Health care for most students at Duke is funded from two major sources: student insurance and the student health fee. For more information about insurance and student health coverage, go to the Duke Student Health website at http://healthydevil.studentaffairs.duke.edu.
This page will discuss a variety of health care subjects, including:
Health Insurance
Adequate health insurance is critical as well as required for all students. While this insurance does not have to be purchased through Duke, the Duke Student Insurance Plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has been especially designed by graduate and professional students. For more information on this plan, contact the student insurance underwriter Hill, Chesson, & Woody by phone (489-7426) or e-mail. You also may find the information you seek on their website: http://www.hillchesson.com/.
The Duke health insurance premiums have risen substantially in the past three years. The first major increase occurred in Spring 2002, when we were presented with a proposed 19.4% increase. For the past two years, we have seen premium increases of 17.9% and 23.2% which is shown below. This year (2006-07) our plan experienced only a 1.2% increase in premiums. This presented an opportunity for the GPSC sub-committee on health insurance in conjunction with the Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee to make changes to our policy. Most notably, the mental health benefit was increased in response to student needs. For more on the the changes made to the Duke health insurance policy, see /health_insurance.
Trying to constrain rising costs while maintaining the standard of care is a major priority for GPSC. Unfortunately, this problem is not confined to the Duke community, but health insurance costs are rising nationwide. In the short term, GPSC has worked on health insurance in three main ways. First, when major premium increases occur, we strongly advocate that we examine the health insurance packages offered by other insurance carriers, to insure that we are receiving the best deal possible. Secondly, we survey the graduate student insurance plans at our peer institutions to find out their premiums and benefit structure. If we find a better package, we try to discover how that insurance plan works. Third, we examine the reimbursements of our insurance plan in order to discover whether such services could be more cheaply offered at our Student Health Center. Unfortunately, none of these short term solutions have revealed any "magic bullets."
In the long term, GPSC is very interested in the prospective medicine concept, as espoused by Sandy Williams, the Dean of Duke Medical School. Prospective health care involves discovering the health needs of your population and the health risks of individuals and developing plans to reduce those risks. For instance, a large percentage of our health insurance costs are for mental health services. Intuitively, this makes sense as graduate school is very academically stressful and students work intense schedules. We may be able to reduce some of our costs on mental health if we encourage students to stay healthy-- teaching stress reduction techniques, motivating people to exercise more, and offering additional yoga and meditation courses. If this results in even a 10% reduction in mental health costs, that will have a substantial impact on our total insurance costs and therefore our premiums. Unfortunately, the effects of this program would not be felt for several years.
If you have thoughts on health insurance, please let us know. We welcome any thoughts you might have on ways to improve student health insurance. Please e-mail us your ideas.
Health Insurance for International Students
Duke University administration has mandated that international students who hold F-1 or J-1 visas will be enrolled in the Duke student health insurance plan as of 2006-07 academic year. The Duke plan meets and exceeds the health insurance requirements of these visas. Additionally, the Duke plan offers spouse, child/children, and family riders for all students enrolled. These riders are priced competitively to insurance available elsewhere. Even though international students will be automatically enrolled in the Duke Student Health Insurance Plan, they can opt out of the Duke plan; however, they must prove that the alternative insurance is equivalent or exceeds the Duke plan.
This decision was made by the administration for the protection of the students. Each year Duke encounters several international students who have had medical expenses that do not have adequate insurance or do not have any insurance. Duke has had to pay these expenses. While Duke has always made health insurance mandatory, some students have not fully understood insurance plans and subsequently chosen a plan that does not carry adequate benefits. Other students have enrolled in plans and then canceled, leaving them without insurance.
If you have questions regarding the Duke plan, please contact the GPSC subcommittee on health insurance at dukestudentinsurance@gmail.com.
If you have questions regarding the administration's decision, please contact the administration.
Student Health Services
Student Health Fee
All currently enrolled full-time students and part-time degree candidates are assessed a Student Health fee, which entitles them to a wide range of health care, counseling, health education, and health maintenance services. Family members are not covered by the health fee but may receive care at Duke Family Medicine Center (DFMC) on a fee-for-service basis. An optional summer health fee for students not enrolled in summer session is also available through the Student Health Center (SHC) business office.
What services are covered under the Student Health fee?
For the most current list, go to the Student Health website at:
http://healthydevil.studentaffairs.duke.edu/medical_services/
Services you may not have known were offered:
- Nutritionist
Your health fee covers two nutritionists, who you can talk with about any dietary concerns you might have. Call 681-WELL to make an appointment or click here to learn more. - Physical Therapy Consultation
The Physical Therapy Consultation Clinic in the Wilson Recreation Center offers treatment of sports-related injuries and advice on how to begin an exercise program. Service is provided by Duke physical therapists, who assess your problem and outline a short-term treatment plan. These services are covered by your health fee. More information is covered on their website. - Fitness Testing
Fitness assessment, including fitness level, body composition, and blood pressure, are offered. To learn more, click here. - Sexual Health
Superconfidential HIV testing is performed by Health Promotions by appointment. Physicians in the Student Health Center are also able to perform a variety of tests, including those for HIV, chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Student Health offers free condoms in the Student Health Center, including a variety of free flavored lubricants. To learn more about sexual health programs at Student Health, click here or here. - Physical
Your fee covers one physical every two years. For women, an annual gynecological exam is covered.
