Health Center FAQs

All full-time students, both residential and non-residential, can be seen in the Health Center to be evaluated for health concerns regardless of insurance. Most services within the office are covered by your tuition.  

Any laboratory tests sent to Quest Diagnostics from the Health Center are billed to your insurance company. If you are referred to a specialist, a walk-in clinic or an emergency room, your insurance will be billed and you will be responsible for any co-pays or deductibles. Most insurance companies charge their clients for a certain portion of their bill. You are responsible for these charges. Please call your insurance company before accessing care off campus in order to have a better understanding of what your insurance plan covers. 

We see patients for urgent issues, such as illnesses and injuries, as well as routine visits. We do not manage long-term or chronic health conditions but are happy to work with your primary care provider or specialist to help maintain your health while you are away from home. Here is a list of routine care that we provide: 

• Gender-affirming care 

• Pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure (PEP) prophylaxis for HIV prevention 

• Birth control including emergency contraception 

• Routine health care including pap smears for cervical cancer prevention 

• Comprehensive response to sexual violence 

• Express STI testing clinic 

If the Health Center is closed and you have a non-urgent minor illness or injury (such as a sore throat, sprained ankle or pink eye), you can call the Health Center and choose to speak to a nurse from our After-Hours Nurse Advice Line. The nurse will evaluate your symptoms over the phone, provide you with health advice, and will let you know if you need care urgently or if it can wait until the Health Center reopens.  

You may also access our webpage for Emergency Resources and Off-Campus Care; this list of nearby urgent care clinics and emergency rooms is kept up to date. Please bring your insurance card and find out if your specific insurance plan requires a referral from your primary care provider.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a health emergency, don’t delay: call University Police immediately at 781-891-3131. All University Police officers are first responders and can help you with emergencies at any time, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. 

Students enrolled in the Bentley University Health Plan (BCBS) can expect to pay ~$100 out of pocket as copayment for emergency ambulance transport. Students with other insurance plans should consider contacting their providers ahead of time to request information. We understand that the financial implications of ambulance transport can be overwhelming, but ultimately it is more important that you are safe and receive timely medical care. 

Call 781-891-2222 to schedule an appointment.  

For our STI Express Testing Clinic, you can schedule your appointment via the Bentley Health Portal. Testing is billed to your insurance and typically covered by insurance but your plan may vary.

Yes. Usually, students can get an appointment the same day. Try to call as early as possible so that you can find a time that works best for your schedule. If you call later in the day, you may be offered a phone call for advice from one of our clinicians or a following day appointment, if appropriate to your health concern. The health advice you receive may include the recommendation to seek care at local urgent care center. 

We have a highly skilled and caring team of nurse practitioners (NPs), a registered nurse, a nutrition and wellness coach, a consulting physician, as well as dedicated administrative staff. Our staff pride themselves on ensuring all students receive the highest quality care without exception. Our certified NPs are licensed to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and provide health counseling and education. 

We recommend that you always carry your student ID. You will be asked for your student ID and insurance card upon arrival to the Health Center. There is no charge for student visits, as Health Center services are covered by tuition. We do ask you to verify your insurance upon arrival for your visit in case any send-out testing is conducted.   

If you are advised to seek further care outside of the Health Center, it is important to have your insurance card or insurance card number with you.

Most of your health care needs can be met at the Health Center, however, a clinician at the Health Center may recommend that you see a specialist outside of our office. In this case, our office will work with you to obtain the earliest possible appointment. You should expect to use your health insurance and may be required to pay a co-pay or deductible to the specialist’s office. You may also need to call your primary care provider to obtain a referral before seeing a specialist depending on your insurance.

The Health Center has partnered with Capsule to provide students with free prescription delivery right to your door. Follow the simple instructions below.

Download the Instructions 

No. No information is shared by us with anyone including staff, faculty, family or friends without your express permission. Information about your care will only be given to someone with your specific approval, except as required by law and in cases of danger to yourself or others.

If you have opted to enroll in Bentley’s Student Health Insurance Plan, you will have a PPO plan provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBS). They have partnered with University Health Plans (UHP) for administrative support. Visit www.universityhealthplans.com/bentley to view your benefits, find in-network providers, and view other frequently asked questions.

You will also be able to access BCBS’s Member Central at https://myblue.bluecrossma.com/ where you can create an account to access your insurance information, view personal claim status, check account balances, and find the costs of past tests and doctor’s visits. 

The Health Insurance 101: Options After Graduation webinar was recorded on April 25 and can be accessed here. A range of topics were discussed including: 

• How health insurance works  
• Employer-sponsored, individual marketplace plans and Medicaid insurance options 
• Types of medical insurance plans 
• Dental and vision insurance 

How do I get my insurance identification number? 

• Visit www.universityhealthplans.com/bentley 

• Click on the “Insurance ID Card” link located on the left side margin 

• Input your name, Bentley ID #, and your date of birth then click “Lookup membership ID” 

• Your Member ID with BCBS will appear. Please use this Member ID to access care or pick up a prescription. 

For students newly enrolled in the BCBS plan, your Member ID will be available online 3-5 days following the day of enrollment. If you need to seek treatment or fill prescriptions before your Member ID is available, contact University Health Plans at (800) 437-6448. Reimbursement forms for prescriptions can be found on the University Health Plans website. Remember to keep all your receipts. 

Does this plan offer any vision benefits? 
The BCBS Student Health Insurance Plan offers one routine vision exam every 24 months. In addition, UHP offers a voluntary VSP vision care plan. Please visit www.universityhealthplans.com, click on alternative insurance products, and select VSP vision to learn more about the benefits and the enrollment process. 

Is Dental covered under the plan? 
A voluntary dental plan is available. If interested, please visit UHP's website, www.universityhealthplans.com, to learn more about the plan's benefits and to find the enrollment form. 

What do I do about mail from Blue Cross and Blue Shield? 
Please check your mailbox and open any mail you receive from BCBS. After BCBS has received a claim (bill) from a medical provider, they will send you an EOB (Explanation of Benefits).  THIS IS NOT A BILL.  This will show you what BCBS paid to a medical provider or facility. 

Other mail you receive from them might include a request asking for more information about your medical situation.  It is important that you fill out this form and return it to the insurance company as they will not pay any claims without this information. Information about the status of any claims can be found by logging in to Member Central at https://myblue.bluecrossma.com/ or locating Member Central in the “Blue Cross Blue Shield Info” tab located on the left-hand side of the page at www.universityhealthplans.com/bentley.  

BCBS also mails tax documents every January that provide proof of insurance coverage for tax purposes. All plan participants will receive the federal 1095-B. Massachusetts residents will receive both the 1095-B and the Massachusetts 1099-HC form. These documents may or may not be relevant to you depending on your residence. 

What do I do if I start to receive medical bills? 
You may receive bills from providers, for example; ambulance, ER doctors, hospital, and radiology or laboratory.  Make sure that these providers/facilities have your correct insurance information and they have sent your claim to Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS will confirm receipt of the claim by sending you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) in the mail. You can also view the claims received by BCBS by logging into Member Central at https://myblue.bluecrossma.com/.

You also need to check if the bills have already been paid by the insurance company BEFORE you make any payments. Remember you may owe a copayment or coinsurance. If you do not understand the bills, you can call the Customer Service number listed on the bill or contact University Health Plans at 1-800-437-6448 or info@univhealthplans.com, for help in reviewing any statements. You can also call BCBS Member Services at 1-888-753-6615.