SUBJECT:

Student Health and Well-being Services - Important Information You Need

Dear Student,

Student Health and Well-being has several initiatives, programs and services we want to call to your attention.

New, Remodeled Facility and Medical Home: The Student Health Services (SHS) clinic was remodeled during the summer of 2012. The improvements were made to allow for greater patient privacy and support our ability to provide you with a real "Medical Home", complete with personalized care from your own primary care provider and group team. You will be able to schedule visits by calling your primary care group directly, and will have access to prompt care by a skilled provider. Student Health Services will be open from 8:00 am-4:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 9:00 am-4:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday this fall.

UC SHIP-The Best Health Insurance Option You Can Find: Enrollment in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) is automatic for all registered students as part of the registration process. Students who are already covered by other insurance may be eligible to apply for a Health Fee Waiver. Those students who do not submit a waiver by the waiver deadline are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP. This incredible plan provides generous benefits to covered students such as access to Student Health Services (SHS) with zero out-of-pocket for most services, including primary care visits, routine immunizations and lab tests. The plan also provides up to 100% coverage for students who are referred to UCSD Medical Center specialists and facilities after copays and/or a $300 plan year deductible. Cost for the UC SHIP is $484 per quarter for undergraduate students or $957 for graduate students. For more information about plan benefits, fees, waiver procedure and waiver deadlines, please visit: http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/ucshiphowtouse.shtml. Students who waive UC SHIP can still access SHS on a fee-for-service basis or by purchasing RAFT below.

UCSHIP Health Waiver: A new Health Fee Waiver must be submitted each new academic year. So even if you waived SHIP last year and your insurance has not changed, you still need to do a Health Fee Waiver again for 2013-2014. The deadline to waive UCSHIP without a late fee is 9/20/13 and the late waiver deadline ends on 9/27/13 ($50 late fee applies).

Don't want UC SHIP? Consider a RAFT: Reduced Access Fee for Tritons (RAFT) is the most cost effective way for students who waive UC SHIP to take advantage of convenient on campus medical care at SHS during the academic year (fall, winter and spring only). For $50 per quarter, RAFT provides prepaid access to scheduled visits, in-house labs and x-ray services at SHS. All registered students have access to SHS regardless of whether they have UC SHIP or not, but RAFT gives students who waive UC SHIP the peace of mind that they can be seen at SHS for many of their primary care needs right on campus without the worry of high costs. Students who waive UC SHIP but do not purchase RAFT will be required to pay the full cost of all services at SHS. Please visit http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/raft.shtml for more information.

UCSHIP Pharmacy Benefit Change: For students enrolled in SHIP, there are two big pharmacy benefit changes coming. First, the pharmacy benefit maximum has been removed. This is great news, especially for students who take high cost medications. Second, Ventegra will be the new pharmacy benefits manager. You'll still be able to get your prescriptions filled at SHS, which we recommend that you do whenever possible. For those times when you can't get to the SHS pharmacy or for medications that are not available at SHS, you'll be able to use an outside pharmacy in the Ventegra network. Keep in mind that you'll be subject to higher copays for prescriptions that are not filled at SHS. You will receive a new Anthem insurance card with the Ventegra information on it. Please visit our website for more information about your SHIP pharmacy benefit plan.

Immunization Recommendations: MENINGITIS: The CDC recently updated recommendations to include a booster shot to protect from infection. While meningococcal meningitis is rare, it is very serious and can be fatal, and we strongly recommend immunization. If you were vaccinated once before age 16 and are currently 21 or younger, we strongly recommend that you receive a booster. For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6003a3.htm?s_cid=mm6003a3_w

PERTUSSIS: Pertussis, or Whooping Cough, recently made resurgence across the U.S., and can be fatal for infants who become infected. To prevent yourself and others from contracting this serious illness, we strongly urge you to receive the Tdap vaccine before coming to campus this fall.

FLU: Student Health Services will be offering multiple flu vaccination clinics this fall. Flu shots are free to students with SHIP, and will be provided at low cost to students with other insurance. Visit our website at http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/ for updates regarding flu-shot clinic dates.

TB Screening-It's Required! All incoming students are expected to complete the online tuberculosis screening questions via TritonLink and, if necessary, send in a clearance form by their healthcare provider in order to avoid delays in their registration. Tuberculosis is a potentially serious disease and San Diego is a high-risk area. Therefore, we are undertaking this effort to protect our students from infection and illness.

Alcohol Risk Reduction: We have a number of resources at UC San Diego to support students who choose not to drink, to help those who drink avoid high-risk drinking, and to assist those with alcohol use problems. Evidence shows, that as a first-year student, the first 6 weeks of the first quarter are critical to your academic success. Don't let alcohol interfere with your successful transition to campus life and ultimate academic success. Some students suffered consequences years later for mistakes made during the first few weeks of school. This is an exciting time for you, and we want you to enjoy and remember every minute of it. With safe party tips, surveys and information on local and state laws related to alcohol use and abuse, visit http://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/atodeducation.shtml for great resources for you, your roommates and/or friends.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) CAPS is also an integral member of the Student Health and Well-Being cluster. CAPS is committed to promoting student mental health and well-being that is conducive to growth, flourishing, academic achievement, and lifelong learning. CAPS provides confidential psychological counseling services, group counseling, workshops, and forums for students free of charge. CAPS also provides urgent and emergency counseling services for students in crisis. In addition, the CAPS staff and our Wellness Peer Educators provide many outreach presentations to students on mental health and well-being topics such as stress management, healthy lifestyles, assisting students in crisis. We also host campus-wide events such as National Depression Screening Day. For more information about CAPS, please visit our website at: http://caps.ucsd.edu, or call them at (858) 534-3755.

Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention Resource Center (SARC) SARC offers free and confidential services for students affected by sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. Services include: 24/7 crisis support, counseling, assistance with reporting options, and accompaniment to police, medical forensic exams, and court. In addition, SARC offers programs on consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, and much more! Visit http://sarc.ucsd.edu for more information.

The Zone UCSD's lounge for student well-being is located in Price Center Plaza, where students can enjoy a variety of FREE wellness programs! Discover healthy lifestyle tips. Connect with campus-wide wellness resources. Explore free programs like stress management workshops, healthy cooking demos, and fitness classes. Relax with fun-loving therapy dogs, creative craft workshops, chair massages, and more! Learn all about what The Zone has to offer at www.zone.ucsd.edu.

Smoke-free Campus Initiative UCSD is a Tobacco and Smoke-free campus as of September 1, 2013. This will contribute to a healthy environment for all staff, students, faculty and visitors. Please visit http://smokefree.ucsd.edu/ for complete information about this Systemwide policy. If you are a student and a smoker who would like to quit, Student Health Services can help. You can make an appointment with a Health Educator at Student Health Services by calling (858) 534-5571. Smoking cessation appointments at SHS are free, and cessation aids are available.

Thank you for choosing UC San Diego. We look forward to helping you achieve your academic and personal goals by keeping you well.

All the best this academic year,

Karen J. Calfas, Ph.D. Executive Director - Student Health and Well-being