Health and Wellness Fee
Supporting Tufts’ Commitment to Health and Wellness
Tufts University is committed to promoting health and wellness among its undergraduate and graduate students through health promotion and prevention programming, student engagement, and ensuring compliance with state and federal public health requirements. We pride ourselves in removing obstacles that might prevent students from seeking the medical help or counseling they need. While all students are required by the State of Massachusetts to carry health insurance, Tufts fulfills its public health mission by providing medical, counseling, and health promotion at no charge to students. All students pay a Health and Wellness fee ($1090 for 2023-2024 and estimated $1162 for 2024-2025) in order to fund these services so that every student can benefit. Our Health and Wellness services are among the most utilized on campus, rivaling even the libraries and computer labs. Virtually all students will engage with us in some way during their time at Tufts. The fee is mandatory, non-negotiable, and set by the Trustees to support our broad-based public health programs and services.
*Tuition rates and fees are effective as of the July prior to the academic year. Note that the fee is set each academic year and typically increases a small amount from year to year. The Trustees of Tufts University reserve the right to change tuition rates or fees at their discretion.
What Is Covered
The fee covers services and programming that ensure compliance with state and federal public health requirements and help fulfill our public health mission by providing unlimited visits to the Health Service, access to the Counseling and Mental Health Service and programming related to Health Prevention and Promotion and to C.A.R.E. as well as additional health and wellness on campus that enhance the quality of student life.
What Is Not Covered under the Health and Wellness Fee
At the Health Service, laboratory tests, prescribed medications, immunizations, x-ray imaging, transport by an ambulance, durable medical equipment (such as canes, crutches, or braces), any visits with medical specialists, and hospital and surgical care are not covered by the health and wellness fee. These services are usually covered by your health insurance. You can contact the Health Service Business Office for more information.
For students in the Boston and Grafton campuses, please contact the Student Advisory and Health Administration Office.
Who Is Eligible?
A Health and Wellness Fee is mandatory for all undergraduate, international, full-time graduate students, and approved part-time graduate students registered for seven (7) or more credits. This fee may not be waived.
International students enrolled in matriculated programs get health and wellness fee charges regardless of registration credits.
Students who are not automatically billed the health and wellness fee but want to be seen at Health Service or Counseling Center may contact the Health Service Business Office to have the fee posted to their account.
Who Is NOT Eligible?
Students taking a leave of absence and students that have graduated are not eligible for services at the Tufts University Health Service and CMHS.
Spouses and other dependents are not charged the fee and are not eligible to receive care at the Tufts University Health Service. Dependents who have coverage through the Student Health Insurance Plan should access care through an in-network provider to minimize out-of-pocket costs.
Tufts University staff and faculty are not eligible to be seen at the Health Service or the Counseling Center and should not be charged a Health and Wellness fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Health and Wellness fee is not health insurance. This fee covers services and programming that helps fulfill our public health mission by providing unlimited primary care visits to the Health Service, access to the Counseling and Mental Health Service and programming related to Health Prevention and Promotion and to C.A.R.E. as well as additional health and wellness on campus that enhance the quality of student life.
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The Health and Wellness fee is mandatory and set by the Trustees. It cannot be waived, refunded, or prorated.
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Our approach is community based. All students pay a Health and Wellness fee so that every student can benefit.
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Yes. The Health and Wellness Fee covers the cost of most services, regardless of the type of insurance coverage a student may have. Students need private insurance (or the student health insurance plan) to cover the cost of services offered at Health Service but not covered by the Health and Wellness Fee (e.g., pharmacy, reference clinical labs, etc.) and other services not provided at Tufts University.
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Yes, the Health and Wellness fee covers the cost of most services at Health Service and the Counseling and Mental Health Services including telemedicine appointments. If you receive care that is not covered under the Health and Wellness fee and you waived the Student Health Insurance Plan, your SIS account or alternative insurance will be billed.