Each semester, all registered Binghamton University students (full- and part-time, graduate and undergraduate) pay a student health fee as part of their tuition. The student health fee supports all of the Decker Student Health Services Center (DSHSC) programs and services. Therefore, the student's health insurance will not be billed and the student will not incur any copays when they visit the DSHSC. Certain vaccines and medications have an associated cost, but using them is voluntary. Students needing medical care during the summer may choose to pay a voluntary health fee to be treated at the DSHSC.
The student health fee does not pay for, or reduce the costs, for services received outside of the DSHSC. Students are responsible for these expenses, including those obtained at private physicians’ offices, pharmacies, hospitals, walk-in clinics and urgent care centers. Full-time domestic undergraduate students and all international students are required to have health insurance to help pay costs not covered by the student health fee.
The student health fee also covers the cost of some medications and medical supplies, as long as the DSHSC medical staff order them for students. There is no pharmacy available on campus, but medications for treating some common illnesses are available to be dispensed by the medical providers at our office. If a student needs a medication that is not available to be dispensed, they will be given a prescription to fill at a local pharmacy (a list of pharmacies is available).
In summary, the DSHSC is an excellent place to seek high-quality, low-cost healthcare for currently enrolled Binghamton University students or students enrolled in an affiliated entity, Below is a detailed list of which DSHSC services are free, and which services incur a fee:
Free:
The student health fee covers the following (so currently enrolled students pay no
additional fees for them):
- Office visits (e.g., medical clinics, gynecology clinics, flu/influenza, psychiatric consultation, etc.)
- Some immunizations (see Immunizations for more information)
-
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- Tuberculin/PPD (not placed on Thursdays)
-
- Some medications (if part of the center's dispensary)
-
- Isoniazid (INH) therapy
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- Health education and counseling
- Pregnancy testing
- Testing for infectious illnesses
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- HIV
- Gonorrhea and chlamydia
- Strep throat
- COVID-19
- Influenza
- Urine analysis
- Testing for yeast or fungal infections
-
Fee:
The student health fee does not cover the following:
- Some immunizations (see Immunizations for more information)
- Medications that aren’t part of the center's dispensary, including most over-the-counter medications
- Laboratory tests that are not performed in our office, such as most blood tests – Either a student's insurance covers these costs or the student must pay out-of-pocket
- Radiology tests (students must go off-site for these; either a student’s insurance covers these costs or the student must pay out-of-pocket)
- Emergency contraception
- Birth control
- Services received during the summer (unless the student has paid a voluntary health fee)