Prepaid Services for UW Seattle Students
Some on-campus health services are subsidized by the Services & Activities Fee, which all matriculated UW Seattle students pay.
Insurance 101
To learn more about how insurance works at Husky Health Center, please continue reading below or download our Digital Insurance Guide.
Download Our Digital Insurance Guide
Key Points From The Digital Insurance Booklet
Health insurance can be very confusing, but it is important! Insurance protects you from unexpected expenses related to healthcare so you can stay healthy and focus on your studies. Many students have private insurance or may be eligible to stay on a parent or family member’s plan until age 26, which may have out-of-pocket costs. Other students may be eligible for government-funded health insurance plans like Medicaid (Apple Health in Washington). Regardless of your insurance status, the Husky Health Center team is here to help you! This guide answers common questions about health insurance and how to use it while you are a student at the University of Washington.
In-network provider: A health care provider, clinic or facility that has a contract with your health insurance company. You will pay less out-of-pocket when you visit an in-network provider. Also known as “contracted provider.”
Out-of-network provider: A health care provider, clinic, or facility that does not have a contract with your health insurance company. You will likely pay much more out-of-pocket when you visit an out-of-network provider and will be required to pay for otherwise covered preventive services (i.e., birth control, vaccines).
Deductible: The amount of money you pay out-of-pocket over a designated period of time as you receive services (i.e., one academic quarter, one year) before your insurance begins to cover the cost of services.
Coinsurance: The percentage of the cost of your care that your insurance requires that you pay. For example, your insurance might cover 90% of the cost, leaving you to pay the remaining 10%. You usually do not pay coinsurance at the time of your appointment, but receive a bill later.
Copay: A flat fee that you are charged at the time of service (i.e., doctor’s appointment, picking up medication at a pharmacy). For example, you may have a $20 monthly copay for certain types of medications.
Preventive care: A group of services that your insurance covers at 100% when you visit any in-network provider. This usually includes annual check-ups, most birth control methods and many vaccines, including the flu vaccine.
The University of Washington offers two health insurance programs to eligible students: The International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) for international students (J1 and F1 student visa holders only), and the Graduate Appointee Insurance Plan (GAIP) for certain graduate student employees. Students on the ISHIP and GAIP have specific benefits at Husky Health Center, and while UW does not offer a health insurance plan for other students, chances are good that you can use the insurance you do have at Husky Health Center.
Residency for the purpose of applying for health insurance is defined differently than for UW tuition.
To be considered a resident of Washington State, you must have a local address (including university housing) and intend to stay in Washington after school. If you apply for insurance as a non-resident, you will not be eligible for Medicaid (Apple Health) or government subsidies to help with the cost of private insurance.
>If you have health insurance, complete the Know Your Benefits worksheet (page 4) by calling your insurance company and visiting their website
> If your insurance does not provide coverage in Seattle, or you are uninsured, make arrangements
> Carry your insurance card with you at all times, and take a picture of the front and back of it with your phone
> If you have ISHIP or GAIP, set up an account on the Lifewise portal and review your insurance plan’s benefit booklet
> Identify providers that are contracted with your health insurance and document them for future reference
> If you would like a family member to have access to your medical record, complete a release of information form with any Seattle provider(s)
> If you have any ongoing medical conditions, establish care by scheduling an appointment with your chosen primary care provider and arranging for records transfer
Insurance company name and phone number:
Name of representative & date of call:
Is UW Medicine/Husky Health Center/UW Physicians (tax ID number
91-1220843) contracted with my insurance?
Are the HHC Lab and Rubenstein Pharmacy (tax identification number 91-6001537) contracted with my health insurance?
Where/how can I find a complete list of contracted providers?
Do I have any deductibles? For which services do they apply?
How much are they?
Do I have to pay coinsurance for medical and mental health care
(% of the cost of care)? How much is it?
What is the maximum out-of-pocket cost I would pay each year?
What are my outpatient mental health benefits? What portion of the cost must I pay (i.e., to see a therapist)?
Is intensive outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment covered? What portion of the cost must I pay?
Do I need prior authorization or a referral for any services?
Do I have any copays?
What is my dental benefit?
What is my vision benefit?
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
UW does not offer health insurance to most domestic students. This generally includes any US citizen, green card holder, or undocumented student who is not otherwise eligible for the ISHIP or GAIP. UW does not require domestic students to have health insurance as a condition of enrollment at the university, but it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
APPLYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE ON THE MARKETPLACE
Most students can apply for health insurance via Washington State’s health insurance marketplace, Washington Health Plan Finder. Undocumented students are the only population who is not eligible to use the marketplace. Two types of insurance are available:
> Medicaid (Apple Health) – Medicaid is a government health insurance program for eligible Washington State residents (see definition below) who are US citizens or green card holders of more than five years. You can apply any time of year for Medicaid.
