Sun Dollars can go toward more than just pizza and laundry now that NextCare Urgent Care near the Tempe campus allows students to pay for medical care with their Sun Card.
The NextCare facility on North Scottsdale and East Curry roads began accepting Sun Dollars in April after they underwent a five-month application process.
“A lot of the kids come in and they don’t have the co-pay or the deductible that’s due, so they spend a lot of time calling their parents to get credit card numbers,” said Donna Galloway, clinic manager of the Tempe NextCare. “It’s a hassle for (students), so we decided to make it simple.”
She said it is just an additional service and the clinic does not offer discounts to Sun Dollar users.
The clinic caters to common maladies like allergies, sinus infections, earaches, dizziness, colds, flus, minor burns and urinary tract infections, Galloway said.
She said many students use NextCare for colds, flu and STD testing.
Though business law freshman Ryan Clarkson has only used an urgent care facility once and typically remains home when sick, he said he would use his Sun Dollars at NextCare.
“If I get hurt I’ll go there, that works,” he said.
Students have several options when it comes to medical care, ranging from ASU Health Services to the local emergency room.
“For myself, I’d rather go to an urgent care,” said anthropology and art history junior Teresa Shannon, who also works in an ER.
ASU Health Services accepts Sun Dollars as well.
“I normally let the students know we’re kind of like an extension of what they already have available,” Galloway said. “The only difference is (ASU’s) clinic closes at five and we’re closed at eight.”
“Currently I believe NextCare is the only off-campus medical facility (that accepts Sun Dollars),” Sun Card Office program coordinator Miriam Segura said.
She said a local dentist has also expressed interest in accepting the currency.
Segura said Sun Dollars provide more financial protection as well.
“When a student loses a Sun Card, nobody knows if there’s money on there,” she said.
Though the use of Sun Dollars allows parents to put money in their student’s account, privacy at the clinic is still protected. Account information is released to the student only, unless an authorization for release is on file, according to the ASU Purchasing and Business Services Manual regarding Sun Card Office policies.
“It’s convenient, we’re fast,” Galloway said. “We welcome (students) because we know they’re far away from home and we want them to feel comfortable.”
Reach the reporter at sksmith9@asu.edu
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