Health Services

Soka’s on-campus Health Center provides outpatient services to help students maintain optimal health. A California-licensed medical practitioner will provide medical services when you are ill and provide preventive health services when you are well. We encourage you to use these services.

On-Campus Health Center

The clinic is staffed by a California-licensed medical practitioner from South Coast Medical Group.

Location and Contact Information

Student Center, 4th Floor, Room 409 (directly above the Mailroom) 

Email:  HealthCenter@soka.edu  |  Phone: (949) 480-4143

Hours

Monday-Friday | 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Saturday-Sunday | CLOSED 

University Holidays; Winter, Spring, and Summer Breaks | CLOSED

Frequently Asked Questions

An urgent care condition is not as serious as an emergency, but you need to obtain care as soon as possible. Some examples are chronic back pain, fever, headache, severe skin rash, and persistent cough. We use the South Coast Medical Group Urgent Care for after-hour/weekend services. 

South Coast Medical Group Urgent Care

Location: 5 Journey #130, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 
Phone: (949) 360-1069

Hours:
Monday-Friday | 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Saturday | 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
Sunday | 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

A true medical emergency is the sudden and unexpected onset of a condition in which delay in treatment would endanger your health or life. Some examples are difficulty breathing, broken bones, excessive bleeding, suspected heart attack, unconsciousness, severe burns, car accident, back or neck injury, severe allergic reaction involving respiratory distress, drug or alcohol overdose, mental distress, shock, and severe stomach pain.

If you face a life-threatening emergency on or off campus dial 911. 
 
If you are on campus, also call Campus Security at (949) 480-4100 and notify your Residence Hall Staff while waiting for the paramedics to arrive.

For emergencies or for urgent medical needs when the urgent care center is closed:

Saddleback Memorial Medical Center

Emergency Department 
Location: 24451 Health Center Drive, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 
Phone: (949) 452-3569   

Mission Hospital

Emergency Department 
Location: 27700 Medical Center Rd, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 
Phone: (949) 364-1400

All Soka students are eligible for care at the on-campus clinic at no cost. Students with waived insurance (having insurance other than Soka insurance) are required to bring a copy of their insurance card (front and back) to the Health Center. If lab, radiology, or a physician visit is needed, a student will be referred to their primary care physician or our supervising physician. Health Center staff can assist students with finding an appropriate, nearby provider.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): two doses; Td (Tetanus/Diphtheria): must be within the past 10 years; Meningitis Vaccine: one dose if first time (need second dose if received first dose before 16 years old); Hepatitis A: two doses; Hepatitis B: three doses; Required Skin Test: current (within 12 months) TB (Tuberculosis)⁠, a current chest x-ray is needed if a skin test result is positive or there is a history of a positive result. Proof of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine may be accepted in lieu of a TB skin test.

Patients are usually seen on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis. However, students with more urgent needs may be seen sooner. We encourage all patients with more predictable health care needs (examinations, medication refills, older injuries, or long-term health problems) to make an appointment.

The privacy of your medical information is important to us. We understand that your medical information is personal and we are committed to protecting it. All medical information in the Health Center is confidential and is protected under FERPA.

Health Insurance

All Soka students must have health insurance. Soka offers health insurance through Anthem which includes medical, dental, and vision benefits. Details on the plans benefits and costs can be found at https://soka.myahpcare.com/

Students are automatically enrolled in the Soka Student Health Insurance Plan unless they submit a waiver showing coverage under an existing plan which meets the following criteria:

Domestic Students must show proof of coverage of a plan which

  1. Provides local urgent and emergency care in southern Orange County, California
  2. Has unlimited medical benefit per injury or sickness.
  3. If the plan is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plan, the plan must provide a Primary Care Physician (PCP) in southern Orange County, California.

International Students must show proof of coverage of a plan which meets the above criteria and also

  1. Has no per-medical or per-mental health/substance use disorder condition maximum benefit limits
  2. Covers services related to suicidal conditions, including attempted suicide or suicidal thoughts
  3. Covers medical services for injury from participation in all types of recreational activities or amateur sports
  4. Has no pre-existing condition exclusion or limitation; if the plan has a pre-existing condition waiting period, that period has expired
  5. Has no lifetime maximums on benefits
  6. Has a complete master policy written in standard English with benefits expressed in U.S. dollars
  7. Has a claims payment office with an address and phone number in the United States
  8. Pays at least $50,000 annually for medical evacuation
  9. Pays at least $25,500 for repatriation of remains
  10. Has a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

Insurance Waiver Process

Students must submit a waiver each year for the following academic year. Waiver information, including deadlines to submit, may be found at https://soka.myahpcare.com/waiver

  • Returning students must submit waiver information between May 1, 2026, and June 3, 2026
  • Incoming students must submit waiver information between May 15, 2026, and July 1, 2026

If a student or their family encounters an event in which the student loses health insurance coverage during the academic year, please contact the Director of Student Services immediately to enroll in the Soka Plan.

California Assembly Bill 594 requires schools to notify students of the following: 
California requires residents and their dependents to obtain, and maintain, health coverage or pay a penalty, unless they qualify for an exemption. Enrolling in student health insurance offered by the college or university you are attending is one way to meet this requirement.

You may be eligible to get free or low-cost health coverage through Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. In addition, you may be eligible for free or low-cost health coverage through Covered California. Visit Covered California at www.coveredca.com to learn about health coverage options that are available for you and your dependents, and how you might qualify to get financial assistance with the cost of coverage.

If you are under 26 years of age, you may be eligible for coverage as a dependent in a group health plan of your parent’s employer or under your parents’ individual market coverage. In addition, you may be eligible to buy individual health insurance directly from a health insurer or health plan, regardless of immigration status.

Please examine your options carefully to see if other options are more affordable and whether you are currently eligible to enroll in these other forms of coverage pursuant to an open or special enrollment period.