Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: Who has access to the Health Center?
A: Access to the UCF Health Center is limited to health fee-paying students or qualified “off semester” students. Spouses and domestic partners of students are eligible to use the Health Center if they meet certain criteria, including the pre-payment of a $100/semester health fee. Additionally, faculty and staff of UCF may use the Health Center if they have qualifying BlueCross PPO (excluding Blue Options), United Healthcare, or AvMed insurance coverage.
Q: Are there “real” doctors in the Health Center?
A: Yes, our physicians are all Board Certified.
Q: Am I automatically assigned a physician?
A: No, you may choose to see anyone of our physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners. For your first visit the appointments staff will try to match you with an available provider appropriate to your medical concerns. After your first visit you may either stay with that provider or ask for someone else during subsequent visits.
Insurance
Q: I already have health insurance. Why do I have to pay a health fee?
A: The health fee is a state-mandated fee that all students attending a four-year state university are required to pay, regardless of insurance coverage. The health fee entitles you to unlimited primary care visits with no office charge and it enables us to provide other affordable services such as lab tests, x-rays, and various clinical procedures (e.g. suturing, dressings, etc.).
Q: Which insurance plans does the Health Center accept?
A: The Health Center participates with the student health insurance plan, administered by Aetna Student Health, as well as Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO (excluding Blue Options), United Healthcare and AvMed.
Q: Can the Health Center file claims with my insurance company?
A: Yes, if you have Aetna Student Health, BlueCross BlueShield PPO, United Health Care, AvMed or out of network benefits on any other insurance plan. The Business Office will need a completed Insurance Processing Agreement and a copy of the front and back of your insurance card in order to submit the claim for you.
Q: Where can I find more information about the Student Health Insurance Plan
by Aetna Student Health?
A: Please refer to our Insurance page on this website or visit
www.aetnastudenthealth.com.
Immunizations
Q: Where can I obtain my immunization records?
A: You can ask your parents/guardians to see if they have any official documentation for you. Your doctor or former pediatrician may have your immunizations on file. You can also try your county health department or any public school that you have attended. Previous colleges (except community colleges) or universities are good sources, also.
Q: What is an MMR?
A: An MMR is the Measles, Mumps and Rubella combination vaccine.
Q: Is this just a University of Central Florida requirement?
A: No. All Florida State University System schools and some private institutions require proof of two MMR shots. Some
schools may have additional requirements. Some departments within UCF may have separate requirements for immunizations that are
not monitored by Health Services.
Q: When is the deadline to submit my immunization records?
A: You must submit the records before registering for courses at UCF (registration is usually done at orientation). Please take care of this requirement after you have been admitted but prior to your orientation session to avoid any delay in registering for classes.
Q: What if my doctor doesn’t have an office stamp?
A: Ask your doctor’s office to write the dates of your shots on their office letterhead,
note that they do not have an office stamp, and sign it. It is helpful to
have your date of birth on the form as well.
Q: I have documents from the health department or my former school. Do I still need to complete the UCF Immunization form?
A: Yes, your bio/demographic information and signature are required on the left side of the form. Copies of your other
records can then be attached to the form and submitted.
Q: Why were my shot records good enough to get through public school, but not sufficient for UCF?
A: Until fairly recently, almost all public schools in Florida only required that you have one dose of the Measles
immunization. The State of Florida now requires two doses of measles for all public school and university students.
Q: I was in the military. Doesn’t this prove that I've had all my immunizations?
A: No. While most people in the military have received many immunizations, the requirement states that we must have your actual immunization dates on file. You may submit copies of your military shot record, which we can review to determine if the requirements have been met.
Q: I attended another Florida State University System school; do I still have to show proof of immunizations when the
requirements are the same?
A: Each university stores the data differently and these systems are not linked together. You can simply contact the health services department of your former school and ask them to fax the records to UCF Health Services for review.
Q: I got my first shot before my first birthday, why would this be unacceptable?
A: Immunizations given prior to your first birthday may be ineffective because your immune system was not fully developed.
The CDC recommends that the Measles and Rubella immunizations be given after you are one year old. That is the policy established
in the requirements.
Q: If I was born before January 1, 1957, do I still have to submit proof of MMR shots?
A: No, you are exempt. You are required to submit the Immunization Form, however. Just complete the top portion of the form, and submit.
Q: I had my transcripts sent to UCF and they were supposed to contain my immunization records. Why don’t you have them?
A: College transcripts generally do not contain immunization records. You will have to request a copy of these records from the health services department of your former school. Many high school transcripts do contain immunization records. However, these transcripts are sent directly to Undergraduate Admissions and become the property of that office. You will need to obtain a separate copy of these records from your high school and submit them directly to UCF Health Services. There are cases when high school transcripts are received electronically. The dates of the MMR shots are directly put in the software our office uses. Please call 407.823.3707 and we would be glad to check and see if your immunization record is already showing in our system.
