Some on-campus health services are subsidized by the Services & Activities Fee, which all matriculated UW Seattle students pay. During quarters in which matriculated students are enrolled and registered for classes, these include:
UW does not offer health insurance to domestic students. Domestic students are defined as US citizens, green card holders, DACA recipients and undocumented students. Domestic students are not required to have health insurance by the University. Many international students and graduate student employees are automatically enrolled in UW-provided health insurance.
Use the links and FAQ below to learn how to affordable access to on- and off-campus care, and how to obtain and use health insurance.
Domestic students who need information about how to obtain insurance should see “How do uninsured students get health insurance?” below.
J1 or F1 visa holders are automatically enrolled in ISHIP
Many graduate students employed by UW have GAIP
Required for all UW students studying abroad
What is health insurance?
Health insurance is essential for students because it protects you from paying the full cost of health care. There are two main kinds of health insurance that are relevant to students:
Most UW students have in-state or out-of-state private insurance. About 25% of Seattle students have Washington State Medicaid, also known as Apple Health. Students with private health insurance should be prepared for out-of-pocket costs, such as premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. Medicaid (Apple Health) has no costs associated with it as long as you only seek covered services with contracted providers.
UW does not offer health insurance to domestic students. Domestic students are defined as US citizens, legal permanents, DACA and undocumented students. Domestic students are not required to have health insurance by the university. Most international students and many graduate employees are automatically enrolled in UW-provided health insurance.
How do uninsured students get health insurance?
If you reside in WA and don’t have health insurance, you will need to seek coverage through Washington Health Plan Finder , Washington state’s health insurance marketplace. It is also known as “the exchange.” International students can find information here on how to get health insurance during periods when they are not covered by ISHIP.
Out-of-state families should note that none of the insurance options available in Washington State will provide coverage for routine care outside of Washington. Plans available through the marketplace only provide emergency coverage out-of-state.
Living in another US state or territory? Use healthcare.gov to find your marketplace and apply for insurance.
There is one application for health insurance through the WA marketplace. By completing this application, you will be sorted based on your eligibility into the appropriate category – private insurance (with or without a government subsidy) or Medicaid (Apple Health). You can elect to not be considered for Medicaid or government assistance, in which case you will only be eligible for full-fee private insurance ($300-600/month).
All US citizens, legal permanent residents and student visa holders are eligible to apply for insurance through the exchange, regardless of income and other criteria. Depending on your income and immigration status, you may be eligible for government subsidies to assist with monthly premiums and other out-of-pocket costs.
Eligibility criteria for private insurance:
Only US citizens and legal permanent residents (green card holders) of more than five years are eligible for Washington State Medicaid (Apple Health). You can apply any time of year for Medicaid. Open enrollment only applies to private insurance. You can still be eligible for Medicaid even if you have private insurance.
Eligibility criteria for Medicaid (Apple Health):
Apply about one week before the student arrives in Seattle and/or current health insurance ends, set aside 30 minutes to complete the application by phone. In many cases, applicants are eligible for coverage immediately, or by the first of the following month. We strongly encourage the student to apply themselves.
There are five managed care organizations (MCOs) that are contracted with Washington State to manage the care of people with Medicaid. The benefits are standard across the plans, but the network of providers differs. In other words, you will want to select a plan based on which doctors, clinics, or health care providers you want to be able to see.
Each plan has a website you can visit:
As you review the websites, answer these questions:
Private insurance plans through the exchange tend to have limited networks of contracted providers, monthly premiums of $0-$800/month depending on the plan and your eligibility for subsidies, and annual deductibles of $1,000-$10,000/year.
Each person has a different set of priorities and needs regarding health care. There is no single plan that is best for all students. You will need to think about your needs and research options before you apply.
Questions you should consider:
Note to out-of-state families: Plans obtained through the state exchange will only provide comprehensive coverage in Washington state. Outside of Washington state, private insurance and Medicaid plans through WA Health Plan Finder will only cover emergency care. The reverse is true of exchange plans obtained outside of Washington State (i.e., California). These plans only provide emergency coverage in Washington State. If you decide not to obtain comprehensive coverage in WA and retain coverage in your home state, be sure you have a plan for what you will do if you need care while in Seattle.
