Undergraduates
Annual Enrollment/Waiver Process: 2008 - 09
Cornell's Health Insurance Requirements
Making Your Decision
›› ENROLLMENT APPLICATION ‹‹
›› WAIVER APPLICATION ‹‹
Deadlines
Penalties
Premium Refund Policy
Early Graduation Option
Read Overview Pamphlet
Questions? Assistance?
Cornell's Health Insurance Requirements
Cornell University requires all students to have quality health insurance. The Board of Trustees made this decision in 1974, and for three decades this policy has proven to serve students well. It gives you, and your family, the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are well-insured.
Cornell utilizes a "hard waiver" system, common on most campuses that have a health insurance requirement, to assure understanding and compliance with this policy.
Every student is enrolled automatically in Cornell's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). In order to waive enrollment in the SHIP, you must demonstrate that you have insurance meeting all six of Cornell's criteria.
Your health insurance plan MUST:
- Be provided by a company licensed to do business in the United States, with a U.S. claims payment office and a U.S. 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.)
- 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.
NOTE: If you choose not to enroll in the SHIP, you must complete the online waiver application every year.
Making Your Decision
Your health is essential to achieving your goals at Cornell. Having access to health care and adequate health insurance are essential to your health. Without adequate coverage, unexpected medical expenses could alter your future dramatically.
Assessing Your Coverage
Review this - insurance comparison chart (pdf) to make sure any health insurance coverage you are considering meets all six of Cornell's criteria for waiving participation in the SHIP, and any additional needs you might have as a student. For instance, you may want to avoid plans that have a high deductible (e.g., $500 or more), as these can create financial barriers to accessing care, due to out-of-pocket expense at the time of visit.
If you do not know whether your coverage meets these conditions, contact your health insurance plan administrator to get current, accurate information about your plan before applying for a waiver.
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.
Parents and guardians of first-year undergrads may find it helpful to review "Insurance Matters", a section in Gannett Health Services' Family Matters mailed in the spring. It features a useful discussion of the health insurance needs of Cornell undergraduates and may assist you in making your decision to enroll in or waive the SHIP.
Health Care on Campus
Gannett Health Services is the primary medical and mental health care provider for ALL full-time registered students, regardless of insurance coverage. An accredited ambulatory care facility with
pharmacy, x-ray, laboratory, and specialty services in a convenient location on
central campus Gannett specializes in integrated medical, mental health, and health
promotion services for Cornell students.
Most appointments with a Gannett health care provider or counselor involve a
$10 visit charge. Fees are charged for services such as lab tests, x-rays, procedures,
and medications. Most of these services are covered for those enrolled in the
SHIP. (Because the SHIP is an accident and illness policy, preventive health care
and physicals are not covered.)
For students who have private health insurance, Gannett can provide a copy of the bill that can be submitted for reimbursement. We also offer use of the student bursar system during the academic year to minimize any financial barriers to access services. Please make sure your insurance will reimburse you for health care expenses at Gannett and in the Ithaca area.
Enrolling Dependents
If you want to enroll dependents in the SHIP, you must be enrolled in the SHIP.
Optional Dental/Vision Coverage
If you want to enroll yourself or dependents in the optional dental and vision plans available to Cornell students and their families, you must enroll in the SHIP.
Financial Assistance for SHIP
Cornell’s financial aid packages do not include the cost of the SHIP. If you receive financial aid, you may request an adjustment to your aid package (in extra loan or work eligibility) to cover this necessary educational cost. If you do not receive financial aid, you may be eligible for a loan to help cover the cost of SHIP. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment by phone (607 255-5145) or e-mail.
Enrollment/Waiver Applications
Automatic Enrollment
EVERY full time student (including students enrolled in absentia and non-degree students) will be enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan. A charge of $1514 will appear on your August bursar bill (January for spring entrants).
