Graduate Students
Billing, Payment, Appeal Information for Returning Graduate Students: 2008 - 09
Billing and Payment
Fully-funded Graduate Students
The University provides the SHIP and will pay the premium for all students registered
with the Graduate School who receive full tuition and a full stipend from or through
Cornell. The charge for the individual premium ($1,514 for 2008–09) will appear
on your July bursar bill, but you should see a credit on your bill in July or
August. If you are uncertain about whether you qualify as fully-funded or do not
see a credit for the SHIP premium on your bursar bill, contact your field, department,
or the Graduate School.
Self-pay Graduate Students
Students who are not fully-funded by the university (i.e., who pay any or all
tuition/fees) are enrolled automatically in Cornell’s Student Health Insurance
Plan. The SHIP premium ($1,514 for 2008–09)
will appear on your July bursar bill. (If you are unsure of your funding status,
check with your field for clarification.)
You can pay the premium in full or enroll in the Installment Payment Plan. This option allows you to pay over time and carries a small service charge. Contact our office to sign up for this before the September 30 deadline.
Only those students who can demonstrate that they have insurance meeting all six of Cornell’s criteria may appeal this requirement.
Appeal Information for Self-Pay Graduate Students
If you have coverage through another health insurance plan that is comparable to the SHIP, you may file a written appeal. If your appeal demonstrates that your plan meets all six of Cornell’s criteria, you will not be required to enroll in the SHIP or pay the premium.
NOTE: Fully-funded graduate students may not file an appeal. However, you may retain your own health insurance plan in addition to the SHIP if you choose.
To meet Cornell’s criteria, your health insurance plan must:
- be provided by a company licensed to do business in the United States, with a US claim payment office and US phone number
- provide coverage in the Ithaca area for outpatient and inpatient medical care.
(A policy that provides coverage in the Ithaca area on an “emergency care only”
basis does not meet this requirement.)
[It may be helpful to you to review a list of Ithaca-area medical providers to determine whether any participate in another insurance plan you might be considering.] - provide coverage in the Ithaca area for outpatient and inpatient mental health care.
- have a maximum benefit of at least $500,000 per year
- remain in force as long as you are a registered student at Cornell
- cover pre-existing conditions
Appeal Renewal
You are eligible for a simple renewal of your appeal if:
- your appeal was approved in a previous year AND
- your health insurance coverage has not changed since the appeal was approved (same company, same policy, same benefits)
If you wish to file an appeal renewal, you must obtain an Appeal Renewal Application and Instructions from your Graduate School representative (below) who will verify your eligibility. If you were approved for an appeal in a previous year and do not file an appeal renewal this year, you will be enrolled in and charged the premium for the SHIP automatically. If you were approved for an appeal in a previous year, but wish to be covered by the SHIP this year, you do not need to file any paperwork: you will be enrolled in and charged the premium for the SHIP automatically.
New Appeal
If you are appealing for the first time or your health insurance coverage has changed since your appeal was approved, you must obtain an Appeal Application Form and Instructions from your Graduate School representative (below).
Complete the form and send it, with the requested documentation proving that
your own health insurance meets Cornell’s criteria, to the Office of Student Health
Insurance for review. Please allow yourself plenty of time to get your application
materials together. Appeal Applications are due by September 30 (or 30 days after initial billing
for late registrants; February 28 for spring entrants*). Only complete and on-time applications will be considered.
* Spring entrants are those who enroll in spring semester and who were not enrolled in fall semester.
Graduate School Representatives
- Biological Sciences students:
Diane Yates
143 Caldwell
255-1894
dry2@cornell.edu - Engineering students:
- Agricultural & Biological through Electical Engineering
Barbara Edinger
143 Caldwell
255-5817
bae2@cornell.edu
- Geological Science through Throretical & Applied Mechanics
Anne Haessner
143 Caldwell
255-5826
ah33@cornell.edu - Humanities students:
Shirley Weaver
143 Caldwell
255-5819
sjw5@cornell.edu - Physical Science students:
Shirley Weaver
143 Caldwell
255-5819
sjw5@cornell.edu - Social Science students:
- Field name A-K:
Janine Brace
143 Caldwell
255-5832
jmb20@cornell.edu
- Field name L-Z:
Anne Haessner
143 Caldwell
255-5826
ah33@cornell.edu
Questions?
If you have questions, need more information, have dependents to enroll in the SHIP, or want to enroll in the dental or vision plan, please e-mail, call, or stop by our Collegetown office. We’re eager to be of assistance.
Letter and Pamphlet
For more information, you can read and print the letter (pdf) and pamphlet (pdf) we send to all returning graduate students in early July, describing the Office of Student Health Insurance and explaining billing information and the appeal process.
(Posted here are the 2007-08 letter and pamphlet; come back in late June for 2008-09 versions.)