Student Health Center/Infirmary
The Davidson College Student Health Center provides routine health care with the services of a full-time nursing staff and part-time physicians. A health educator and nutritionist are also available to meet with students on an appointment basis. You can contact the Health Center at extension 2300. The Health Service’s Infirmary has a limited number of beds available for the care of students who need observation and supervision or whose illness calls for time away from the residence hall setting. Unless an emergency occurs, you must visit the college Student Health Center/Infirmary before seeking outpatient treatment. The Health Center will then decide whether you qualify for further medical attention. If your sickness/injury is minor, a nurse or physician will probably be able to help you. A doctor is available Monday - Friday from 1:30 pm-4:30pm, by appointment as well as Tuesday 9:30am-12:30pm, also by appointment. Nurses are available Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. After hours, weekends and holidays, there is a Nurse-on-Call at (704) 337-7047. Unless you visit the infirmary and get a referral before getting further medical attention, you must pay for your first visit to the external healthcare provider. Note that this does not apply for emergency situations. Please do not hesitate to call 911 or visit the nearest hospital if an emergency occurs. There is no charge for seeing the nurse or physician at the Student Health Center. However, you will be asked to pay for some medicines, injections, lab work, etc. The Student Health Center is not open during winter and summer break. International students who are on-campus at that time can call Davidson Family Medicine at 704-892-5454 to arrange for an appointment. These are the same physicians who staff the Student Health Center when school is in session. To find transportation, ask your host parents, friends, or the International Student Office. If all else fails, please do not hesitate to contact the Dean of Students Office. The Davidson College insurance policy will cover the cost of your visit to the medical center. Below are listed the approximate fees for some routine medical services. One Office Visit $65 – $85; Blood test $40 – $100; Throat culture $32; Physical checkup - Cost of one office visit plus any lab test fees. Please be aware that these fees are general estimates only. Usually, when an injury/sickness occurs, you should report to the infirmary. Student Health Services provides for basic health needs right on campus. Services for all students are offered through the Student Counseling Center and the Student Health Center/Infirmary. Notify the International Student Advisor about special needs (allergies, diabetes, etc.) and make sure to bring copies of your medical records to give to the Student Health Center. The Dining Service personnel will be happy to discuss special menus when needed for health reasons. Dental/Optometric Care
Dental care is available to students at their own expense through two private dental practices in Davidson. An optometry practice is available in the neighboring town of Cornelius (one mile). Ophthalmologists are available in Mooresville (7 miles), Cornelius (one mile), and Charlotte (19 miles). The International Student Office’s staff will be happy to supply the names and telephone numbers of these health professionals. Because dental and optometry care are quite expensive in the United States, it is suggested that you have any major needs taken care of at home. Also, we recommend that you bring a copy of your prescription for your glasses and/or contact lenses. This will facilitate replacement of these items should the need arise. Glasses range in price from $200-$400 and contacts range in price from $80-$150. A crown for one tooth averages around $700-$800 and a root canal averages $400-$600. Filing Insurance Claims
To make an insurance claim, make sure you obtain an insurance claim form at the infirmary You can fill in the insurance form yourself or you can give the form to the hospital or clinic that you have visited. Some doctors will file the insurance claim form for you as a form of payment and you do not have to pay for your visit. However, the majority of doctors will ask that you pay the amount owed and then file a claim to reimburse the money spent. The probability that a college-affiliated doctor would accept the insurance claim as payment is much higher than other doctors. If you are filing a claim for “Outpatient Prescribed Medicine Expense”, REMEMBER to save all your receipts as proof of purchase. You will have to send the receipt together with the claim form. If in doubt, call up the toll-free number 1-800-342-4841 and ask for further information from the Markel Insurance Company representative. Keep copies of all forms and receipts. Make sure you remember your personal insurance ID card. It is your responsibility to file the claim and collect the reimbursement. The college WILL NOT file any claims on your behalf. If you are unable to make any payments, please call the International Student Advisor at (704) 894-2010 and ask for help. The office will hopefully be able to negotiate with the doctor and come up with a feasible plan. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does my accident & sickness insurance plan cover?
A: Please refer to the insurance brochure mailed to you regarding the coverage offered by the policy. This insurance policy offers basic accident and sickness benefits. Basic accident benefits include loss of life, eyesight or limb. Basic sickness benefits include hospital room and board expenses, surgical expenses, in-hospital or outpatient physician fees and many more (please read the brochure for specific details.) However, unlike other international insurance policies, the Davidson plan does not include repatriation benefits. Q: What are repatriation benefits?
