HCC Parent & Family Frequently Asked Questions

Parents/guardians, families and friends are an important part of students' well-being and success, at and beyond college. We know you want your student to be at their best, and to help when they're not.

So, in addition to these Health & Counseling Center (HCC)-specific family resource pages...

• How to talk to your student about Mental Health 

• Supporting students as they navigate topics like consent, healthy relationships, and boundaries

...we've gathered and linked some of the most common and important information below, for these student supporters.

For additional questions, feel free to call us at 303.871.2205 or email hccinfo@du.edu   For specific situations, please include or have ready the student's name and DU ID ("87...") number; and be aware that, as noted below, we may be limited in what we can share.

Click each question/header below to display more information:

• How can I get access to my student’s health information?

  Due to federal HIPAA and FERPA laws, the HCC cannot release any information regarding medical, mental health, or academic records to outside parties (parents, home medical providers, etc.) without a release of information (ROI). This also means we cannot confirm or deny whether a student has received services at the HCC, including details such as tests, name of of clinicians seen, etc.

  If you have questions and would like to speak with your student’s healthcare provider, the best thing you can do is to ask your student to sign a specific Release Of Information.

  Students must complete releases of information on a case-by-case basis, which can only be applied to appointments/records prior to that release’s date of signature. Releases of information can be found on the HCC website and on the student’s MyHealth portal messaging system. The DU HCC does not accept blanket ROIs or medical releases for future events, nor do we serve as a custodian of medical directives, healthcare proxy, or powers of attorney. 

   

  If your student will be under the age of 18 while on campus, please complete the medical Parental Consent to Care Form (PDF) and submit it to our office.

• Can I make an appointment for my student?

  No. As responsible adults and due to HIPAA laws, students must make their own appointments with the HCC. They can schedule directly via the MyHealth portal, or call 303.871.2205 to speak with our Admin Support Team. 

• Where can I find itemized bills to submit for insurance reimbursement?

  Itemized bills can be found under the “Account Summary” section of the student MyHealth portal. These will contain all diagnostic codes needed for insurance reimbursement, and will also serve as a receipt of payment, with full appointments stating “$0 balance due” at the bottom. Students can access these and submit them to insurance. The HCC staff cannot send these receipts directly to parents due to confidentiality laws.

• What immunizations will my student need?

  Per Colorado state law, all students must show verification of two (2) doses of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR or MMRV) vaccination series, and first-year students and any student living in campus housing must have an updated Meningococcal ACWY vaccination within the last 5 years. The HCC offers the required vaccines, among others, to assist students in meeting these requirements if needed.

  Students taking in person classes will need to submit either copies of their vaccination record OR a temporary immunization exemption waiver—both can be done on the DU MyHealth site.

  Incomplete or outdated immunization records may result in a hold on the student’s account and prevent class registration. 

  Visit our Immunizations page for additional details.

• What if student's scholarship/external funding pays for insurance?

  Some programs and scholarships will cover the cost of the DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). We strongly encourage students to read details of all scholarships, and to reach out to the scholarship provider (DU academic program, central DU Financial Aid, or external organizations) with questions about what is covered. 

  As SHIP is charged to student's central DU account (not paid to HCC), additional questions related to student charges and payments can be directed to the Student Billing (Bursars) office. 

• Whom can I contact if I have concerns about my student?

  If talking with your student directly is not enough, Student Outreach & Support (SOS), part of the Dean of Students office, can reach out, connect them with appropriate campus or community services, and communicate with appropriate campus resources on student issues, including hospitalizations, and crisis situations. Visit the SOS website for some family resources, and/or to submit a referral.

  In emergencies (threats to safety), please call DU Campus Safety at 303.871.3000.

• What if my student is covered under external (non-DU) insurance?

  Students must request a waiver from the DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) by posted deadlines, and submit needed information about the alternative/external plan. Visit our SHIP Waiver Request page for details.

  The HCC can provide services to any eligible DU student (largely students not in entirely online programs), who would need to pay cost (discounted for those who paid applicable HCF), out-of-pocket at the time of the service. The HCC provides a receipt which the student can submit to their non-DU insurer for reimbursement per that plan's coverage; DU and HCC are not involved in the reimbursement process.

• How can my student get medications?

  The HCC has a limited on-site dispensary for common medications prescribed by HCC providers. We do not store medications for students nor offer controlled substances (eg. stimulants or opioids) through our dispensary. For those and other items, our providers can send prescriptions to nearby retail or online pharmacies.

  Costs, including out-of-pocket charges, will depend on the specific item and insurance plan.

  In any case, students should schedule an appointment with the HCC as soon as possible to discuss their situation. They can self-schedule via the MyHealth portal or call 303.871.2205.

• My student needs accommodations; can the HCC help?

  Students seeking accommodations with housing, academics, advising, facilities, or other DU offerings should begin this process with the Student Disability Services (SDS) office; and may need to provide documentation from a current treating provider. The HCC can assist with required documentation for students that have established care with one of our providers. It is the provider’s discretion to create letters of support or other documentation; and the student would need to complete an HCC release of information (ROI) for our providers to share relevant information with SDS.

• My student already has a medical and/or mental health diagnosis; will they be able to get assistance?

  We know that students may already be aware of health conditions before starting at DU.

  To discuss their specific situation (including possible transition of care to HCC provider and/or other supports available), students should schedule an appointment with an HCC provider via MyHealth portal or by calling 303.871.2205. For questions about student insurance (SHIP) coverage of pre-existing conditions, review the current SHIP coverage materials and/or contact our Admin Support Team at 303.871.2205.

  Also reference the Accommodations question above.

• Does the HCC offer ADHD care and/or services?

  The HCC offers both medical and counseling services for students with the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder. While we do not provide assessments or testing, we can refer students to local resources and assist with medication management per our policy.

We appreciate your support in helping students continue their development as informed and engaged adults.

And beyond the HCC, explore the DU Family Engagement program and these additional campus resources and opportunities:

• Financial Aid information for parents 

• Ways to support your student's career development 

• Support for student's Study Abroad