Insurance

Health Insurance

If a student has their current health insurance information on file with our clinic, the Student Health Clinic will bill their insurance company for any charges that the student may incur during their visit at the clinic. Any charges that are not covered by the insurance company will be transferred to the student’s U-bill account.

Health insurance plans and coverage can vary drastically. The Student Health Clinic encourages students to check with their insurance company ahead of time to ensure their insurance will cover any charges they may have at the Student Health Clinic.

We understand that health insurance is complicated and we will do our best to help answer any questions you have, however the majority of the time, your insurance company is the only one who can provide coverage information for you.

The student health fee allows access to high quality health care for our UNI students by helping support the overall cost of the health center. However, the health fee is not health insurance, nor does it provide free access to health care.

If you do not have health insurance and are interested in UNI student health & dental insurance, visit the Student Health/Dental Insurance web page for more information.

Billing Questions

For questions about billing from the Student Health Clinic, you may stop by the clinic during normal clinic hours or contact the Billing Department directly at 319-273-7962. If you have insurance coverage related questions, please contact your health insurance carrier's customer service number on the back of your insurance card.

Submitting Health Insurance Information

You may use the QR code to submit your current health insurance information to the UNI Student Health Clinic or submit information to health insurance. Please include the information below:

Policyholder's name, address, and date of birth
Upload a copy of your insurance card (front and back)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Health Fee?

The health fee is a mandatory fee assessed to each student who is registered for one or more semester hours. It is on a semester basis and is automatically charged to the student’s U-Bill account. The health fee is not health insurance nor does it provide free access to health care. This fee covers a multitude of health activities, programs and outreach we do across campus, and covers unlimited basic office visits at our clinic. However, there are charges for labs, immunizations, supplies, physicals (e.g. annual exams and pap smears) and procedures (e.g. removal of lesions and wart treatment).

How do I pay for charges incurred?

We can submit claims to your insurance company, charge your U-Bill, or you may pay by cash or check at the clinic.

Do I need to bring my insurance card?

Yes. The insurance card contains vital information needed to submit your charges. A copy of both the front and back of your insurance card will be sufficient. Information needed is the policy number and the policy holder’s name, address, phone number, date of birth and employer.

What do I do if my insurance changes?

You will need to provide your new health insurance card to the Student Health Clinic either prior to or at the time of your appointment so that charges will be billed properly. If your parent or guardian changes jobs, this is a good time to make sure that you update your insurance.

Will my insurance cover my charges?

We highly encourage students to contact their insurance company to determine:

Your benefits, co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, and in & out of network coverage.
Coverage at the UNI Student Health Clinic. Inquire if network coverage can be changed due to being away at college.
If a referral is needed from a Primary Care Provider (PCP) to be seen at the UNI Student Health Clinic. Inquire if the PCP can be changed to a Student Health Clinic provider. Each insurance company is different and covers different services. For instance, your insurance may not cover routine services (e.g. physicals and immunizations) but may cover services that are medically necessary (e.g. illness, injury). There is usually a customer number located on the back of your insurance card.

What happens after an insurance company settles a claim?

Your insurance company may or may not pay charges for a variety of reasons. Charges may be applied towards your deductible or be a non-covered benefit; you may have used a provider who is out-of-network, or the insurance company did not receive requested additional information. Anything not covered by insurance will be posted to your U-Bill. It can take up to eight weeks or more for an insurance company to process a claim. Therefore, it may be some time between your visit and when charges will appear on your U-Bill account.

How do the charges appear on my U-Bill?

Charges that are posted to your U-Bill account are listed as “SHC-Clinic Charges.” Charges are not itemized or detailed. We will not provide a patient’s health information to anyone without the patient’s written consent unless otherwise permitted under HIPAA or other regulations.

Will my parent(s)/guardians(s) know why I was seen at the Student Health Clinic?

The policy holder of the insurance may receive payment information from the insurance company. This is usually presented on a document titled Explanation of Benefits (EOB). The EOB may list the date of service and what type of service was performed (e.g. labs, immunizations, office visit). It may or may not be further detailed.

Can I obtain insurance coverage through the University of Northern Iowa?

Contact the University of Northern Iowa insurance office - phone: 319-273-7736, or by visiting our health clinic webpage.

What if I have Medicaid coverage?

You need to present your current Medicaid card (Medicaid, Amerigroup, Iowa Total Care) at the time of your visit in order for your charges to be submitted.

Glossary

‌Co-payment/Co-insurance: A percentage or amount that you are responsible for paying as determined by your insurance company.
‌Deductible: The amount the patient or insured will need to pay before insurance will pay for covered expenses.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB): A document sent to the policyholder, listing the charges submitted to insurance, how much the insurance company will cover, and how much is the patient’s responsibility.
Prior Authorization: Some insurance companies require you to obtain authorization from them before your visit in order for the visit to be covered.

‌HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Federal regulations that protect the privacy of your health information.
Insured: The individuals covered under an insurance policy.
Non-Covered Service/Benefit: Charges submitted to an insurance company that are excluded by the insurance policy or considered non-payable by the insurance company.
Referral: Some insurance companies require you to obtain a referral from your PCP if you choose to be seen by a different provider.

‌Non-Network Provider: (Out-of-Network) The provider seen is not a participating provider of that insurance plan. Therefore, the insurance company may not cover the visit or may cover at a reduced rate. Contact your insurance company before the visit to determine if special arrangements can be made to have these services covered.
Policy holder: The owner of the insurance policy.
Primary Care Provider (PCP): A medical professional who provides a broad spectrum of care and continuity while coordinating the health care of the patient. The PCP is chosen by the patient from a provider list supplied by the insurance company.