Going to college

If you’re heading off to college, you already have plenty to navigate. Understanding your health coverage and care options should be easy. 

two-people-walking-and-chatting-near-a-window-l-dt
Get virtual care 24/7

Get virtual care 24/7

Talk to a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online.1

Get care now

Use your digital ID card

Use your digital ID card

Download our mobile app to access Kaiser Permanente care on the go.

Download the app

Call the travel line

Call the travel line

Speak with a customer service representative about your travel care options.

Call 951-268-3900 (TTY 711)2

Preparing for college

Before you leave, you can take a few easy steps to make managing your health and care easier while you’re away at college.

Kaiser Permanente care is available in person in all or parts of:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Maryland
  • Oregon
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington, D.C.

If you’re studying abroad or in an area without a Kaiser Permanente facility, keep in mind that all members are covered for emergency and urgent care anywhere in the world.3 Learn more.

Across the U.S., you can also get care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online.4 5 And you’ll often pay your normal copay or coinsurance for any prescriptions you fill — nationwide.6, 7, 8

If you haven’t already, be sure to create a kp.org account to track and manage your Kaiser Permanente care online. You’ll also be able to email nonurgent questions to your care team anytime.

If you’re going to college in a different Kaiser Permanente area and want to receive care in person or online, you’ll need to create a new medical record number for that area:9

  • Sign in to your kp.org account online or with the Kaiser Permanente app.
  • Under the “Region of care” dropdown, select “Add a region of care.”
  • Follow the prompts to create a medical record number for the area you’re visiting.

If a parent or caregiver is helping you manage your care, ask them to set up Act for a Family Member on their kp.org account. If you set up this option, your parent or caregiver will be able to view your medical record.

If you’re going to college outside of a Kaiser Permanente area, you’ll still want to create your online account so that you can get Kaiser Permanente care online or by phone.10 You’ll also be able to access your Kaiser Permanente medical record and track claims if needed. 

For more information, visit our support center.

Planning ahead can make it much easier to manage your health in college. Here are a few easy ways to prepare:

  • If you’re managing a health condition, see your doctor before you go.
  • Take care of any routine care needs before heading to school. That includes checkups, flu shots, and support for mental health, sleep issues, and infectious diseases.
  • Refill your prescriptions, including contact lenses. Be sure to order refills at least 1 to 2 weeks before you need them so there’s time to process your request. In most states, regular nonemergency prescriptions may be delivered to you at no extra cost.11
  • Check with your school to see if you need a student health plan or international travel coverage.
  • Download these wellness apps for help navigating life’s challenges, like how to improve your sleep, mood, relationships, and more.

Understanding your coverage

Make sure you know what you’re covered for while you’re away at school.

Across the U.S., you’re covered for 24/7 care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online — always tracked in your electronic health record.12 You’re also covered for urgent and emergency care anywhere in the world.13

Nonemergency and routine care at your school’s health center aren’t covered by your Kaiser Permanente plan.
Depending on your health needs, you may want to purchase additional coverage through your school’s health plan or other supplemental coverage. You may also want to purchase your school’s health insurance if your Kaiser Permanente coverage doesn’t meet your school’s coverage requirements. 

To submit a reimbursement claim for emergency or urgent care you received while traveling, sign in to kp.org and visit “Coverage & Costs.”14 15 You’ll need the following information:

  • Itemized bills: Should include date, list, and cost of services received
  • Medical records: Copies of original medical reports and any admission notes, emergency room records, or consultation reports
  • Proof of payment: Receipts or bank or credit card statements

If you don’t have a kp.org account or you need help, call the Away from Home Travel Line at 951-268-3900 (TTY 711).16 For more information on submitting a claim, visit the Cost and Claims page.

How should parents prepare?

You can help manage your child’s care online by adding them to your kp.org account. If you set up this option, you’ll have modified access to your child’s medical record.17

Set up Act for a Family Member

How to get care

Whether you need a standard checkup or more support for an unexpected illness or injury, it’s important to know your options.

