Eligibility & Insurance
Students
Can I come here?
You do not need insurance to be seen at The WellCat Health Center, visits are covered by your health fee. To receive services, you must present a valid Chico State ID and meet the eligibility requirements. Although many of our services are free, there are nominal charges for lab work, prescriptions, and supplies.
What's covered?
As an eligible student, the appointment or medical visits and other basic diagnostic testing are included in the prepaid health fee. Other out-of-pocket costs are minimal and discounted.
Do I need insurance?
You do not need heath insurance to be seen at The WellCat Health Center, visits are covered by your pre-paid health fee. However, we do recommend maintaining a health insurance plan for the management of chronic illness, or in the event of unexpected needs, such as Emergency Room care, hospitalization, or specialist referrals. For those who are uninsured, we can offer you assistance in applying for Medi-cal and other services.
International Students
All international students are required by California State University Chancellor’s Office to have adequate medical, medical evacuation, and repatriation insurance coverage by the start of your program at CSU, Chico and at all times thereafter while you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa and you are residing within the U.S.*
More information can be found at the International Student Services website.
What if I have ...
No Insurance:
The WellCat Health Center does not provide or accept insurance for services, all covered services are pre-paid with your student health fee. However, students are strongly encouraged to have a health insurance policy to cover major medical expenses.
Medical Insurance:
Covered California(opens in new window) is California's online marketplace where you can compare and choose health insurance plans. Additionally, you can also learn if you qualify for Medi-Cal, a version of Medicaid.
Reproductive Services:
Family PACT is a low-cost reproductive health service that provides comprehensive family planning services to eligible low-income men and women.
Graduated:
The WellCat Health Center will see graduated students through the end of the semester when graduation took place, after which we will refer the alumni to outside services. If a student needs ongoing service, we will refer the student to outside health care providers after their last eligible month.
Kaiser Permanente:
The WellCat Health Center does not provide or accept insurance for services, all services are pre-paid with your student health fee. There are no Kaiser facilities in the Chico area. If you have a chronic condition requiring regular medical care or prescriptions; you will want to plan ahead with your doctor for ongoing medical care and to ensure you do not run out of medications. The closest Kaiser pharmacy and doctor's offices are in Lincoln and Roseville (60 - 90 miles south of Chico).