-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Students have many health care options
Archive
Comments
Story
Quick and affordable health care service is a necessity for college students. Since the biting cold of Jack Frost has finally arrived and students are feeling the stresses of the last weeks of school, The Arbiter investigated various health clinics around BSU to find which facility offered the best deal for a runny nose or other common health problems facing students.
After comparing just a few of the medical facilities near campus, including BSU’s Health and Wellness Center, it was found that each place is unique and provides a variety of services. Because of this, students must choose for themselves, which is the best deal for their money.
These comparisons are based on the costs of a variety of different services offered by the various facilities as well as the hours of operation.
Idaho Family Physicians on Boise Avenue offers service Monday through Saturday. Their hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic quoted various prices. A general flu shot or a strep throat culture, students will be charged about $16. An HIV test costs $27 and a chlamydia test is $52. Tests for other sexually transmitted diseases are more specialized and have varying costs.
At Idaho Family Physicians the cost for a women’s exams depends on the type of insurance the patient holds and also their age. For a college student that has a wellness package through their insurance provider, the overall exam is $128. For other college age women, the price will range between $64 and $100.
On the other hand, Capital City Family Medicine on 17th and State streets has longer hours, but some differing prices for their services. The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The cost for flu shots and throat cultures are the same as at Idaho Family Physicians, but STD and HIV testing prices are higher. According to the clinic, an HIV test is $28 plus another $10 charge for having blood drawn. Costs for all other STD tests depend on the specific disease, and the type of insurance held by the patient.
The price of a complete wellness examination for women will vary with age. The older the patient, the more expensive the exam. For a college female, the price of a pap smear will range from $35-$60 plus charges for an office visit.
The BSU Health and Wellness Center located right on campus charges a much smaller amount for college students who carry BSU insurance, which they can obtain by paying $216 to the school. The Center receptionists said when carrying this insurance, students pay a $5 fee for each office visit, as well as the price for each medication purchased.
Students without the college’s insurance must go in and speak with physicians in person in order determine the costs for the specific kind of test or check-up they want.
Unlike the other facilities, the Center is only open during the week, and during the school session. Their hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ashley Gettings