UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Student Health Services

Health Insurance

Students are strongly encouraged to carry health insurance, since Student Health Services is NOT health insurance.  Please see below for information on the Affordable Care Act.

If students are currently covered by health insurance, they should check with the carrier to see what arrangements need to be made so coverage continues while at college.  All students should carry health insurance cards with them. Participation in the University of Wisconsin System Student Health Insurance Plan (see below) is required for international students.

From UW-River Falls Risk Management web page: "UWRF does not provide any type of compensation for injuries that occur on campus. Each student and visitor is expected to have their own health insurance to cover personal medical costs."

University of Wisconsin System Student Health Insurance Plan for International Students

Information on the 2022-2023 health insurance plan for UWRF international students (including information about the provider network) is available through Anthem Student Advantage; here is the landing page: https://www.studentsatanthem.com/?id=University%20of%20Wisconsin%20River%20Falls. The phone number is 1-833-332-0798.

Information on the Affordable Care Act

The Health Insurance Marketplace launched on October 1, 2013 as part of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

The Health Insurance Marketplace is a way for individuals and families who meet certain income requirements to buy private health insurance plans.  Four levels of plans are offered through the Marketplace.  The plans vary from each other based on the amount of out-of-pocket medical expenses that are covered.  For example, the lowest cost "bronze" plans only cover 60% of medical expenses, "silver" plans cover 70%, "gold" plans cover 80%, while the highest tier "platinum" plans cover 90% of medical expenses.  Individuals may be eligible for a subsidy (depending on their income) that will reduce the cost of a Marketplace plan.

Information on the Affordable Care Act is available at http://www.healthcare.gov/ for more information and updates and to sign up for email or text updates.

For UWRF Students:  Do college students really need health insurance and how do I get health insurance?  If you do not have health insurance, you will want to shop for it, and there may be restrictions for when you can apply for coverage.  Please see web pages below for more information about this.  The law also provides new opportunities to acquire affordable health insurance.  As an example, you may be eligible for coverage through the new online health insurance exchanges (also called the Health Insurance Marketplace).  Exchanges can help you locate and compare plans, including coverage, benefits, premiums (purchase price), deductibles, and co-payment costs.

You may find that you qualify for a premium subsidy (assistance) that will reduce the cost of an exchange plan.  In some cases you may also qualify for a cost-sharing subsidy that will lower your out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.  Whether you are eligible for a subsidy depends on your income.  To learn what coverage and the level of assistance that might be available to you, visit the healthcare.gov web page.

What to do now:

Start by making a list of things that will be important in your coverage decision, for example:

  • Know how your current health insurance plan (if any) works, whether it will continue, and when it will renew.

  • Know about your insurance coverage in a given area, since many health insurance plans provide more limited benefits when you are away from your home or "out-of-area."

  • When purchasing a health insurance plan, you should not consider premium cost alone.  Plans with higher out-of-pocket expenses may have lower premiums, but a high deductible and high member coinsurance can make members reluctant or financially unable to receive necessary medical treatment.

Many benefits of the ACA may vary from state to state.  Some states have opted for the federal government to run their exchanges (including Wisconsin), while other states are running their own (including Minnesota).  Expansion of the Medicaid program also varies by state.

 For More Information:

Links to Other Health Insurance and Other Resources

BadgerCare Plus State of Wisconsin health care plan: Including applying for Badger Care Core Health Care For Adults With No Dependent Children
MinnesotaCare: Minnesota residents who do not have access to affordable health insurance
Family Planning Only Services: Reproductive health services. View instructions for enrolling in this program.
Great Rivers Consortium - Call center for questions and assistance with applying for BadgerCare and other programs

Student Dental and Vision Insurance Through Benefit Partners Group, UWRF students can access voluntary dental and vision insurance for themselves and their families. Any student may enroll by using their UWRF student ID.  For information and to enroll, please visit the Student Dental and Vision enrollment portal.  You may also call the Student Support Team at (877) 247-8817.

Contact Us

Student Health and Counseling Services
Student Health Services: 715-425-3293
student.health.services@uwrf.edu
Counseling Services: 715-425-3884
counseling.services@uwrf.edu
M-F: 8 am - 4:30 pm
254 Rodli Hall