> Private Insurance – Private insurance plans on the exchange have out-of-pocket costs. Depending on your income and other factors, you may be eligible for help with these costs. Undocumented students are ineligible to apply for private insurance. Many students will be eligible to apply outside of the open enrollment period (usually November 1st – December 15th) because they have moved or lost health insurance in the last 60 days, which qualifies them for a special enrollment period.
HOW TO APPLY
Call the health insurance navigators at Public Health-Seattle & King County to apply at 800.756.5437 about a week before you arrive in Seattle (if relevant) or before your existing health insurance ends, using a local address (residence hall is fine) and estimate of your current income. You will need to choose an insurance plan at the end of the application (see page 8). If you need help choosing a plan, see page 7 for assistance options, such as contacting one of our insurance navigators.
OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS
Some out-of-state families and students may find that it is not affordable to get coverage in both their home state and in Washington. Many out-of-state plans will provide only emergency coverage in Washington.
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
Because immigration status is a criterion for eligibility to use Washington Health Plan Finder, undocumented students have a difficult time getting insurance coverage.
Complete the Know Your Benefits worksheet or contact our insurance navigators (206-685-1011) to learn more about your coverage.
THE GRADUATE APPOINTEE INSURANCE PLAN (GAIP)
The Graduate Appointee Insurance Plan (GAIP) covers many graduate student employees. GAIP waives the $75 quarterly deductible and 10% coinsurance only at Husky Health, up to $1000 each year. You can find information about benefits and search for in-network providers in Seattle and elsewhere on the Lifewise GAIP website (student.lifewiseac.com/uw/gaip).
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN (ISHIP)
The International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) covers J1 and F1 student visa holders while they are students at the university. You can find information about benefits and find in-network providers at student.lifewiseac.com/uw/ship. ISHIP waives the $100 quarterly deductible for all services only at Husky Health and covers 75% of the cost of medical services. You pay 25% of the cost. ISHIP covers 90% of the cost of mental health services; you pay 10% of the cost.
Note: GAIP and ISHIP programs are not administered by Husky Health Center, but if you have questions about your benefits and coverage under these plans, please contact our office for assistance.
UW Medicine and Husky Health are contracted with hundreds of insurance plans. The only way to know for sure if your plan is contracted is to complete the Know Your Benefits worksheet
PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS ON WASHINGTON’S MARKETPLACE
The following companies listed on wahealthplanfinder.org are contracted with UW Medicine/Husky Health for 2024-25:
Premera
United Healthcare (UHC)
Molina
BridgeSpan
APPLE HEALTH (MEDICAID) MANAGED CARE PLANS
The following Apple Health managed care plans are currently contracted with UW Medicine/Husky Health:
Molina
Amerigroup
Coordinated Care
United Healthcare
Note: UW Medicine is 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.
OTHER PLANS
The following commercial insurers are contracted with UW Medicine/Husky Health. This does not necessarily mean your specific plan will provide coverage. Complete the Know Your Benefits worksheet
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
CIGNA
First Choice Health
Lifewise (ISHIP & GAIP only)
Multiplan
Premera Blue Cross
Regence Blue Shield
Uniform Medical Plan (Regence BlueShield)
UnitedHealthcare
KAISER
Kaiser Permanente HMO plans only cover the cost of going to Kaiser facilities. There are two Kaiser locations near UW – Capitol Hill and Northgate.
TRICARE
For non-active duty service members and their families, Tricare Prime and Tricare Select covers the cost of visiting Husky Health Center for primary and specialty care, which includes other clinics in UW Medicine. If you have Tricare Prime and would like to be seen at Husky Health Center, you will need to designate us as your primary care manager by first notifying your TRICARE plan administrator. HHC is in network for the Tricare West Region, but is out of network for the Humana Tricare East region.
COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN OF WASHINGTON APPLE HEALTH (MEDICAID)
The Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) Medicaid plan does not cover the cost of services at Husky Health or UW Medicine. If you have the CHPW Apple Health plan and would like to visit Husky Health for care, you can switch to Molina, Amerigroup, or Coordinated Care by calling the Health Care Authority at 1.800.562.3022. You must make your request to change plans by the 20th day of the month to have the new plan activated by the 1st of the following month.
Questions?
Domestic students can get help with insurance by contacting Public Health – Seattle & King County’s health insurance navigators at by emailing uwhhc@uw.edu
International students can reach the ISHIP Counselor at stdins@uw.edu | 206.543-6202
Graduate students with GAIP can reach UW HR at uwgaip@uw.edu
General Inquiries | uwhhc@uw.edu | 206.685.1011
WA Health Plan Finder | wahealthplanfinder.com | 855.WA.FINDER (855.923.4633)
Public Health – Seattle & King County Insurance Navigators | 800.756.5437
International Students
J1 or F1 visa holders are automatically enrolled in ISHIP
Learn about ISHIP
Graduate student appointees
Many graduate students employed by UW have GAIP
Learn about GAIP
UW Study Abroad Insurance
Required for all UW students studying abroad
Learn about CISI
