Staying Healthy and Fit
Getting physically active can result in increased overall wellness as well as increased physical fitness. Check out the suggestions below to get you started.
Colder weather and limited hours of daylight can bring out the natural instinct to hibernate and stay inside, even in the most active person. Finding the time and energy to workout in your already busy days can also be an issue. Regardless of how you maintain your physical activity level, the important thing is that you do.
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Tips for Staying Healthy
Find the fun
There are many opportunities on campus for students to find the fun in physical activity and enjoy the weather. Outdoor Adventures offers cross country and downhill skiing, ice climbing, winter camping, dog sledding, snowshoeing which are all terrific ways for students to stay active during the winter months.
There are three recreation centers on campus that are available for you to use for free. We encourage you to use the campus recreation resources to maintain your physical activity level throughout the winter months. It will help you stay healthy in body and mind, and to be motivated for the coming spring.
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Ann Arbor Parks and Rec
From bicycle trails to canoe liveries, Ann Arbor has plenty of outside activities to keep you interested, including an expansive bike path system and municipal facilities for canoeing, wind-surfing, and year-round ice skating and swimming. You’ll find some of the offerings on the Parks and Recreation website.
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Get Out in Nature
There are lots of beautiful places nearby if you want to get out and enjoy nature. Nichols Arboretum (“the Arb”) is a botanical preserve, with acres of rolling hills and every species of tree native to the state of Michigan. It’s a popular walking and playing area in both summer and winter. The grounds are open every day from 8am until dusk. Matthei Botanical Gardens include marked hiking trails of various lengths, landscaped gardens, and an extensive multi-climate conservatory containing plants of botanical interest from all parts of the world. It’s a wonderful getaway from the cold winter weather. The outside walkways are open every day from 8:00am to dusk.
Ann Arbor has over 150 parks, which offer everything from tennis courts, swimming pools, and ice rinks, to places to rollerblade or play disc golf. There are also three dog parks where canine pets can play off-leash.
If you want to get away from town, southeastern Michigan has a wealth of recreation areas within a half-hour car ride. You can hike, mountain-bike, kayak, or just enjoy nature at the many recreation areas in southeastern Michigan. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks provide additional recreational resources, including cross-country skiing and boating.
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Sports and Fitness
The Ann Arbor Ice Cube is a unique combination of an ice sports center complete with pro shop, a physical therapy center, and a public fitness center.
Golfers will find over 20 golf courses in the Ann Arbor area.
The Ann Arbor YMCA offers many classes and workshops along with a weight room, sauna, gymnasium, Nautilus, swimming pool, and racquetball courts.
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U-M Recreational Sports and Facilities
The University of Michigan has a variety of self-directed recreational activities, club sports and recreational facilities. Visit Rec Sports to get started. You can even rent kayaks, canoes, rock-climbing gear, cross-country skis and more at Rec Sports’ Outdoor Adventures.
Health and Medical Resources
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University Health Service (UHS)
207 Fletcher Street, Ann Arbor
Phone: 734.764.8320
University Health Service at the University of Michigan, located on central campus, offers comprehensive outpatient medical services. In addition to primary medical care, UHS offers a wide variety of specialty clinics, health support services, and health education materials.
UHS Costs for Students
U-M students who are currently enrolled in classes pay a health service fee as part of tuition. This health service fee covers the cost of most primary care and specialist services at UHS.
Students (or their personal health insurance) may be billed for other health services, including laboratory tests, prescription medications, routine vision exams, and immunizations.
Costs for medical care received at a facility other than UHS are not covered by the health service fee and are the patient’s responsibility.
The health service fee covers services at UHS while students are enrolled in classes, and for approximately one week before and two weeks after the term (which are called grace periods).
Grace periods vary by school and differ each year, so please contact UHS Managed Care and Student Insurance at 734.764.5182 or toll-free 866.368.0002 for specific dates for the Law School.
UHS does not cover costs during any term (e.g. spring/summer) when students are not enrolled.
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Urgent Care
If your condition is not life-threatening and UHS is closed, you may want to go to an urgent care facility* in Ann Arbor instead of an emergency room:
IHA After Hours Care
2090 Commonwealth, Ann Arbor, MI, 734.995.0308. Hours (verify before going): Monday-Friday 5-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm.
Ann Arbor Urgent Care
1000 E. Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI, 734.769.3333. Hours (verify before going; last check-in is a half-hour before closing): Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm.
St. Joseph Mercy Maple Urgent Care
501 N. Maple Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 734.327.3933. Hours (verify before going): Monday-Friday 8am-8pm.
Premier Medicine
5958 Canton Center Road, Canton, MI, 734.454.5454 (note: this site does not participate with Premier Care). Hours (verify before going): Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am- 4pm.
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Hospitals
If UHS or urgent care will not meet your needs, there are also two excellent hospitals in the Ann Arbor area.
University Hospital
1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 734.936.4000
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital
5301 McAuley Drive, Ypsilanti, MI, 734.712.3456
Students are responsible for payment for any medical care received outside of UHS, including emergency room and ambulance services. These services are not covered by the health service fee.
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Dental Faculty Associates
The School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan offers a wide variety of primary and specialty dental services at reasonable costs.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 888.707.2500.
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Health Insurance
The university recommends that all students have health insurance to help pay for expenses including medication, emergency room visits, hospitalizations or ambulance service, and all services outside UHS.
International students and their families are required by the University to have private health insurance.
The Student Insurance Office administers and assists with student insurance options, including the Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan and the U-M International Student and Scholar Health Insurance Plan.
Information about these plans are provided to all students at the beginning of their first semester.
For questions, contact UHS Managed Care/Student Insurance Office by phone at 734.764.5182 (toll-free 866.368.0002) or via email at UHS[email protected].
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Paying for Services
Sometimes you may need health services that you must pay for on your own. Students should have health insurance to help cover services not covered by the University’s health service fee. If you need financial assistance, please contact the Law School’s Office of Financial Aid at 734.764.5289 or in 2200 Jeffries Hall.