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Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity

Health Care

DACA FAQ

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OTHER CAMPUS RESOURCES

Do I still have health insurance? What about healthcare options for UW students?

At the UW, Hall Health offers a wide array of highly rated primary and specialty care clinics and services, including Primary Care, Women’s Health, Family Health, Mental Health, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, and more. You are automatically eligible for many valuable health services, which are available at no further cost to UW-Seattle campus students. Please note the first visit is free, but additional visits require some form of insurance or out-of-pocket expenses.
http://depts.washington.edu/hhpccweb/especially-for-uw-seattle-students-and-their-families/
If you have health coverage through your employer or your parent’s employer, you should remain covered as long as you or your parents are employed. If you have health coverage through your spouse’s or partner’s employer, you should remain covered. There are no immigration status requirements for such coverage.
DACA recipients are not eligible for health insurance through the federal health insurance marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, they may be eligible for state funded health insurance programs such as the Apple Health coverage (https://www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-cost-health-care/apple-health-medicaid-coverage). Anyone who doesn’t have another source of coverage can buy private health coverage directly from insurance companies and brokers, regardless of their immigration status. However, no financial assistance is available, and coverage can be purchased only during an open enrollment or a special enrollment period.

I don’t have health insurance. Do I have any other options for affordable health care?

Many cities and counties within Washington provide health services for their residents who are ineligible for comprehensive coverage, regardless of their immigration status. Access to those programs will not be affected by the rescission of DACA.
In addition, the following health programs are available regardless of immigration status in all states, and remain an option for uninsured immigrants, including people who have DACA or whose DACA expired:

  • Emergency-room care
  • Community health centers and free clinics
  • Public and safety-net hospitals
  • Public health services (immunizations, treatment of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases)
  • Emergency treatment under emergency Medicaid, including labor and delivery for pregnancy
  • Hospital and community health center financial assistance programs (also known as “charity care”)

What if I have health insurance through a public insurance program in my state?

In Washington, DACA grantees with disabilities may be eligible for medical coverage. After your DACA expires, you may still be eligible for state health programs. Check back here for updates, or check with a trusted advocacy organization.
For out of state students, many states provide coverage for the treatment of certain diseases, or to certain populations, regardless of an individual’s immigration status. Access to this coverage will not be affected by the rescission of DACA.
In most states, low-income DACA recipients’ eligibility for Medicaid coverage is limited to treatment for emergencies, including labor and delivery services. This Medicaid for emergencies is available regardless of an individual’s immigration status and will not change.

What mental health supports can be offered to students/staff/faculty affected?

A variety of counseling services are available to undocumented students and members of the UW community who may be affected by the news of DACA ending, and are described below.

On Campus Health and Wellness

Hall Health

Hall Health offers a wide array of highly rated primary and specialty care clinics and services, including Primary Care, Women’s Health, Family Health, Mental Health, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, and more. You are automatically eligible for many valuable health services, which are available at no further cost to UW-Seattle campus students.

Contact Us
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
(206) 685-1011
Location: 4060 E. Stevens Way NE
http://depts.washington.edu/hhpccweb/especially-for-uw-seattle-students-and-their-families/

 UW Counseling Center

Counseling Center’s staff of psychologists and mental health counselors provide confidential and culturally-sensitive counseling, consultation, referral, and crisis intervention services.  The UW Counseling Center exists to support UW students in all aspects of their development.  It provides personal counseling, career counseling, study skills assistance, and other services to currently-enrolled UW students.
Contact Us
8 am-5pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday
9:30am-5pm on Tuesdays
Location: 401 Schmitz Hall,
206 543 1240, washington.edu/counseling

Student Care

Health and Wellness is a starting point for students in distress and in need of multiple levels of support. We provide intervention, assessment and consultation to students directly and work with faculty/staff to respond to incidents that cause concern in the classroom or beyond.
Why should you make an appointment with Health & Wellness Student Care?

  • You are not sure how to handle a situation that is affecting you emotionally, physically, academically or otherwise.
  • You would like to discuss options for staying in school while dealing with a complex situation.
  • You would like to discuss options for taking a break from school while dealing with a complex situation.
  • You would like to discuss or receive information about on- and- off- campus resources.

Contact Us
Please email livewell@uw.edu or call 206.543.6085 to make an appointment or to discuss your situation and relevant resources.

