Whom We Serve

Students (Morningside Campus)

New Students

As you begin a new term at Columbia, it is important to remember that there are several immediate insurance- and immunization-related actions you need to take before arriving on campus.

Immunization Requirements
New York State public health law requires that all incoming university students taking six or more credits must:

• Submit documentation of their immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)

• Certify their decision online about being vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis

Health Insurance Requirement
Columbia University requires all registered full-time students to have comparable health insurance coverage. Full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan. You may upgrade this coverage to the Comprehensive level or request a waiver from automatic enrollment.

To request a waiver, you must document enrollment in a comparable plan that meets specific coverage criteria. If you wish to upgrade your plan or apply for a waiver, you must do so by visiting the Columbia Health website before September 30. All waiver requests are considered, but approval is not guaranteed.

It is important to remember that all students must confirm their insurance selection each September by either actively enrolling in the Basic level or Comprehensive level of the Columbia Plan or requesting a waiver of automatic enrollment in the plan.

If you have questions about insurance enrollment, please email hs-enrollment@columbia.edu.

To learn about the programs and services Columbia Health offers, you may wish to visit Services.

Students at the Columbia University Medical Center campus may utilize medical services at the Student Health Service and are eligible to enroll in the CUMC health insurance program.

Returning Students

• Columbia Health Program:
  September 1 - August 31
• Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan:
  September 1 - August 31
• It is important to remember that all full-time students must either confirm their insurance selection each September by actively enrolling in the Basic level or Comprehensive level of the Columbia Plan or requesting a waiver of automatic enrollment in the plan.

Continuing students at the CUMC campus should utilize medical services at the Student Health Service and review their eligibility to enroll in the CUMC health insurance program.

Medical Insurance Enrollment Status
The medical insurance selection you made for the Fall Term will be automatically extended to the Spring Term, as soon as you are officially registered for the Spring Term. If you are enrolled in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan, your insurance enrollment will not be effective until you are officially registered for class as a Columbia student.

Graduating Students

Your eligibility for the Columbia Health Program continues through January. If you would like advice about finding a new medical provider or counselor, call for an appointment with your Columbia Health provider to discuss ways to find new sources of care.

Enrollment in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan
If you were enrolled in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan in the fall term, your coverage will end at midnight EST on January 18. An optional Continuation Plan is available for students whose registration at Columbia is ending. To be eligible to participate in the Continuation Plan, students must have been enrolled in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan in their final term as a registered student.

Aetna Student Health must receive applications and payment for the full premium within 45 days after the expiration of coverage under the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan.

Requesting Medical Records
If you need copies of any clinical records, go to Forms.

Graduating students at the Columbia University Medical Center campus should utilize medical services at the Student Health Service and review their eligibility to enroll in the CUMC health insurance program.

Part-time Students

Part-time students are eligible to enroll in the Columbia Health Program to take advantage of services provided on campus, particularly medical and counseling services. Coverage for specific off-campus services is provided through the Columbia Health Program.

Alternatively, students may be seen by a clinician in Medical Services where a per-visit fee is charged for students not enrolled in the Columbia Health Program.

Check the programs and services offered by Columbia Health.

Enrollment in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan
Part-time students may enroll in either the Basic or the Comprehensive level of the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan by entering a request for enrollment.

If you enroll in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan for the Spring Term, the coverage selection you made for the Fall Term will be automatically extended to the Spring Term as soon as you are officially registered as a student for the Spring Term.

If you are a registered student in the Fall Term, but do not request enrollment in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan before September 30, your next enrollment opportunity into either level of the plan will be the following Fall Term. 

Part-time students at the Columbia University Medical Center campus should utilize medical services at the Student Health Service and review their eligibility to enroll in the CUMC health insurance program.

Students with Disabilities

Disability Services facilitates equal access for students with disabilities at the Morningside campus and the Columbia University Medical Center by coordinating reasonable accommodations and support services, thereby cultivating a campus culture that is sensitive and responsive to the needs of students with disabilities.

For more information about reasonable accommodations and support, please visit Disability Services.

Study Abroad Students

Students participating in study abroad programs who are enrolled in the Columbia Health Program may wish to review the CU on the Road Travel Medicine program at Medical Services to obtain advice about a health problem.

Exchange Students

We encourage you to talk with your adviser, either at Columbia or at your home institution, to find out about your or your family’s medical insurance coverage and your eligibility for enrollment in the Columbia Health Program. If you are a registered full-time student at Columbia, you will be automatically enrolled in the Columbia Health Program and required to make an insurance selection.

For questions about programs and services at Columbia Health as well as coverage provided through the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan, contact the Columbia Health Insurance Office.

You may also want to contact the Columbia Health Immunization Compliance Office if you have questions about how to meet immunization requirements.

International Students

We know you may have questions about how to handle health concerns here, and it can be challenging to understand the way health care is provided in the U.S.

As a first step, it is important to talk with a student affairs adviser at your school or an advisor at the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to discuss your eligibility for enrollment in the Columbia Health Program and the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan.

Certain requirements or restrictions may apply depending on the visa-type you have and your designated status at Columbia (self-funded student, funded student, exchange student, visiting scholar, etc.).

If you are enrolled in the Columbia Health Program, you may make an appointment to see a provider in Medical Services or a clinician at Counseling and Psychological Services. Clinicians and other professional staff members can provide advice and help with many kinds of health issues, both serious and routine. We are happy to answer questions by phone or to meet with you to talk about more complex issues. Remember that we follow professional standards for protecting the confidentiality of students’ health information. Other sections of this website provide important background information about the services we provide through the Columbia Health Program and the student medical insurance plan offered at Columbia.

We encourage you to become familiar with the health resources available to you both on-and off-campus.

Summer Program Students

Welcome to your Summer Program at Columbia University.

Summer Program students experiencing medical issues can be seen in the Urgent Care area of Columbia Health, located in John Jay Hall. Columbia Health is generally open Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. during the summer.

Before Arriving On Campus
As you prepare for your arrival at Columbia University, it is important to provide Columbia Health proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and additional health-related information.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

Columbia University requires that students submit documentation of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) to the Columbia Health Immunization Compliance Office. There are several ways to document your immunity to MMR; please see page two of the Columbia University Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Form for Summer Programs.

Completed documentation may be submitted to the Columbia Health Immunization Compliance Office in the following ways: 

We are unable to accept health forms or immunization documentation via email for privacy and security reasons.

Summer Programs Health Questionnaire

It is important that you provide Columbia Health with accurate and complete health-related information. This health questionnaire will prepare us to address any special medical problems you may have. Please be sure to complete all relevant sections of the questionnaire. All completed questionnaires should be sent to the admissions office sponsoring your summer program.
 

Other Useful Links

• Columbia University High School Summer Programs
• Columbia University Internship in Building Community