University Health Services
Health Center at Ward & West
Phone: 410-704-2466
Fax: 410-704-3715
Email: healthcenter@towson.edu
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Towson University Health Center at Ward & West offers primary care services to all registered students regardless of insurance status. Students who have graduated may use our services for one academic term after they graduate (e.g. summer term for May graduates, January term for December graduates, etc.). The Health Center is open Monday–Friday throughout the year with the exception of university holidays and university closures.
The Health Center has an experienced staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and health educators. Services include treatment of common illness and injuries, a full range of sexual health services (including GYN exams, birth control, emergency contraception, STD and HIV testing), immunization shot administration, laboratory services, free nicotine cessation services, therapeutic massage and health education. The Health Center also has a limited formulary of prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications available on site. Students can schedule an appointment by calling 410-704-2466 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or online by logging in to our secure web portal.
Charges for Health Center services will be billed to the student’s university account. The Health Center is an “in-network” provider with many large insurance plans and will bill the plans directly for covered services. Referrals for X-rays, outside lab and diagnostic tests, and specialty and hospital care are the student’s financial responsibility, so we strongly encourage all students to carry health insurance (see Health Insurance below).
For after-hours medical emergencies, students should call 911. For non-emergencies students can call our After-hours Nurse Advice Line at 410-704-2466. St. Joseph Medical Center and Greater Baltimore Medical Center, as well as several free-standing urgent care centers, are available to provide urgent care to students at their own expense when the Health Center is closed. Check your insurance plan to verify coverage for these services.
Immunization Requirements
The Health Center’s priority is to keep our students and campus community healthy. All students taking classes on the main TU campus or at any of our affiliated campus locations (Northeastern, Shady Grove, Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, HEAT and Hagerstown) are required to meet TU’s Immunization and Tuberculosis screening requirements.
For details on our immunization requirements, visit the immunizations requirements and TB Testing page on the Health Center's website. New students must log on to our secure web portal to enter their immunization record and complete all required forms. A copy of the immunization record signed by a healthcare provider should be mailed or faxed to the Health Center by January 24 for students entering for the spring term or by August 14 for students entering for the fall term. Students who fail to comply with the requirements by the start of classes, will have a health hold placed on their university account after the add/drop period and will be blocked from registration for the following term until they have complied.
Students taking courses exclusively online, overseas, at their place of employment if employment is off-campus, or at any of the city/county K-12 schools, are exempt from this policy. Required immunizations and immune antibody titers are available at the Health Center for a fee. Students living in on-campus housing must also provide documentation of immunization against meningococcal meningitis unless a waiver is signed in their housing contract.
Medical Excuse Policy
The Health Center does not give medical excuses for short-term absence (less than five days) due to illness or injury. Verification of care will be given for people treated at the Health Center which does not constitute a medical excuse. For students whose medical condition results in longer-term absence, the Health Center notifies the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, who then notifies the student’s professors. However, this notification does not excuse the absence. Students must also contact their professors and make arrangements for makeup work. Letters of support for students requesting a medical withdrawal from all classes or a selective medical withdrawal from a single class are given at the discretion of the treating provider, and only if the student was treated at the Health Center for the condition. No medical information will be given to any professor or administrative office without consent from the student.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is strongly recommended to help defray the costs of services at the Health Center and unexpected illness or injury requiring costly hospital care or diagnostic tests. The Health Center bills private health insurance, and we are currently participating with many commercial insurance plans and Maryland Medicaid managed care plans. If you wish to use your health insurance, please be sure to upload a picture of your insurance card to your Tiger Health Portal, or bring your it with you each time you visit the Health Center.
Towson University also has an excellent student health insurance plan available through Aetna Student Health. This reasonably priced plan covers most Health Center services, prescription medications, as well as specialty referrals. It will also cover urgent care and emergency services at other facilities when the Health Center is closed or when the student is away from school. Coverage for spouses and children of enrolled students is available. For more information about this plan visit Aetna Student Health's website and pick Towson University from the drop down menu.
Mandatory Insurance Policy for International Students
All international students on F, J and other non-employment visa status will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan offered through Towson University. Exceptions include those students who are sponsored through their embassies, as long as proof of insurance is provided by the first day of arrival at Towson University. Other exceptions include scholars and students who are covered through a spouse or family member with an insurance plan that is currently accepted at Towson University’s Health Center (example: Carefirst BCBS). The Health Center will only look at plans that are currently accepted at Towson University’s Health Center – no other plans will be reviewed. These exceptions must be requested and confirmed by Health Center staff prior to September 15 for the fall semester, and February 15 for the spring semester. If they are not confirmed by these dates, the student will automatically be enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, and no refunds will be given. For more information on the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, please visit their website online, and choose Towson University in the drop down menu of schools. For additional questions about international student insurance, please contact the Health Center’s Insurance and Billing Coordinator at 410-704-3703.