To OPT IN and stay enrolled in the SHIP:
- You don't have to do a thing. You will be enrolled automatically and your coverage will begin on August 17, 2008 (January 16, 2009 for spring entrants, i.e., those who enroll in the spring semester and who were not registered during the fall semester). An insurance card and information about the SHIP will be sent to you early in the semester.
- To expedite the process of getting your insurance card and information about how to use your insurance, complete a simple ON-LINE ENROLLMENT APPLICATION. You will need your Cornell student ID number to log on.
- You are eligible to enroll in the optional dental plan and/or vision plan or to enroll dependents. Learn more now so you don't miss the September 30 deadlines.
- Make sure you have the following information on hand:
– Cornell student ID number
– health insurance company name, address, telephone number
– health insurance policy identification number and group number
– health insurance subscriber name and date of birth - Complete a simple ON-LINE WAIVER APPLICATION.
- If your waiver application is received by the deadline and is approved, a full credit will be issued on your next bursar bill. If your waiver application is approved before August 6, you will never see a charge for the premium.
- Remember: if you use the Student Health Insurance Plan for any reason, at any time, you will have to pay for it.
Deadlines:
- Fall waiver deadline: August 31, 2008
- Waiver deadline for spring entrants only: February 28, 2009
- Late registrants: within 30 days of registration
Penalties
A $50 per month late fee will be charged if a waiver application is received after the deadline. Waiver applications will not be accepted after December 10, 2008 (fall entrants).
Premium Refund Policy
Except for medical withdrawal due to a covered accident or sickness, any student withdrawing from Cornell University during the first 31 days of the period for which coverage is purchased shall not be covered under the SHIP and a full refund of the premium will be made. Students withdrawing after 31 days will remain covered under the SHIP for the full period for which premium has been billed. No refund will be allowed.
Any SHIP member who enters the armed forces (of any country) will not be covered under the SHIP as of the date of such entry. A prorated refund of premium will be made for such person, and any covered dependents, upon written request received by Aetna Student Health Claims Administrators, Inc. within 90 days of withdrawal from school.
NOTE: If claims from any provider have been submitted and paid for any period, no refund will be provided under any circumstances.
Early Graduation Option
A student graduating mid-year may be eligible for a five-month plan. To be eligible for this plan, you must obtain a letter from your college indicating that you have fulfilled the requirements for graduation. Bring the letter to the Office of Student Health Insurance and apply for the Early Graduation Option. You will be billed in August for the entire plan year, but will be credited for seven months of the premium once the paperwork is completed and processed.
The Early Graduation Option application is available in mid-November each academic year. Please contact the Office of Student Health Insurance at that time. All paperwork must be completed prior to January 31, 2009. No requests will be granted after this date.
Other than the instances stated, the Student Health Insurance Plan is non-cancellable, non-refundable.
Information Pamphlet for Undergraduate Students
For more information, please read Health Insurance for Undergraduates: Information and Requirements, a pamphlet we send to all students in July. It explains Cornell's requirements, describes the enrollment/waiver process, and provides an overview of the Student Health Insurance Plan.Posted here is the 2007-08 pamphlet; come back in late June for 2008-09 versions.
Questions? Assistance?
For more information, please contact:
Cornell University Office of Student Health Insurance
409 College Avenue, Suite 211
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: 607 255-6363
Fax: 607 254-5221
E-mail: sicu@cornell.edu
Visit the Aetna Student Health web site
Go to www.aetnastudenthealth.com
For Cornell SHIP-specific information, choose the “Student Connection” link,
and enter the Cornell Policy Number of 711115.
Claims/customer service
About the Student Health Insurance Plan:
Aetna Student Health Claims Administrators, Inc.
P.O. Box 15708
Boston, MA 02215-0014
Phone: 800 859-8475
617 218-8400 (outside the US--collect calls are accepted)
General contact information
Aetna Student Health
One Charles Park
Cambridge, MA 02142-1254
617 218-8400 (phone) 617 218-5700 (fax)