Health Insurance

International Student Health Insurance Policy

At Cal State LA, the safety and well-being of our F-1 International Student and Athletes is paramount. As such, it is a mandatory requirement for all F-1 International Student and Athletes, including those on athletic scholarships, to purchase and maintain the pre-approved health insurance policy through Gallagher prior to the commencement of their initial semester and throughout their program of study at the university.

This policy is in place to ensure compliance with SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) regulations and California State Law, which mandate that international students maintain adequate health insurance coverage throughout their stay in the United States. By adhering to this policy, we not only safeguard the health and security of our F-1 students (including F-1 athletes) but also uphold our commitment to regulatory compliance and the overall well-being of our international student community.

A registration hold will be imposed on all F-1 student accounts by the ISSO until verification is provided that students have obtained the pre-approved health insurance coverage. Failing to procure the mandated health insurance policy will render F-1 students ineligible to enroll in semester courses, thus jeopardizing their F-1 status.

To purchase health insurance, visit Gallagher. The International Office will receive an email notification after your purchase, so there is no additional need to contact our office. Please allow 2-3 business days to waive the registration hold from your student account.

Students on a government scholarship that provides compatible insurance coverage as a partnership are exempt from this requirement. Please email a copy of the scholarship letter that includes a reference to your health insurance to international@calstatela.edu. 

Cal State LA Student Health Center

All registered students at Cal State LA are eligible for health services at the Student Health Center. Services include a family doctor, preventive medicine, laboratory diagnosis, X-rays, birth control, pregnancy test, sexually transmitted diseases tests, AIDS/HIV information, and psychological counseling.

A $100 deductible is required per policy year for medical services. The deductible can be waived if the student first utilizes and is referred out by the University Student Health Center. If the Student Health Center is closed or emergency medical care is required, then the deductible is automatically waived.

Urgent Care Centers are medical facilities designed to offer immediate evaluation and treatment for health conditions that are not severe enough to require treatment in the hospital or a hospital emergency room. Conditions treated through Urgent Care Centers include common medical ailments such as sore throats, flu, ear aches, respiratory infections, small cuts, sprains, and minor broken bones. Urgent Care Centers provide care and treatment through qualified physicians when such care needs fall outside of a physician's regular office hours or before an appointment is available with your primary physician. Emergency room co-payment costs can be three to five times as much as a standard office visit, so visiting an Urgent Care center offers patients lower co-payments and lower overall care costs.

Some local Urgent Care Centers are:

Dusk To Dawn Urgent Care (3.9 miles from campus)
443 S SOTO ST
LOS ANGELES, CA 90033
(323) 261-2273

Hana Medical Center (6.8 miles from campus)
2017 W OLYMPIC BLVD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90006
(213) 480-1000

For life-threatening emergencies, call “911”.

Emergency Room/Hospital

The following will help you understand when to use the hospital emergency room. Remember that you may pay more for using the emergency room for any non emergency reasons.

Some Good Reasons to Go to the Emergency Room

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Intolerable and uncontrollable pain
  • Severe shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • Poisoning (Note: If possible, call your poison control center first and ask for immediate home-treatment advice)
  • A major injury, such as a head injury.
  • Severe or worsening reaction to an insect bite or sting, or to a medication, especially if breathing is difficult
  • Stupor, drowsiness, or disorientation that cannot be explained.

Treatable Conditions Not Requiring Visit to the Emergency Room

  • Earache

  • Minor laceration (cut) where bleeding is controlled

  • Minor dog bite where bleeding is controlled

  • Possible broken bone (if bone is showing or if limb is deformed, go directly to Emergency Room)

  • Possible strain

  • A blistered sunburn or minor blistered cooking burns

  • Bee or insect sting or delayed swelling (if there is breathing difficulty, go directly to the Emergency Room)

  • Rash

  • Fever (if there is a convulsion, go directly to the Emergency Room)

  • Sexually transmitted disease (STD)

  • Colds and cough, sore throat, flu

Locating Physicians/Urgent Care Centers/Hospitals

Visit Gallagher.