All full-time, non-dissertation students residing in the Greater Delaware Valley area are required to have coverage for the Student Health Service (SHS), either through payment of the clinical fee or through the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP). The clinical fee is automatically posted to student accounts on the first tuition bills of the fall and spring semesters. The charge per semester for the academic year of 11-12 is $226.00.

This fee is mandatory for full-time, non-dissertation status students and may not be refunded or waived, however, students may choose to either pay the clinical fee directly or satisfy the charge for SHS through selection of the Penn sponsored health plan (PSIP). Students who are enrolled in PSIP will see a reversal of their clinical fee at the time the insurance premium is billed.

Clinical Fee FaQ

What is the clinical fee?
The clinical fee will allow primary access to all of the services that Student Health Service (SHS) provides.

How much is the clinical fee?
The clinical fee is $226.00 per semester for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Is this clinical fee new?
All full-time students have always paid a "clinical fee," it was, however, included in the general fee. After consultation in 1999 with many student groups (including the Undergraduate Assembly, the Graduate and professional Student Assembly, the Graduate Student Association Council, the Student Health Advisory Board, and the Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee), the Trustees of the University have approved the separation of the Student Health Clinical Fee from the General Fee.

If I have private insurance, am I still required to pay the clinical fee?
The clinical fee must be paid by all full-time, non-dissertation students who do not choose to participate in the Penn sponsored insurance plan (PSIP).

If I purchase the Penn insurance, how does that affect my already billed clinical fee?
Students who choose to participate in the Penn sponsored plan will see a reversal of the clinical fee on their student account.

Will the clinical fee cover me outside of Student Health?
The clinical fee will only pay for services rendered at Student Health.

Does the clinical fee cover everything at SHS?
The clinical fee covers primary basic services at the Student Health Service.  There may be separate charges for other services and items provided by the Student Health Service. These may include diagnostic testing, vaccines, medications, etc.

Does my spouse/partner have to pay the clinical fee to use Student Health?
Spouses/partners who choose to use Student Health (not on Penn sponsored insurance) will be charged on a fee-for-service basis.

I’m a part-time student. Can I still pay the clinical fee and use SHS?
Yes. You’ll need to complete an application for the clinical fee every semester that you wish to use SHS. Please contact us at 215 746 3535 for details.