While you’re away at college, your coverage and care options depend on what plan you have and where you get care.

Getting care in a Kaiser Permanente area: If you’ve gotten Kaiser Permanente care in that area before, your experience will be the same. If you’re in a Kaiser Permanente area where you’ve never gotten care, you’ll just need to create a new medical record number to schedule appointments and manage your care. Learn more about getting care inside a Kaiser Permanente area. 

Getting care outside a Kaiser Permanente area: You’re covered for urgent and emergency care when and where you need it.18 Try to get routine in-person care like checkups and vaccines when you’re back home, or consider getting a student health plan through your school for more coverage. Learn more about getting care outside a Kaiser Permanente area. 

In the U.S., you can also get 24/7 virtual care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician online or through our app.19

If you’re in a Kaiser Permanente area, you can search for a Kaiser Permanente medical facility at kp.org/locations.

For routine care like checkups, preventive screenings, and flu shots, if you’re not located in a Kaiser Permanente area, you can also consider visiting your college’s student health center. Care provided by your student health center is not covered by your Kaiser Permanente plan.

Keeping up with routine care means you can:

  • Get routine physical exams
  • Get tested for sexually transmitted infections (like chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV) and receive prevention information
  • Keep track of your mental health, such as your risk for depression
  • Learn about substance use disorder and how to avoid it
  • Discuss your weight management and fitness needs

Routine care also includes:

  • Office visits
  • Outpatient surgery (with certain exceptions)
  • Allergy tests and allergy injections
  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
  • Prenatal and postnatal care

COVID-19 testing: Visit kp.org/covidtesting to order home antigen tests or schedule a PCR test from Kaiser Permanente.

If you need a PCR test outside a Kaiser Permanente area, visit covidtests.gov to find a licensed, independent testing facility near you unless testing is part of an emergency or urgent care visit.20

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination: Visit kp.org/covidvaccine, choose your region, and select “Get your digital vaccine card.”

You can also access your proof of vaccination in the Kaiser Permanente app.

COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost when you visit Kaiser Permanente.

Unless it’s part of urgent or emergency care, you’ll owe the full cost of any COVID-19 vaccines or treatment you get outside of Kaiser Permanente. 

Unless it’s part of urgent or emergency care, you’ll owe the full cost of any COVID-19 vaccines, testing, or treatment you get outside of Kaiser Permanente. If you’re outside a Kaiser Permanente area, you may qualify to get up to 50% of the cost reimbursed.21 Visit kp.org/benefits to learn more about your coverage.

Learn more about your COVID-19 care options at kp.org/covid.

Before you leave for school, download these wellness apps for help navigating life’s challenges, like how to improve your sleep, mood, relationships, and more.22

While you’re away, you have plenty of access to mental health and wellness support. Some tools are just a click away, like mental health assessments and online classes. Or you can call for help. You don't need a referral to access these services from a Kaiser Permanente provider.

If you need addiction or mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else, you can also call or text 988 (TTY 711) or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's chat for free, confidential support with a trained crisis counselor. The lifeline is provided by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

Prescription bottles and bag on a table

Prescriptions

Whether you have an ongoing prescription or need new medication, you have several options for getting your prescriptions filled — wherever you are.

Call the Away from Home Travel Line at 951-268-3900 (TTY 711). We’ll help you find a pharmacy nearby.

Depending on your plan, you may need to pay for your medication upfront and file a claim for reimbursement later.23 You’ll also need to pay any copays, coinsurance, or deductible payments you’d pay at home. 

Be sure to order refills at least 1 to 2 weeks before you need them so there’s time to process your request. In most states, regular nonemergency prescriptions may be delivered to you at no extra cost.24

You can get your medication refilled at a local pharmacy as long as you have refills left on your prescription. When you go to the pharmacy, have the following information ready:

  • Your Kaiser Permanente medical record number. If you have more than one, use the number from the area where you got your prescription.
  • Your current pharmacy’s name and phone number.
  • Your prescribed medication’s name, strength, and directions for use.
  • The name and phone number of the doctor who gave you the prescription.