A: The repatriation benefit pays to transport the remains of a student to the home country should the student die in the host country. Q: What is the maximum limit of my coverage?
A: The insurance company will cover, as stated on the brochure, all sickness and accident benefits that are incurred within the fifty-two weeks up to a maximum of USD$10,000. Q: Does the insurance policy cover injuries sustained during practice or play in a sporting event?
A: No! The insurance will not cover any injuries sustained while playing a sport. The policy also does not cover hospital/clinical expenses incurred if the injury or sickness sustained is due to the influence of alcohol or drugs. Thus, if you were to get sick after having too much to drink, you would have to pay for any fees incurred if you visit a hospital/clinic. Q: Do I get to make any claims if I visit a dentist?
A: No, unfortunately, the policy does not cover dental treatment except for treatment resulting from injury to natural teeth. Q: In the “Outpatient Physician Fees Expense” section, what does “First Visit Deductible” mean? What are the criteria for the infirmary to waive the fees?
A: “First Visit Deductible” means that you are asked to pay the full fees incurred for the first time you visit a physician. The insurance policy will only be effective if you visit a physician for the second time. Most of us are only concerned about making a regular visit to the doctor. Every time you have a sickness/injury, you should go to the infirmary. This is IMPORTANT because the infirmary physician will decide whether you need additional medical attention other than what the Student Health Center can provide. When referred by the physician at the infirmary, the school insurance company will waive the “First Visit Deductible” rule and you will be able to claim insurance benefits. Otherwise, if you decide to go to a private clinic on your own without the recommendation of the infirmary, the “First Visit Deductible” rule will apply and you will have to pay for the first visit. Q: Will I be insured during summer, winter breaks or any other holidays?
A: Yes, the policy will cover students who are under the plan and are enrolled in Davidson College and remain in the United States. The key phrase here is “student of Davidson College.” As long as you are a certified student of this institution, you will be covered during the time period in which this policy is effective. Q: What if I am spending a semester or year abroad under a Davidson Abroad Program?
A: You will have extremely minimal coverage under the Davidson insurance policy. Furthermore, if you go abroad in programs other than a Davidson sponsored program, then, you are no longer covered under this policy since you are no longer a Davidson student. This is because a new visa is required to enroll in other programs. Remember to retain the receipts for your visit so that you can be reimbursed. Call the toll free number 1-800-342-4841 at Markel Insurance Company to inform them that you are studying abroad and that you want to file a claim. Q: What happens if there is an emergency and I am away from the campus? Do I need to notify the infirmary beforehand? Will I still be able to claim benefits?
A: If you are in an emergency, by all means, go ahead and rush to the nearest hospital. Please do not hesitate or try to call the infirmary. The insurance policy states that you have the right to claim benefits just so long as you follow the physician’s advice and that you contact the infirmary within thirty days after the date of the covered accident or sickness. Q: If I call a cab or any form of private transportation other than an ambulance to go to a hospital, can I be reimbursed?
A: No. Q: I feel that the Davidson Insurance Plan does not provide adequate coverage. Is there anything I can do?
A: Yes. The Davidson plan covers only your basic medical needs. If you feel that you need additional coverage, you can enroll in other insurance plans that are offered by other companies. Once you can show proof that you are adequately covered by other insurance companies, you can decide not to buy the Davidson Insurance Plan. Q: If I am on financial aid, does the college pay for my insurance premiums?
A: Yes. If you are a foreign national and you are on financial aid (need-based grants), the college will credit your account for $340 to pay for the insurance plan. This $340 will be added to your financial aid package. Health Insurance
Any student in the Davidson College student body who does not have health insurance with a United States health insurance company will be required to purchase Davidson College insurance. This insurance will be billed through the Business Service Office as part of the College fees. Remember to check your statement to make sure it is credited. Student Counseling
The Student Counseling Center offers a broad range of services to assist students with personal growth. Many students visit the counseling center for help with the following: --time management --stress management --study techniques and academic problems --counseling regarding a variety of life circumstances --coping with the difficulties associated with studying and living in a busy environment --dating and relationships --death of a family member --serious problems such as eating disorders --anxiety --depression --drug and alcohol abuse --divorce and family problems Up to ten meetings or sessions per year are available to each student at no charge. It is very acceptable for Davidson students to talk with a counselor; as many as half of any one class will see a counselor sometime during their college years. All counseling information is kept confidential and is not part of a student's official college record. Counseling Center hours are Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm and can be reached at extension 2451. Later appointments are available upon request. After hours, weekends and holidays, there is a Counselor-on-Call at 980-230-9266.
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