Whitman College has no separate annual health center fee. All full-time students are able to access the college health center, regardless of their particular health insurance.
Physician and nurse-practitioner visits, nursing evaluation/services, overnight stays/inpatient care are available to all full-time students at no cost. A minimal ($1) fee is charged for meals to students who do not have an on-campus food plan. However, there are charges (usually less expensive than those out in the Walla Walla medical community) for: administration of allergy shots, lab work performed on-site, venipuncture, immunizations and other injections, some over-the-counter medications, physical exams, certain medical supplies or procedures, and prescription medications dispensed at the health center from the limited formulary prescription medications carried by the health center.
Health center services or supply costs may be charged to the student’s Whitman account or paid directly to the health center by the student. To protect students’ confidentiality, charges made to the student’s Whitman account will be labeled simply as a “health center charge”. Physical therapy provided onsite by a local hospital’s physical therapist is billed to the student’s health insurance plan by the hospital. Massage therapy provided onsite requires cash payment upfront.
The health center does NOT bill insurance. Students are responsible for requesting a receipt for charged services/supplies if they would like to submit billing information to their health insurance company.
Individual packets of many over-the-counter medications, band-aids, and other medical supplies are readily available and free to the students. In addition, some medical supplies (crutches, wheelchairs for a very limited period of use, heating pads, etc.) are available for temporary loan to students if they are willing to accept a temporary deposit to their student account; the temporary deposit is refunded when the borrowed medical supply item is returned by the student in functional condition without damage.
We STRONGLY recommend that all parents thoroughly educate their student about the benefits, limitations and requirements of the student’s particular health insurance. It is important to explain the deductible amount of the student’s insurance and determine whether the student is required to see a specific participating medical provider out in the community for the best cost/coverage under the student’s particular insurance policy. In addition, please check with your insurance company to determine if a particular pharmacy needs to be used for filling of prescriptions. (By the way, several pharmacies are available within walking distance of the college campus). We also have a specific pharmacy in town that will deliver prescriptions for students to the health center at no additional cost if the student will supply them with a signed form with credit card and insurance information; the insurance company will be charged for the prescription and the student’s credit card will be charged for the prescription co-pay). Charges for medical services in the outside Walla Walla medical community are the financial responsibility of the student.
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