Health & Safety

Medical Insurance

Every full-time and part-time student enrolled in an institution of higher learning in Massachusetts is required to participate in a student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. This includes students participating in the Los Angeles Program. For those of you who are not California residents: insurance carriers may not cover you adequately in California. It is vitally important that you and your family research this before you arrive in Los Angeles. All too often participants arrive in Los Angeles only to discover that significant medical expenses are not covered and must be paid out of pocket; or they must travel back home to receive medical care.

If a student has an alternate health plan with comparable coverage under his/her parents’ insurance, the student may request a waiver from participating in Emerson College’s sponsored student health plan. However, for an alternate health plan to be comparable to the student health plan:

• The plan must provide to the student reasonably comprehensive coverage of health services, including preventive and primary care, emergency services, hospitalization benefits, ambulatory patient services, and mental health services throughout the school year.
• The services covered under the alternate health plan must be reasonably accessible for all health services to the student in the area where the student attends school.
• A health plan through a closed network of providers and accessible only for emergency services is NOT comparable coverage. Students and parents should be aware of this very important fact.
• The burden of proof that the alternate insurance is adequate falls on the student.

Please check with your insurance agent regarding any policy questions or concerns you may have about health benefits while living and traveling in California. If you believe your current insurance policy does not provide sufficient medical coverage while out of your state/geographical service area, please research a health insurance plan that does.

If your current plan meets the coverage requirements, please follow instructions for the Student Health Insurance Plan Online Waiver Form.

View information about the Aetna Student Health Plan.

For those students who use the College’s health insurance plan, as part of the plan you are entitled to travel assistance services provided by On Call International. On Call International has extensive college student service experience, including medical evacuation and repatriation coverage and 24-hour medical assistance for members while traveling anywhere in the world.

Regardless of your insurance plan, if you know that you will need medical services while in Los Angeles, please start to research Los Angeles area providers covered by your insurance plan. Los Angeles Program employees don’t make medical referrals. 

Psychological Counseling Services

Professional counseling services are available off campus for students who need assistance with personal concerns, family problems, or other psychological issues. Students will have to pay up front and will need to complete a claim report and follow the insurance company’s policy for reimbursement. 

Prescription Medication

If you know that you will need medication while in Los Angeles, ensure you bring an adequate supply with you. Otherwise, you will have to make arrangements to acquire the medications you need in California. Discuss this with your parents. This may or may not necessitate finding a local (Los Angeles) physician. A bit of planning now can save you much trouble later on.

Health Care Resources

If a student is sick or needs health services, he/she should go to the Lakeside Community Healthcare Urgent Care Center in Burbank. If you need medical assistance before or after its posted hours, you will have to visit Saint Joseph's Medical Center. Be sure to bring your insurance card with you for any medical visits and always provide your permanent address on any medical paperwork to ensure that you are billed appropriately. All students are responsible for their individual bills. If you visit the Lakeside Community Health Center on weekends, you will have to sign a waiver in order to receive treatment. They  ask you to sign a waiver because the Center can't verify your insurance information on weekends or on weekdays when the insurance carrier verification lines are closed.

Lakeside Community Health Urgent Care Center

Lakeside Community Healthcare Urgent Care Center offers treatment ranging from treating simple flu symptoms to minor injuries on a "walk-in" basis.

Providence/Saint Joseph Medical Center Emergency Room

If the Urgent Care Facility is not open, please use the ER services at Saint Joseph’s.

Please note: Students with outstanding bills for medical services may have a “hold” placed on their Emerson account until payment is received by the college or the service provider.

Other Local Health Services and Hotlines

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood provides STD testing and treatment, birth control services and HIV testing, pregnancy test/options, HPV and Hepatitis vaccines, and emergency contraception.

Alcoholics Anonymous

4311 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 104
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Telephone:  323-936-4343

Hotlines