Sexual Assault & Relationship Violence, Stalking, & Harassment Advocacy

Health & Wellness offers advocacy and support for students impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment and other related experiences. A Health & Wellness Advocate is available to meet with students and help them understand their rights and options for reporting both on campus and in the larger community as well as assist with connecting to resources, academic advocacy, and safety planning. Health & Wellness is a safe and confidential starting point for all University of Washington students affected by these issues.
Contact Us
You can make an appointment with the Health & Wellness Advocate by emailing hwadvoc@uw.edu or calling 206.543.6085 during business hours.

Alcohol & Other Drug Education

Health and Wellness provides educational programs, consultation, and resource referrals around alcohol and other drugs, combining evidence-based intervention and prevention practices to support the campus community.
Contact Us
For more information, contact Health and Wellness at livewell@uw.edu or 206.543.6085.

Off Campus Counseling Resources

There are a variety of organizations not affiliated with the UW that may be of assistance. Some services outside of campus may use a sliding-scale based on income to determine how much you pay. Please consult with each individual agency to understand your payment responsibility. Below are descriptions of some of these services in their own words.

Seattle Therapy Alliance

“Located in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, STA was opened in 2009 with the two-fold vision of training graduate counseling students in psychotherapy and women’s issues while simultaneously making low-cost therapy available to women. We believe that a key to healing our wounded world lies in supporting women, one population disproportionately affected by physical, sexual, and domestic abuse, economic instability, and the weight of single parenting. Think about it: 70 percent of the persons who live in poverty in the United States are women and children. And, while women represent 50 percent of the world population, they perform nearly two-thirds of all the working hours, receive only one-tenth of the world income and own less than one percent of world property. There are very few places where women will get a break. This is one way we can help.”
http://seattletherapyalliance.com/

Seattle Counseling Service

“A community based organization that has been dedicated to promoting health and wellness within the LGBTQ community for 45 years. We are committed to providing accessible services, offering a sliding fee scale in addition to accepting Medicaid and many insurance plans.”
http://www.seattlecounseling.org/

Consejo Counseling and Referral Service

“An award-winning agency that has provided behavioral health services to the Latino community in the state of Washington for near four decades. Most of Consejo’s clients are immigrants from Latin America who speak Spanish who represent the largest growing community in the United States today. The outcomes demonstrated by Consejo across Washington State have won it a noteworthy national reputation for providing culturally competent services designed to address the diverse needs of adults, children, adolescents and families in the Latino community.”
http://consejonew.consejocounseling.org/

Asian Counseling Resource Service

“Promotes social justice and the well-being and empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities – including immigrants, refugees, and American-born – by developing, providing and advocating for innovative, effective and efficient community-based multilingual and multicultural services.”
https://acrs.org/

The Psychotherapy Cooperative

“A small non-profit therapy organization created in 1996 by several psychology faculty who teach in the Masters Psychology program at Seattle University and by graduates of this program.”
http://www.psychotherapycooperative.org/

Community Counseling and Psychology Clinic at Antioch University Seattle

“Trained in a variety of clinical psychology and counseling techniques, our staff consult with you to identify the best approach for your situation. In partnership with seasoned, licensed psychologists and counselors, the Clinic provides supervised learning opportunities for graduate students, with special attention to understanding multicultural differences.”
http://www.antiochseattle.edu/student-campus-resources/campus-resources/mental-health-counseling/community-counseling-and-psychology-clinic/

Resources for Mothers and Children

What if I’m pregnant?

In many states, income-qualifying pregnant women are eligible for pregnancy-related services through the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or through a state program, regardless of their immigration status. Services available include prenatal care, labor and delivery services and, in some cases, postpartum care. Access to this program will not be affected by the rescission of DACA.
In the other states, pregnant women whose immigration status makes them ineligible for full-scope Medicaid are eligible for restricted-scope or emergency Medicaid for labor and delivery services. Children born to mothers covered by Medicaid (including restricted scope) are automatically eligible for Medicaid. DACA rescission will not affect eligibility for these programs.

I’m 18. Are there any special public health insurance options for kids and adolescents?

The state of Washington provides full-scope health coverage to all residents under age 19, regardless of immigration status, if they meet the income eligibility requirements for the state Medicaid and/or CHIP program.