On-Campus Resources
Wellesley Health Services
781.283.2810 (phone)
781.283.3693 (fax)
Location: Wellesley College Club Building, 1st Floor, at 727 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.
Off- hours and non-urgent messaging, appointment requests, and communication should be done through the Patient Gateway while on campus. Incoming students without Gateway accounts may contact us via HealthMD@wellesley.edu. Please note this email is NOT secure and not checked regularly.
You can learn more about Health Services (including Insurance and Billing, Prescriptions and Pharmacies, and Community Resources etc.) by visiting Health Service Website.
After Hours
Please call Health Services at 781-283-2810 to connect with an on-call provider who can answer your medical questions.
Emergency
In the event of a medical emergency on-campus, contact Campus Police 781.283.5555.
If you are off-campus and need immediate medical attention, call 911 for an ambulance or go to a nearby emergency room ( see Nearby Hospitals & Clinics ).
Finding Doctors/Specialists
Wellesley College Health Services staff can assist you in finding local specialists should you need specialty medical care.
Nearby Hospitals & Clinics
Most hospitals offer medical interpreters in many languages. Below is a short list of facilities in the area. Contact the hospitals or visit their website for more information.
2014 Washington Street, Newton, MA
617.243.6000 (main)
617.243.6566/866.NWH.DOCS (physician referral service) or http://www.nwh.org/physicianSearchResults.asp?categoryid+332
75 Francis Street, Boston, MA
617.732.5500 (main)
1.800.BWH.9999 (physician search) or
https://physiciandirectory.brighamandwomens.org/
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA
617.726.2000 (main)
800.711.4644 (physician referral services) or
http://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/
Health Insurance
Prior to arriving at Wellesley College, new students are required to complete and return the Student Health History Form and Health Care Provider Form by July 1st. If you are arriving mid-year, the form should be returned by January 13th. If you have not done this yet, you may visit Health Services to download the required forms and read more about the immunization requirements as mandated by the State of Massachusetts.
Find out more about the Wellesley College insurance plan, as well as the dental and vision coverage for students, click here.
Insurance Requirements
The Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Program Regulation requires all college students to show proof that they have health insurance coverage while they are attending a higher education institution in the Commonwealth. Students are required to either waive or enroll in the insurance plan every year. International students can only waive the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan if they are covered by an insurance plan of comparable coverage based in the United States. International students may not waive the health insurance with coverage from insurance carriers outside the U.S. or with coverage by a foreign National Health Service program. Coverage must follow the Massachusetts State Requirements listed below.
Massachusetts State Requirements
The company must have its headquarters in the United States; an office in the U.S. does not meet this requirement.
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The policy must cover essential health benefits with no maximum on the policy.
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Emergency Room visits that do not result in the admission to the hospital must be covered.
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Mental health must be covered as any other illness or injury. This means that both in-patient and outpatient treatment must be covered.
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Injuries or illnesses that occur as a result of alcohol, illegal drugs or as the result of an attempt to commit suicide must be covered as any other illness or injury.
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Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases must be covered.
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There must be coverage for pre-existing conditions.
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The maximum yearly deductible cannot exceed $250.00 per year.
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The policy must be portable to the State of Massachusetts (if obtained in another state).
The State further mandates that any student who cannot show proof of having qualifying health insurance from a U.S. based company must participate in an insurance program provided by their institution. The Student Health Insurance Plan for Wellesley College students exceeds the state requirements and provides reasonable protection against illness and accidents. Students will be automatically billed the premium for the Wellesley Health Insurance Plan unless they apply for a waiver based on a qualifying health plan that meets the Massachusetts State requirements.
J-1 Exchange Visitor Health Insurance Requirements
In addition to the Massachusetts State Health Insurance requirements, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) mandates specific health coverage for all J-1 Exchange Visitors. This is a separate requirement that is collected by the Slater International Center through the student‘s completion of the J-1 Insurance Verification Form.
Enrollment Information
All eligible students who do not submit an online waiver by the deadline will be automatically enrolled in the student insurance plan.
General Health Plan Information
The following information is provided to help you understand the different types of insurance programs and how they work.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): If you choose to purchase insurance through an HMO, you will be required to select a Primary Care Provider (PCP) who will be the professional that manages your care. If your PCP determines that your condition requires the evaluation and care of a specialist, the PCP will refer you to the appropriate specialist. HMOs require that you get your care from within the network of their providers and receive a referral from your PCP before another provider sees you. For most HMOs the cost to you at each visit is your co-pay and the remaining cost is paid at 100% by the HMO. If you become ill while you are outside their network coverage area, HMOs will only pay for emergency services.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): If you choose to purchase insurance coverage through a PPO, you are not limited to which providers you can see. Instead, your benefits are paid at different levels based on whether you access care within a particular network or outside of a particular network.
PPOs require that you meet individual calendar year deductibles before your benefits start. If you have three or more family members covered under the same policy, there is usually a maximum deductible per family per calendar year. Once this deductible is met, the PPO will pay a percentage of your benefit. This is called co-insurance. You are then responsible for any remaining balance. In-network and out-of-network providers are usually paid at different benefit levels (i.e. 100% in-network—80% out-of-network or 90% in-network—70% out-of network) and co-pays may apply.
If you use a provider who is within the network, that provider will submit a claim for payment to the insurance company. The insurance company pays a portion and the provider will bill you for your responsibility for that service. If co-pays apply you will pay the required co-pay at the time of the visit. If you use a provider outside of the network, that provider may require the payment at the time of your visit and that you should submit your bill to the insurance company to be reimbursed later.
The Stone Center: counseling services
Many students benefit from talking with a professional about personal matters affecting their daily life or their basic sense of purpose and direction. Wellesley College Counseling Services, located in the Stone Center, provides short-term individual and group counseling for students, as well as workshops and training sessions for mental health and wellness. Counseling is confidential and there is no cost to students for availing of counseling services. Please visit the Stone Center website for more information, including a self-help information section: www.wellesley.edu/counseling .
The Office of Student Wellness
The Office of Student Wellness (OSW) views wellness as a state of being that is impacted by a confluence of factors. The work in OSW is informed by the 8 dimensions of wellness: emotional, physical, occupational, intellectual, financial, social, environmental, and spiritual. Please visit OSW website to learn more about each demension of wellness.