Medical Services

The Health & Counseling Services Building is located the south side of Dutch Quad, at the ground level facing the athletic fields, on UAlbany’s Uptown Campus.  

Please do the following in preparation for your appointment: 

• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time, so you can complete any required paperwork and an initial nurse evaluation. If you arrive five minutes past your scheduled appointment time, your appointment will be rescheduled to the next available time. 

• Bring your health insurance information. Our services are generally free to registered students. However, if you need a test or specialty care that we don’t offer on site, we’ll need your health insurance information to help refer you to an outside lab, radiology office or specialist.

For general questions, call 518-442-5454 or email [email protected].

Medical conditions we typically see include, but are not limited to: 

• Respiratory symptoms, such as coughs, colds and flu-like illness 

• Musculoskeletal complaints, such as sprains, strains and evaluation for fractures 

• Rashes and other dermatological conditions 

• School-related physical exams, such as those required for study abroad, ROTC, etc.

• School-related testing for tuberculosis (TB), such as those required for certain courses or internships

• Testing for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 

• HIV testing 

Schedule an appointment. 

Student Health Services has limited durable medical equipment (such as crutches) on site. Our staff will review the fees for durable medical equipment with you before dispensing the item(s), which will be charged to your student account and listed as “Health Services."

When necessary, students may be referred to an outside provider for specialty care. Fees for outside services are determined by the outside provider and the patient's insurance, not Student Health Services. 

Nurse practitioners provide comprehensive gynecological health care to students of all identities who need these services:

• Routine annual gynecological exams 

• Diagnosis and treatment of gynecological disorders 

• Testing for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 

• Contraception counseling and prescriptions 

We encourage students to ask questions and discuss their concerns with their provider. Schedule an appointment. 

Note: For information on what immunization and health information is required to enroll at UAlbany, please visit our Immunization & Health Requirements page. 

We provide the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) immunization for a fee. Fees are billed to your student account, where they are listed as “Health Services.” 

Schedule an appointment. Note: Immunizations not available at our clinic may be obtained locally, with your provider’s assistance if necessary. 
 

Any student planning to travel abroad should visit the CDC’s Travelers’ Health Guide for detailed information on recommended vaccines and other precautions. 

Be sure to schedule an appointment for medical advice and immunizations at least six to eight weeks before your planned departure date to ensure adequate time for vaccine response. 
 

Student Health Services does not offer flu shots. However, we coordinate on-campus flu shot clinics with an outside provider each fall semester. 
 

Student Health Services does not offer COVID-19 vaccinations or booster shots. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you.

Our on-site laboratory can perform several common tests, including: 

• Strep throat screening 

• Mononucleosis screening 

• Urinalysis 

• Pregnancy test 

• Rapid HIV 

• Flu

• COVID-19

Some of these tests have a $10 fee. Our staff will discuss any on-site testing fees with students before ordering a test. You’ll be billed to your student account, where they are listed as “Health Services.”
 

If you need a lab test that our lab cannot perform, we will direct you to a local lab that can help. The off-campus lab will bill you and your health insurance directly. 

Our registered pharmacist is available to fill prescriptions and answer students’ medication-related questions. Appointments are not required. 

Only medications prescribed by a UAlbany healthcare provider may be filled at our pharmacy, based on the availability of the medication in our stock.  

We stock commonly requested prescriptions, such as: 

• Antibiotics 

• Antidepressants  

• Oral contraceptives 

• Topical (skin) medications 

We also stock commonly requested over-the-counter medications, such as: 

• Acetaminophen 

• Ibuprofen 

• Antihistamines  

• Cough medication 

• Cold medication 

• Emergency contraception

• Condoms

All pharmacy purchases are billed to your student account, where they are listed as “Medication.” Our pharmacy does not accept health insurance. 

We offer confidential appointments to screen for, diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Schedule an appointment. 

Students commonly request testing for several reasons, including routine STI screening, possible STI exposure and STI symptoms.

Lab Testing: Our providers can obtain a sample from you and send it to a local lab, which will test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and HIV. The local lab will bill you and your health insurance directly. 

Rapid HIV Testing: Student Health Services’ on-site lab can perform a rapid HIV test for you. A fee of $10 will be charged to your student account, where it will be listed as “Health Services.” 

No one, except authorized Student Health Services and health department personnel, has access to your results. We cannot share your health information with partners, parents, guardians, teachers or employers. 

Alternatively, students can access testing through the Albany County STI Clinic or Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.

Review the CDC’s STI screening recommendations.

UAlbany asks anyone who is feeling unwell to stay home and seek medical care as needed. Visit the Albany County Department of Health website for COVID-19 exposure and isolation guidance. 

Students are no longer required to report positive COVID-19 test results to the University. At-home COVID-19 tests are available for free at the Campus Center information desks. 

If you need to speak to a medical provider, schedule a Student Health Services appointment. 

If you need to document your isolation, please use the New York State Department of Health’s Affirmation of Isolation form. 

Sick meals are available for students with a meal plan who are feeling too unwell to grab to-go food themselves. 