Once the local pharmacy has this information, they’ll call Kaiser Permanente to transfer your prescription. You’ll need to pay for the medication and file a claim for reimbursement later.25

Be sure to order refills at least 1 to 2 weeks before you need them so there’s time to process your request. In most states, regular nonemergency prescriptions may be delivered to you at no extra cost.26

Not sure if your college is in a Kaiser Permanente area? Visit kp.org/locations.

Footnotes

  1. When appropriate and available. If you travel out of state, virtual care may be limited due to state laws that may prevent doctors from providing care across state lines. Laws differ by state.  Continue at 1
  2. This number can be dialed inside and outside the United States. Before the phone number, dial “001” for landlines and “+1” for mobile lines if you’re outside the country. Long-distance charges may apply, and we can’t accept collect calls. The phone line is closed on major holidays (New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). It closes early the day before a holiday at 10 p.m. Pacific time (PT), and it reopens the day after a holiday at 4 a.m. PT. Continue at 2
  3. If you believe you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. For the complete definition of an emergency medical condition, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage  or other coverage documents. Continue at 3
  4. When appropriate and available. If you are out of state, phone appointments and video visits may not be available in select states due to licensing laws. Laws differ by state. Continue at 4
  5. Availability of on-demand video visits through “Get Care Now” varies by region. Continue at 5
  6. Medicare and Georgia commercial members are required to pay upfront and seek reimbursement for any urgent and emergency care or pharmacy services received outside of Kaiser Permanente states. Continue at 6
  7. Only commonly prescribed acute care medications made during an urgent or emergency care visit outside of Kaiser Permanente states are included in this benefit. Maintenance medications (like for blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol) and high-cost or specialty medications aren’t included, so you’ll have to pay upfront for them and file a claim for reimbursement. Continue at 7
  8. The amount members are reimbursed will depend on what their copays or coinsurance are, whether they have a deductible, and other plan limitations, consistent with the terms of the member’s Evidence of Coverage  or other coverage documents. Continue at 8
  9. You can add an area of care to your own account only. You won’t be able to add an area of care for someone else if you’re acting as their caregiver. Continue at 9
  10. When appropriate and available. If you are out of state, phone appointments and video visits may not be available in select states due to licensing laws. Laws differ by state. The “Get Care Now” option is only for virtual urgent care services. Continue at 10
  11. Kaiser Permanente prescription delivery is not available in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, or South Dakota. Continue at 11
  12. See note 4 . Continue at 12
  13. See note 3 . Continue at 13
  14. In-area urgent care is covered, consistent with the terms of the member’s coverage document (like an Evidence of Coverage ), only when care is obtained from a Kaiser Permanente provider. Continue at 14
  15. See note 8 .  Continue at 15
  16. See note 2 . Continue at 16
  17. Online features change when children reach a certain age. That age varies by state. Teens are entitled to additional privacy protection under state laws. You will still be able to manage care for your teen, with modified access to certain features.  Continue at 17
  18. See note 3 .  Continue at 18
  19. See note 1 . Continue at 19
  20. See note 3 .  Continue at 20
  21. The amount members are reimbursed will depend on the cost of the out-of-network services provided, the prevailing market rate set by state regulators, any deductible that may need to be met, and other plan limitations, consistent with the terms of your Evidence of Coverage  or other plan documents.  Continue at 21
  22. The apps and services described above are not covered under your health plan benefits, are not a Medicare-covered benefit, and are not subject to the terms set forth in your Evidence of Coverage  or other plan documents. The apps and services may be discontinued at any time. Continue at 22
  23. See note 8 .  Continue at 23
  24. See note 11 .  Continue at 24
  25. See note 8 . Continue at 25
  26. See note 11 . Continue at 26