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Q & A for SHIP Members

Q. How can I use my plan when I'm away from Ithaca?

A. The SHIP is designed to provide health insurance coverage for you (and your dependents) whether you are on campus, studying abroad, traveling, or on a leave of absence.

Wherever you are, you will want to review the SHIP Member's Guide (pdf) to make sure you understand how to maximize your benefits under the plan.

The SHIP provides coverage for charges from any licensed medical provider. However, for the maximum benefit, you should seek care from an Aetna Standard Open Choice PPO Provider.

You can locate a provider using Aetna’s DocFind Service at www.aetna.com/docfind. Be sure to include the zip code of the area where services will be received and to select Aetna Standard Open Choice PPO as the health plan type.

While out of the country (travel abroad)

The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) provides medical coverage when you are outside of the United States. All SHIP benefits are available to you at the non-preferred care level. You are not required to pre-certify care provided while out of the country prior to receiving it.

In most cases, you will have to pay for care at the time the service is provided. You should make sure to receive an itemized bill and a receipt. These must include the date of service, the dollar amount of the visit and the diagnosis. Submit them to:

Aetna Student Health Claims Administrators
PO Box 15708
Boston, MA 02215

SHIP will reimburse you for charges for covered benefits according to the non-preferred care benefit level minus any applicable co-payments.

To contact the Aetna Student Health Claims Administrators, Inc. outside of the United States, please call:

(617) 218-8400 (collect calls are accepted).

Emergency Travel Assistance Services

If you experience a medical emergency while traveling more than 100 miles from home or campus, you have access to a comprehensive group of emergency assistance services provided by Assist America, Inc.

Eligible participants have immediate access to doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other services when faced with an emergency while traveling. The Assist America Operations Center can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide services including: medical consultation and evaluation; medical referrals; foreign hospital admission guarantee; prescription assistance; lost luggage assistance; legal and interpreter assistance; and travel information such as Visa and passport requirements, travel advisories, etc.

An Assist America ID card will be supplied to you once you enroll in Cornell's Student Health Insurance Plan (administered by Aetna Student Health). Please remember to carry your Assist America card and call toll-free within the U.S. at (800) 872-1414 or outside the U.S. call collect (dial U.S. access code) plus 301-656-4152 in the event of an emergency when you are traveling. With one phone call, you will be connected to a global network of over 600,000 pre-qualified medical providers. Assist America Operations Centers have worldwide assistance capabilities and are known throughout the world as a premier Emergency Assistance Services provider.

NOTE: Assist America pays for all Assistance Services it provides. All Assistance Services must be arranged and provided by Assist America. Assist America does not reimburse for services not provided by Assist America.

Medical Evacuation and Return of Mortal Remains Services

In the event that a participant becomes injured and adequate medical facilities are not available locally, Assist America will use whatever mode of transport, equipment, and personnel necessary to evacuate you to the nearest facility capable of providing required care. In the event of death of a participant, Assist America will render every possible assistance in return of mortal remains including locating a sending funeral home, preparing the deceased for transport, procuring required documentation and providing a necessary shipping container as well as paying for transport. Please note: Any third party expenses incurred are the responsibility of the Participant.

Last Updated: 6/23/2005