Duke Student Health Center
The primary location for your medical care is the Duke Student Health Center. The Student Health Clinic, Pharmacy, Allergy Clinic, Travel & Immunization Clinic, Laboratory, and Healthy Devil Health Education Center are all found here.
Scheduling appointments at Student Health Center
- Urgent problems: 681-WELL. Emergencies will be handled on a walk-in basis.
- Routine health maintenance appointments: 681-WELL. Call at least four weeks in advance.
Other important information:
- Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time to complete paperwork and for the nurse to take your vital signs;
- If you cannot keep your appointment, call and cancel as soon as possible; you may be charged for cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance.
- Allow 48 hours advance notice for medication refills.
- Parking is available in the Duke Clinic Parking garage on Trent Drive ($1/hr).
- If you are taking medications, bring all of them to your appointment.
Mental Health
Mental health services are offered through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS provides a range of counseling and psychological services to meet the needs of individual students. The staff includes psychologists, clinical social workers, and psychiatrists. Services are available to all students who pay the Student Health fee; there are no additional costs. To make an appointment, call 660-1000. You can learn more about them by going to: http://caps.studentaffairs.duke.edu/ .
Examples of CAPS services:
- evaluation and counseling for individuals, couples, or groups
- career counseling
- seminars dealing with issues such as stress management, relationships, and eating disorders
Sexual Assault Support Services
If you are in need of their services, call 684-3897. In a crisis or after hours, please call 681-6882.
Dental Care
Students who want dental care can call the triage nurse (681-WELL) for a list of area dentists. Dental care is NOT covered by the Student Health fee. However, Hill, Chesson & Woody offer an individual dental insurance plan. Information can be obtained at http://ncdentalinsurance.com.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry offers a program to student patients where they can save 1/3 to 1/2 of what private dental services would cost. The dental student clinics offer all dental services. There are some drawbacks to these services. A visit may take several hours, because each patient is cared for by a student under the supervision of a faculty member. Also, not everyone who comes for screening can be accepted into this program. For appointment call Patient Admissions (966-2805). Hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The dental school is adjacent to the UNC Hospital.
Women’s Health Services
Routine gynecological care, including an annual Pap smear, and education about women’s health issues are available through the Student Health Clinic.
Examples of services:
- contraceptive counseling and prescriptions
- pregnancy testing and counseling
- diagnosis and treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases
- information on disease prevention and breast self-exams
- individual and group consultations with a health educator
- counseling for lesbian/bisexual concerns
- Student Health offers free condoms in the Student Health Center, including a variety of free flavored lubricants.
Men’s Health Services
- sexual dysfunction
- STD screening
- testicular cancer screening
- Student Health offers free condoms in the Student Health Center, including a variety of free flavored lubricants.
Nutrition Services
Nutrition Services are now offered on East and West Campus. To talk to a nutritionist, you just have to call Student Health and make an appointment.
Important Phone Numbers
| Place | Location | Phone |
| CAPS | 214 Page Building, West Campus (next to the Chapel) | 660-1000 by appointment |
| Student Health Clinical Services | Duke Clinic Complex, Orange Zone Sub-basement. Direct entrance on Flowers Drive. |
681-WELL by appointment |
| Health Education | Duke Clinic Complex, Orange Zone Sub-basement. Direct entrance on Flowers Drive. | 681-WELL |
| East Campus Wellness Clinic | 109 Wilson House (next to the Union)East Campus | 681-WELL |
| Health Promotion | Student Health Center Complex | 681-3084 |
| Physical Therapy Consultation | Basement of Wilson Recreation Center, West Campus | 684-6480 |
CONFIDENTIALITY
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, includes a privacy rule to protect the confidentiality of an individual’s personal health information. These standards were implemented by the Duke Health Enterprise on April 14, 2003. The Duke Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Sexual Assault Support Services all comply with these standards.
Urgent Care
The Duke Urgent Care Center provides quality, urgent care services to our community in a timely, cost-effective, and compassionate way.
They offer extended hours, limited on-site laboratory and radiology services, enabling the diagnosis, treatment and management of urgent medical conditions and minor trauma when a patient's primary care physician is unavailable. We also educate our patients about their medical condition as well as about appropriate access and utilization of the health system and their health insurance coverage. To keep ER costs down (which influence costs to health insurance), please go to an urgent care facility when appropriate.
Check out their website for more info as well as location and hours. http://dukehealth1.org/facilities_locations/duap_urgent_care.asp