Q: What kind of proof of shots do you accept?
A: We will accept any official form containing your name, date of birth, the names of the shots, and the dates of the shots. These forms or documents may be from a medical office, a school, or military records. Copies of baby book pages where your parents wrote in the shots are not official records and are unacceptable.
Q: What if I cannot find my records?
A: If you are unable to locate your immunization records, you can either retake the vaccines or you can take a titer test. Because you must wait at least 30 days between the two doses, contact our office if this interferes with your UCF orientation deadline. We will work with you to ensure the requirement is met.
Q: Where may I obtain the shots?
A: MMR shots are available at the UCF Health Center. You may also receive them at public health offices or private doctors’
offices.
Q: What is a titer test?
A: It is a blood test that tests the level of antibodies in a person’s bloodstream. Positive IGG titers for Measles and
Rubella may be submitted in lieu of immunizations. A copy of the lab report MUST be attached to your immunization form.
Q: Where do I send the Immunization Form?
A: Our address is in the upper right corner of the form:
UCF Health Services - Health Information Management
P.O. Box 163333, Orlando, FL 32816
Please be sure to keep a copy for your records.
You may also fax the form to us at 407.823.3135.
Q: Are the Hepatitis B and Meningitis shots required to enroll at UCF?
A: All UCF students are required to either document receiving the Hepatitis B and Meningitis vaccines or sign the waiver on the UCF Mandatory Immunization form.
International Students
Q: For what duration do international students need to purchase insurance?
A: You are required to have health insurance for the duration of the semester for which you are trying to register. If you want to register for the fall semester, you will need to be insured from August 20 until January 5 (of the following year), at least. If you want to register for the spring semester, you will need to be insured from January 5 until May 20, at least. If you want to register for the summer semester, you will need to be insured from May 20 until August 20, at least. If you are not taking classes or if you are out of the country during the summer semester, you are still required to have health insurance. To avoid any confusion with those dates, the office advises you to have annual coverage for your time spent as a UCF student (e.g. from May 20 until May 20 of the following year).
Q: Do International Students have to buy the insurance offered by UCF?
A: International students are not required to purchase the health insurance plan that is offered through UCF. However, the UCF plan by Aetna Student Health does meet the criteria set by State of Florida officials and is recommended. Other medical insurance plans that meet the criteria and requirements are acceptable. International students are encouraged not to purchase the plan with the lowest cost if it does not provide adequate benefits if you happen to get sick or injured. The International Services Center (phone: 407.823.2337) has a list of alternative insurance companies for you to consider.
Q: If I buy the insurance offered by UCF, how do I apply? Can I send my payment directly to the insurance company?
A: When you choose to purchase the health insurance plan that is offered at UCF, you may come into the Health Information Management office (2nd floor of the Health Center) to make your payment. The methods of payment that are accepted are: personal checks, credit cards (Visa or MasterCard only), and money orders. We are unable to accept cash.
You may also enroll online at www.aetnastudenthealth.com. Just bring us your payment receipt as proof of purchase.
Q: I am an international student. Do I have to fill out the Compliance Form or can I just bring in my insurance card?
A: The office will not accept a copy of your insurance card only. It is mandatory for all international students who have insurance from an outside company to have a UCF Compliance Form completed by their insurance representative. The Compliance Form lists what the insurance requirements are and the office staff must determine whether your insurance plan meets the requirements or does not meet the requirements.
Q: I have insurance through my employer, what do I do?
A: If you have health insurance through your employer, you will need to have a Compliance Form filled out by a representative of the health insurance company your employer uses. If your coverage does not match the State of Florida requirements, contact UCF Health Services Health Information Management to discuss your options.
Q: I have insurance through a family member, what do I do?
A: If you have health insurance through a family member, you will need to have a Compliance Form filled out by a representative of the health insurance company your family member uses. If your coverage does not match the State of Florida requirements, contact UCF Health Services Information Management to discuss your options.
Q: I have an Insurance Hold, but my insurance is current. Why do I have this Hold?
A: Even though you have health insurance for the current semester, the office will put you back on hold (toward the middle of the semester) as a reminder to show us proof of health insurance for the following semester. The office must know in advance that you will have health insurance during the semester for which you are trying to register. This hold will only prohibit the next semester’s REGISTRATION, nothing more.
A: Regardless of national health care systems, no international student is exempt from the requirement. However, different countries have different ways of meeting this requirement. Please call our office for further explanation if you have questions about this.