How do I learn more about my insurance?
1. If you have health insurance, complete the Know Your Benefits Worksheet to learn about your coverage and benefits. This is an exercise for your own knowledge. You do not need to submit the worksheet or any other documentation to UW. Out-of-state families will need to determine if their insurance covers services in Washington state. Learn about out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Look into coverage of common health needs, like mental health counseling, urgent care and prescription medication.
2. Identify a primary care provider, an urgent care provider and a pharmacy that are in-network with your insurance plan, where you will get the highest level of coverage. This is especially important if you are ineligible for health insurance (i.e., you are undocumented or on DACA).
Which insurance plans are contracted with Husky Health/UW Medicine?
UW Medicine and Husky Health are contracted with many insurance plans, but there are tens of thousands of plans out there. The only way to know for sure if your plan is contracted is to call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card to complete the Know Your Benefits worksheet.
This list is subject to change and does not guarantee that your insurance will cover the cost of all services with Husky Health/UW Medicine.
Since 2021, you can now select “public option” plans, which have a lower deductible, by choosing a plan with the word “Cascade” in the name. Husky Health is contracted only with the public option plans offered by the insurers listed above.
Note: Husky Health not contracted with Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW). You can change your Apple Health Managed Care plan by calling the Health Care Authority at 1.800.562.3022.
The following commercial insurers are sometimes contracted with UW Medicine/Husky Health. The only way to know for sure if your plan is contracted is to call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and ask the questions posed in the Know Your Benefits worksheet.
There are two types of Tricare: Prime and Select. Determine which you have first.
Tricare Prime
An HMO-style plan available to active-duty personnel, retirees, and their families. Each Prime member is assigned a Primary Care Manager, who provides all routine care and facilitates referrals to specialists as needed. Active duty members must use a military treatment facility for their care, but family members may come to UW Medicine, including Husky Health.
People with Tricare have three ways to obtain medical coverage at Husky Health Center:
Tricare Select
A fee-for-service plan available to active-duty personnel, retirees, and their families. Active duty AND family members may come to UW Medicine, including Husky Health. No referral is needed.
Which campus health services are subsidized?
Some on-campus health services are subsidized by the Services & Activities Fee (SAF), which all matriculated UW Seattle students pay.
Some UW community members are not eligible for these services because they do not pay SAF, including certain exchange programs, postdocs, and others.
During quarters in which matriculated students are enrolled, prepaid services include:
You are eligible for these services only during quarters in which you are enrolled at UW.
For any medical or mental health services not on this list, your health insurance will be billed. You will be responsible for any costs not covered by your insurance plan. Husky Health does not participate in charity care (financial assistance) or offer any discounts based on income or other factors.
What should I do if my insurance doesn’t cover the cost of coming to Husky Health/UW Medicine?
If your insurance does not contract with Husky Health Center and UW Medicine, but does work with other providers in Seattle, you will need to identify providers that you can visit affordably and conveniently, such as those listed below. Use your insurance company’s website to search for contracted providers.
What if I’m a DACA recipient or an undocumented student?
If you are undocumented or a DACA recipient, there may be a few plans that do not have immigration requirements associated with them available outside of the marketplace. These plans include monthly premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. You can contact an insurance broker to learn more.
If you are under the age of 18 or pregnant, regardless of your immigration status, you may be eligible for Apple Health.
If paying for insurance is not an option, you will want to identify affordable providers that you can visit in certain situations:
How can I protect my health information as a dependent?
As of January 2020, a new law (leg.wa.gov) gives dependents (adult dependents and minors who can agree to care without a parent’s consent) the exclusive right to control who has access to their sensitive health information.
Sometimes you need to keep your personal health information private, such as when your health insurer sends you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement after you’ve visited the doctor. The EOB shows what your medical provider charged for the visit and the services, what your insurer allowed and paid, and what you may owe out-of-pocket.
By law (leg.wa.gov), your health plan can’t disclose your information if you tell them in writing that:
Under Washington state law, if you’re age 18 or younger and old enough to consent to your own health care services, your health plan should not release any personal health information about those services, unless you tell them in writing it’s OK. This includes:
