all students in the Clinical Professional Programs. If the initial titer result is Negative/Non-Reactive, the student must repeat the 3 dose Hepatitis B vaccine series and obtain another Hepatitis B titer one month after the last dose (3#) is received.
  Attach the antibody titer (IgG) lab results if registered in one of the Clinical Professional Program.

Immunization records must be complete and on file in the Student Health Center in order to register for classes. For religious or medical exemptions for non-COVID-19 vaccines, please email the Student Health Center at health@sju.edu.

Recommended Immunizations

• COVID-19 vaccine – Series of 2 doses of Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax COVID-19, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson (Jansen). See below for WHO approved COVID-19 vaccines.
• Hepatitis A – Series of 2 doses; 0, 6-12 months.
• Gardasil 9 Human Papillomavirus 9-Valent Vaccine, Recombiant
• Meningococcal B vaccine
  • Bexsero: Series of 2 doses
  • Trumenba: Series of 3 doses

Resources:

CDC Vaccines & Ihttps://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.htmlmmunizations

New Student Requirements

Health Evaluation Form

Physical Examination Form and Immunization Record

One of the goals of the Student Health Center (SHC) is to provide all students with high-quality healthcare in a manner that clearly recognizes individual needs and rights. To effectively accomplish this goal, it is necessary for students and health care providers to work together. To that end, the following rights and responsibilities must be recognized and safe guarded.

As a student you have the following RIGHTS:

• To receive care and treatment with courtesy, respect, privacy and consideration.
• To receive information in terms that you can understand and to have any questions answered concerning your diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and any associated risks.
• To refuse to be examined or treated by health practitioners and to be informed of the consequences of such decisions.
• To be referred to an alternative health care source when appropriate or upon request.
• To participate actively in decisions regarding your health care and treatment.
• To know the identity of your health care provider.
• To review any medical records created and maintained by the SHC regarding your care and treatment, and to request amendments to these records in consultation with your health care provider.
• To have your medical records kept private. See the confidentiality policy, below.
• To file a grievance with the administration of the SHC if you feel any of these rights have been violated.

As a student you have the following RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To show courtesy and consideration for the SHC staff.
• To provide complete information about immunizations, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and allergies to enable proper evaluation and treatment by clinicians.
• To ask questions or request clarification if needed to ensure that there is an adequate understanding of your health problem or treatment.
• To follow instructions concerning medications, follow-up visits, and other essential steps in our treatment plan, and to notify your provider if the plan cannot be followed, condition worsens or an unexpected reaction occurs.
• To keep scheduled appointments or cancel within a reasonable time ahead so that another person may be given that time slot.
• To be respectful of other patients’ privacy and confidentiality.
• To accept responsibility for any charges incurred with any health care provider outside of the SHC.

You may direct any concerns about Rights and Responsibilities to the Director of the Student Health Center.

Saint Joseph’s University Student Health Center does not provide medical excuse notes for students due to illness, injury and/or mental health problems that may lead to missed classes, exams or academic deadlines.

It is the student’s responsibility to inform the professor prior to the missed class, just as the student would be expected to inform their place of employment prior to the start of their work day. It is also the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for missed class work or collecting missed notes of lectures or other assignments as necessary.

Just as Saint Joseph's strives to grow students of competence and character, the Student Health Center encourages students to make healthy and mature decisions when they are sick. This includes healthy eating, adequate sleeping, following medical advice, and possibly missing classes when ill.

All decisions about the impact of an absence and arrangements for making up missed work must be determined between the professor and student.

The goal of the Student Health Center is to provide care to as many sick or injured students as possible rather than spending time verifying short term medical absences. This policy is consistent with recommendations from the American College Health Association and is similar to policies at other peer universities.

Assistance with ongoing illness or injury

Any student with an illness, injury, hospitalization or mental health problem requiring multiple absences should contact the Student Health Center. The Health Center will help facilitate communication with Student Success and / or Student Disability Services.

The Student Health Center maintains a strict policy of confidentiality to safeguard the privacy of your personal and health information. This is an essential component of quality health care and is required by law.

Every undergraduate student has a confidential health record that is maintained in the Student Health Center during your student years and is kept on file for seven years after the conclusion of the academic year last enrolled by the student. ELS students' health records are retained for seven years after the last date that service was rendered. The Student Health Center does not release personal health information to anyone without your written authorization including faculty, administration, family members, fellow students, employers, etc. Exceptions include life-threatening illness/injury or those reasons required by law such as court subpoena or public health reporting requirements.

Download the Authorization for Release of Confidential Health Information form.

Please upload the completed form to the Document Upload section of the Student Health Portal.

Medication Administration Consent Form For a Minor and Licensed Prescriber Order

Please upload the completed form to the Document Upload section of the Student Health Portal.