Vet, Law & JGSM
Information for Returning Professional Students
Health Insurance for Your Health and Education
Your health is essential to achieving your goals at Cornell. Access to health care and health insurance are essential to your health. Without adequate coverage, unexpected medical expenses could alter your future dramatically. That is why Cornell requires all students to have quality health insurance.
We hope this website will answer many of your questions. If you need more information, please e-mail, call, or stop by our Collegetown office. We’re eager to be of assistance.
Cornell's Policy
Since 1974, Cornell University has had a policy requiring all students to have quality health insurance. 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 professional student is enrolled automatically in Cornell’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Only those students who can demonstrate that they have insurance meeting all six of Cornell’s criteria may appeal this requirement.
Billing and Payment
The charge for the individual SHIP premium will appear on your July bursar bill. 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. Come to our office to sign up for this before the September 30 deadline. If you are graduating mid-year, you may be eligible for the Early Grad Option and receive a refund of part of the premium. Please ask if you’d like more information.
Appeal Information
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.
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. You can pick them up at the Office of Student Health Insurance or from your school contact (below). If you were approved for an appeal last 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 last 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. You can pick them up at the Office of Student Health Insurance or from your school contact (below).
You must 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 students who enroll in spring semester AND were NOT enrolled in fall semester.
School Contacts
Law School
Karla Vargas, 226 Myron Taylor Hall, 607 255-5141financialaid@lawschool.cornell.edu
JGSM
Registrars Office, Sage Hall, 607 255-9395 js_reg@cornell.edu
Vet School
Office of Student and Academic Services, S2009 Schurman Hall, 607 253-3700
sgm56@cornell.edu
Options and Assistance
Please e-mail or stop by our Collegetown office if you:
- have dependents to enroll in the SHIP
- want to enroll in the dental or vision plan
- want to arrange for the Installment Payment Plan
- are graduating at the end of the fall semester and want to sign up for the Early Grad Option
- have questions or need assistance
We are eager to help!
Letter and Pamphlet
For more information, you can read and print information we send to all self-pay graduate students in early July. This material reviews the features of the SHIP, billing information and the appeal process, and services of the Office of Student Health Insurance.
- letter to returning Law, Vet, and JGSM students (pdf)
- 2008-09 SHIP pamphlet (pdf)
- insurance comparison chart (pdf)
(These will be posted in June, 2008.)