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Automatic and Open Enrollment

Cornell University requires that all residential (non-distance learning) students have health insurance that meets Cornell’s minimum requirements to ensure that lack of access to healthcare is not a barrier to the success of any student.  Students must either provide proof of health insurance that meets these minimum requirements or confirm enrollment in SHP. Students who do not receive an approved waiver for alternate insurance coverage are automatically enrolled in Cornell's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHP).
All students enrolled in SHP must annually confirm their enrollment in the plan. Confirmation of enrollment also opts you in for electronic communications regarding your coverage.

For Open Enrollment and Waiver Deadlines, refer to our Rates and Dates page.

For information on enrolling dependents, such as spouses, domestic partners, and children, see our Dependent Enrollment Page.

New Students

New students should monitor their waiver and enrollment status by logging into the New Student To Do List with their netID or by logging into Gallagher Student Health.

Early Start Students

New students beginning in the summer (May, June, or July) that will continue in their program for the fall will be automatically enrolled in SHP as of the first of the month of their program start unless they submit a waiver request through Gallagher Student Health. Refer to the Rates and Dates for coverage dates and premium cost.

Fall or Spring Semester Start Students

Automatic SHP enrollment takes place in July for the upcoming academic year, and each December for students newly starting in the spring semester. Students who enroll after the start of the semester will be automatically enrolled in SHP when their registrar data updates to reflect their academic status. Refer to the Rates and Dates for coverage dates and premium cost.

Each academic year, students must either confirm enrollment on SHP or receive an approved waiver through Gallagher Student Health.

Continuing Students

Students enrolled in a residential (non-distance learning) Cornell program must have health insurance that meets the university's requirements. To ensure that all students have insurance, students are automatically enrolled in Cornell's Student Health Plan (SHP). 

Students with Approved Waivers or Approved Termination of Coverage from 2022-2023:  Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, your insurance information will be checked for active coverage twice per year: in July and January. If your insurance coverage cannot be verified as active, it is your responsibility to update your waiver by the deadline. Students that do not receive an approved waiver by the deadline will be automatically enrolled and billed for SHP. See the Rates and Dates Page for billing information and the waiver deadlines.   
Students who were enrolled in SHP in 2022-2023:  Each academic year, you must either confirm enrollment on SHP or obtain an approved waiver through Gallagher Student Health.

International Students

International students must annually confirm enrollment in SHP. International students are generally not eligible to waive enrollment in SHP. See waiver eligibility for more information.

Non-Degree Students

Continuing Education students with 12 or more credits during the fall or spring semester (or 6 credits during the summer term) will be automatically enrolled in SHP.

Non-degree students in a full-time program will automatically be enrolled in SHP. Domestic students have the option to waive SHP if they have insurance that meets the university requirements.

All students non-degree students enrolled in SHP must confirm their enrollment.

Part-Time Students

Students enrolled in degree-seeking programs who change to part-time status are still subject to university health insurance requirements. These students will be automatically enrolled in SHP unless they receive an approved waiver.

Part-time students who are not in a degree-seeking program should refer to the section for non-degree students above.

Summer Students

Precollege Summer Students

International precollege summer program students will be enrolled in SHP for the months of their program.  

Domestic precollege summer program students have the option to enroll in SHP, but it is not required.

Continuing Education Students

Students with 6 or more credits in the summer through the School of Continuing Education will be automatically enrolled in SHP.

Students Returning from Leave

Students returning from a leave of absence will be automatically enrolled in SHP if they are enrolled in summer term credits.

International Students

International students who are not already enrolled in SHP will be enrolled automatically.