Welcome to USC! We look forward to supporting your health and well-being over the next few years as the “home” for all your primary care, mental health support, healthy relationships guidance, sexual health, preventive care, and specialty referral coordination needs.
All these services are through USC Student Health, are provided for through the Student Health Fee*, and do not require co-pays at visits regardless of your insurance. USC Student Health services may be accessed through the MySHR patient portal or by calling the 24/7 phone number, 213-740-9355 (WELL).
* The Student Health Fee (SHF) is a required program fee and is applied to accounts for all students taking 6 credits or more in campus-based degree programs; it is not applied for online degree program students, who may opt in if they reside in California. Online degree program students who do not take classes that meet in person are not required to meet immunization requirements.
As you get ready for the academic year, we would like to share with you some materials that will help you adjust to campus life and meet some health and safety requirements.
Please visit the New Student Health Requirements website. This site provides comprehensive information about:
- completing consent forms (required for treatment)
- required immunizations (uploading your vaccination records)
- making decisions about your insurance coverage (deadline is Sept. 8). All students will be automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan (SHIP/Aetna) unless they submit a waiver by this date.
- taking required prevention education modules (all online modules are due by the first day of classes, August 21)
Top Tips: The quick guide to things you should know before coming to USC.
Immunizations
It is strongly recommended that you complete as much of your immunizations, documentation uploads (or lab tests) as possible this summer before arrival for the fall semester. For international students unable to complete vaccination in their current locations, USC Student Health immunizations office will complete any in-person requirements that are outstanding when you arrive to campus.
Which Vaccines are Required?
Measles • Mumps • (Rubella is included in the MMR vaccine) • Varicella (“Chicken Pox”) • Meningococcal Disease (for those under age 21)
COVID-19 vaccination (current bivalent formulation) is strongly recommended.
If you are arriving to campus from outside of the U.S., you may be required to have a tuberculosis test, only blood draw tests are accepted.
Insurance Requirement
All USC students are required to have insurance. The USC Student Health Insurance Plan, provided through Aetna, (SHIP/Aetna) is by default added to your tuition bill and you are automatically enrolled. If you have an insurance plan that meets university requirements, you may submit documentation to request a waiver out of this plan, this waiver must be submitted annually. We encourage all students and their families to compare plans and choose one that has 1) strong coverage in Southern California and 2) strong coverage for extended mental health services.
The USC SHIP/Aetna plan is reviewed annually by Student Health to ensure these criteria are met, and that exceptional value is delivered to participants in the plan.
Insurance decision deadline is Sept. 8.
Students should decide to waive or keep SHIP/Aetna by this date. If you decide to waive, you must submit a waiver by the third week of classes in order to have SHIP reversed on your student financial account (your semesterly student bill).
Waivers must be submitted every year in the fall semester by the third Friday deadline.
Required Prevention Education Modules (PEMS)
New students must complete learning modules related to important topics including sexual assault prevention; diversity, equity and inclusion; and campus safety. New undergraduates are required to take an online learning module on alcohol and other drugs, and live session discussions (via Zoom) on consent and healthy relationships.
Health Conditions or Medication Management
If you need to arrange continuity of care for a current medical issue, please contact us to let us know.
If you are on long-term psychiatric medications, including stimulant medication for ADHD, please plan with your current provider to have a sufficient supply of medication(s) until you can arrange to continue your care with USC Student Health. It may take 2-4 weeks to secure an appointment, so it is important to come with access to at least one month’s supply of medication.
Contact Us
If you have questions about these requirements or health services
- please book a 10-minute “appointlet” session (available in July and August) to discuss your health care needs; or
- send your questions by email to studenthealth@usc.edu (please include your USC ID #, name, and date of birth in the email.)
We look forward to your presence on campus as part of The Trojan Family!
Your health care team in
USC Student Health | Keck Medicine of USC