Guidance for Roommates, Suite-mates & Apartment-mates  

We encourage all students to talk with their roommates, suite-mates and/or apartment-mates about how the group will handle isolation if someone tests positive.   

Planning ahead is especially important for on-campus students because alternative isolation housing is not available on campus. Consider using your roommate agreement form as a guide for that conversation.  

If someone you live with has tested positive for COVID-19, you are not required to quarantine. Review the CDC’s exposure guidelines.

Mental Health Guidance  

We know isolation can take a toll on your mental health, so we encourage you to reach out to family and friends virtually to stay connected.   

You can also call the Middle Earth Peer Assistance Hotline.

Student Health Services often assists in University administrative processes that involve medical and mental health records.  

However, those processes are managed by separate offices. Please contact the offices listed below with any questions and visit their websites for detailed instructions: 

• Disability Accommodation: All requests for disability accommodation — including those related to academics, housing and parking — must be handled by Disability Access & Inclusion Student Services (DAISS). 

• Medical Withdrawal: All requests for medical withdrawals — when a student leaves the University for medical reasons — are managed by the Office of Undergraduate Education or the Graduate School. 

• Housing Release: All medical-related requests for housing release — when a student is released from the academic year on-campus housing contract — are handled by the Department of Residential Life. 

All visits to Student Health Services are free to registered UAlbany students. However, students may incur costs for certain services. 

The following charges will be billed to your student account (appearing as “Medication” or “Health Services”) and payable via E-Pay: 

• On-site lab tests, such as mononucleosis tests, rapid strep tests, pregnancy tests, rapid HIV tests - $10 per test

• Durable medical goods, such as crutches and splints -  range $6.50 - $20

• Medications filled at our pharmacy - range $5 - $50

• Immunizations - range $77.25 - $115

Students with unpaid balances may have a hold placed on the student account. 

If you have questions regarding Student Health Services charges on your student account, please call us at 518-956-8400. 

Additionally, if lab specimens are sent to an off-campus lab, the lab will bill the student and their health insurance directly. 

Students registered for summer classes can be treated by Student Health Services during the Summer Session as they normally would during the academic year. 

Students who are not registered for summer classes but who were registered during the spring semester and are registered for the fall semester must pay a one-time $36 fee to be treated by Student Health Services during the Summer Session. The fee is assessed at the student's first visit. 

Student Health Services (SHS) is firmly committed to preserving the confidentiality of all patient visits and records.   

All SHS employees will treat all patient information confidentially. They will act in such a manner as to protect the privacy and confidentiality of both clinical and personal information, except when required by law. 

To assure the confidentiality of our patients’ medical records, the following requirements must be met. 

• Current registered students who need a copy of their MMR Immunizations may view and print those records through the Student Health Portal.  

• Students who want Student Health Services to send information related to their mental health or HIV status to another provider or entity must send a completed HIPAA Authorization to Release Form to [email protected]. 

• Students who want Student Health Services to send other medical records, including immunizations, to another provider or entity must send a completed Medical Record Release Form to [email protected]. 

• To request medical records in person, you must show your student ID or government-issued ID. 

Requests may take a week or more to process. Note: Medical records, including immunizations, are only retained for seven years.

UAlbany does not offer a domestic student health insurance plan. This means domestic students: 

• will not have a charge for health insurance on their student bill 

• are not required to waive an insurance plan 

• may need to obtain health insurance to be compliant with federal law 

Requirements for mandatory international student health insurance remain in effect for international students. Visit the International Student & Scholar Services website for detailed information.  

There are also health insurance requirements for students participating in Education Abroad programs. 

All students are charged a Student Health Fee. This is not an insurance charge but instead covers services provided by Student Health Services. 

Student Health Services is not a participating provider with any insurance company. Your insurance company may not reimburse you for our services that carry a fee. 

Students who need to obtain health insurance should visit the New York State of Health Official Plan Marketplace, where New Yorkers can compare and enroll in health insurance coverage and get financial assistance to reduce the cost of that coverage. Find a Navigator who can provide you with enrollment help.

Student Health Services does not provide allergy injections. Students must work with their hometown provider to find an appropriate allergist in the Albany area, including:

• Certified Allergy & Asthma Consultants

• Albany ENT & Allergy Services

• Albany Med Allergy & Asthma Center

Please note that some allergists require complete re-testing before administering allergy shots and most allergy clinics cannot use serum prepared by an allergist who is not affiliated with their practice. 

We suggest you contact local providers to ask about these policies and to determine which providers accept your health insurance before scheduling an appointment.

Student Health Services does not provide gender-affirming medications. However, there are local providers who do prescribe these medications, including: 

• Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood

• Specialized Care Center for Adolescents & Young Adults at Albany Medical Center

Student Health Services does not provide HIV prevention medications PrEP and PEP. However, there are local providers who do prescribe these medications, including: 

• Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood

• Specialized Care Center for Adolescents & Young Adults at Albany Medical Center

• Alliance for Positive Health

While Student Health Services provides contraceptives and pregnancy tests, we do not provide pregnancy counseling. Students seeking this type of care should contact a local provider, such as Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.