Here’s where students can get medical care on campus at the University of Kentucky
College is often the first time students are in charge of their own physical and emotional well-being.
As the University of Kentucky prepares to welcome an estimated 35,000 students to campus for the Aug. 26 start of fall semester classes, UK’s University Health Service gives students access to healthcare tailored to their needs.
“This is their first chance away from home. They’re making decisions on their own and so one of the things that we want to do is help them learn to make better health and well-being decisions,” Clinical Director Dr. Scott Black said.
“We see that as a responsibility, that we help students become better consumers of healthcare.”
University Health Services is the hub for UK student and employee medical care. The cost of service for students is included in the mandatory health fee, $131.35 per semester, for all full-time UK students. Part-time students have the option to pay the health fee.
Located next to the Kentucky Clinic on the main Lexington campus, students can be seen an unlimited number of times for primary care, urgent care, behavioral health, women’s health and sports medicine appointments. The health fee does not include the cost of certain diagnostic tests or prescription medicine.
“Even though we’re considered primary care, we kind of specialize our care towards the student age population,” Black said.
“We’re used to seeing things that undergraduate and graduate students run into, so we’re used to their common problems. We’re integrated with a lot of other campus services that somebody out in the community wouldn’t be integrated with.”
He said the most common diagnosis at the clinic is upper respiratory infections, like the common cold. Black said the physicians are prepared for an influx of students presenting with a cough, once the semester starts.
Student behavioral health services
In the behavioral health center, students are most commonly treated for depression or anxiety and tested for attention deficit disorder.
“We’ve really tried to integrate behavioral health and primary care, and that integrated practice is a model that is just getting started out in the community,” Black said.
“We’ve been doing it for 30 years. People recognize how much the psychology and behavioral health side of things influences your health.”
The behavioral health services also offer ongoing treatment for preexisting mental health conditions, and can refill preexisting prescriptions. These services are psychiatric, and may not be the best fit for talk therapy. Students seeking therapy should contact the UK Counseling Center.
The difference between primary care and urgent care
Though University Health Services offers a “blend” of primary and urgent care, Black said, it’s important students know what kind of provider they need to see.
Primary care is for chronic, ongoing conditions, like migraines or asthma, and general wellness check-ups.
“When I think of a primary care appointment, I think more of something that’s an ongoing medical problem, and you want to see the same person for that same problem,” Black said.
“I don’t want to tell the same story to three different people, right? That’s a good way to think about primary care.”
Urgent care is for one-off issues, like sports injuries or acute illness, like strep throat.
“Urgent care: I woke up this morning and I’m sick, and I just want this one thing taken care of. I don’t really care who I see, as long as they do a good job taking care of my problem for the day,” Black said.
What about costs not covered by health fee?
For costs not covered by the health fee, like medicine or X-rays, Black recommended students have health insurance.
University Health Service accepts outside insurance, and also offers the Student Health Plan for students without existing insurance.
“It’s just like commercial health insurance. It’s, I think, probably significantly less expensive than most commercial health insurance,” Black said.
The enrollment period for the fall semester is July 15-September 13. Coverage for the fall semester runs through Dec. 31 and costs $1,244. Spring enrollment is open Dec. 2 - Feb. 21, 2025, with coverage running from Jan 1, 2025 - Aug. 14, 2025. The cost of spring semester coverage is $2,034.
Spouses and children can be added to the Student Health Plan, for an additional cost. Only students can be seen at University Health Services, but the Student Health Plan is accepted at hospital locations outside of UK HealthCare.
How to book an appointment at UK’s University Health Service
To book a first appointment, students should call the clinic at 859-323-2778. After the initial visit, appointments can be booked online. Behavioral health appointments can be booked by calling 859-323-5511.
While appointments book fast, Black said most students are seen within 48 hours of initial contact. If appointments are completely booked online, students should call the triage nurse, 859-323-4636.
“Triage nurses can evaluate things over the phone and, if it’s something that really needs to be seen today, we can get them into an overflow clinic that we’ve developed internally,” Black said.
“If it’s something that can wait till the following day, we’ll get back to it the next day. Truly our goal is to get everybody that needs to be seen today, seen today.”