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. 
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Get virtual care

Talk to a Kaiser Permanente clinician 24/7 by phone or online.

Get your medical record number

Access your digital membership card on our mobile app.

Call the Away from Home Travel Line

Talk to our team for guidance on where to get care while you’re away.1

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.

Studying abroad or in a state without a Kaiser Permanente facility? As a member, you’re covered for emergency and urgent care anywhere in the world.2

Across the U.S., you can also get care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online.3,4 And you’ll often pay your normal copay or coinsurance for any prescriptions you fill — nationwide.5,6,7

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 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.

To create a kp.org account:

  • Sign in to your kp.org account on a laptop or desktop computer
  • 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

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.8
  • 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.

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

After you get your new medical record number, you’ll be able to schedule appointments right away, plus track and manage the Kaiser Permanente care you get while traveling.

Two people smiling and chatting in a kitchen

How should parents prepare?

Manage your child’s care online by adding them to your kp.org account.10

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.

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

In any Kaiser Permanente service area, you can get most of the same routine and specialty care you’d get near home.11 For specialty care, make sure you’ve been referred by a Kaiser Permanente clinician or affiliated provider in your school’s area.

No matter where your college is located, you can also get 24/7 care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online.12 Sign in to your kp.org account to find the right care for you.

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. You are only covered for out-of-network COVID testing if you’re in California, unless testing is part of an emergency or urgent care visit.

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, 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.13 Visit kp.org/benefits to learn more about your coverage.

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

As a Kaiser Permanente member, you’re covered for emergency and urgent care anywhere in the world — no need for a new medical record number.14

If you need urgent care in the U.S.  and you’re in a state without a Kaiser Permanente medical facility, you’ll pay only your copay or coinsurance at many locations. Otherwise, you’ll need to submit a reimbursement claim for emergency or urgent care you received while away from home:15

  • Cigna HealthcareSM PPO Network providers16
  • Concentra urgent care clinics
  • MinuteClinic locations
  • The Little Clinic

 

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.

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. 

Understanding your coverage

You’re covered for a wide range of Kaiser Permanente services. Make sure you know what to do if you’re traveling or living outside of our service areas.

Across the U.S., you can get 24/7 care from a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online17 — always tracked in your electronic health record. Sign in to your kp.org account to find the right care method for you and get started.

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

Nonemergency and routine care at your school’s health center aren’t covered by your Kaiser Permanente plan.

But keeping your Kaiser Permanente coverage means you can:

  • Reach a Kaiser Permanente clinician by phone or online, anytime
  • Get care at home during school breaks
  • Keep in touch with your personal doctor
  • Access your electronic health record

For routine care like checkups, preventive screenings, and flu shots, consider signing up for a student health plan through your college if your Kaiser Permanente coverage doesn’t meet your school’s coverage requirements. If you’re outside a Kaiser Permanente area, you may want to supplement your coverage so you’re prepared for any prescription or specialty care needs.    

To submit a reimbursement claim for emergency or urgent care you received while traveling, sign in to kp.org and visit “Coverage & Costs.18,19 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.
  • Proof of travel: Copy of itinerary or airline tickets, if applicable.

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).20 For more information on submitting a claim, you can contact Member Services.  

Two prescription pill boxes 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.21 You’ll also need to pay any copays, coinsurance, or deductible payments you’d pay at home.

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.22

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

Footnotes
1This 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.

2If 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.

3When 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.

4Availability of on-demand video visits through “Get Care Now” varies by region.

5Medicare 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.

6Only 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.

7The 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.

8Kaiser Permanente prescription delivery is not available in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, or South Dakota.

9You 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.

10Online features change when children reach age 12. Teens are entitled to additional privacy protection under state law. When your child turns 12 years old, you will still be able to manage care for your teen, with modified access to certain features. For the Kaiser Permanente Washington region, online features change when children reach age 13, not 12.

11These services are covered as long as they’re provided or referred by a Kaiser Permanente provider or affiliated provider in the area you’re visiting. These services are subject to the terms and conditions, including prior authorization, approval, and copay, coinsurance, or deductible requirements, of your plan coverage issued in your home area.

12When 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.

13Coverage applies only to Kaiser Permanente members in California. 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.

14See footnote 2.

15When you access Cigna, MinuteClinic, and Concentra providers, your coverage will vary by the type of Kaiser Permanente health plan.

16The Cigna HealthcareSM PPO Network refers to the health care providers (doctors, hospitals, specialists) contracted as part of the Cigna PPO for Shared Administration. Cigna Healthcare is an independent company and not affiliated with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and its subsidiary health plans. Access to the Cigna Healthcare PPO Network is available through Cigna Healthcare’s contractual relationship with the Kaiser Permanente health plans. The Cigna Healthcare PPO Network is provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company. The Cigna Healthcare name, logo, and other marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc.

17When appropriate and available. If you travel out of state, phone appointments and video visits may not be available in select states due to licensing laws. Laws differ by state.

18In-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.

19See footnote 7.

20See footnote 1.

21See footnote 7.

22See footnote 7.