How SHP Enrollment Works
Cornell University requires all students* to have health insurance that meets the university’s student health insurance criteria.
If you are subject to the student health insurance requirement, you must meet this requirement in one of these two ways:
- you are automatically enrolled in Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP), or
- you receive an approved SHP waiver based on alternative health insurance that meets university criteria.
If you are subject to the student health insurance requirement, you will be automatically enrolled in and charged for SHP unless you receive an approved SHP waiver.
Who Can Enroll in SHP?
If you are not subject to the student health insurance requirement, you are not eligible to enroll in SHP.
Not sure whether the requirement applies to you? Start with the Who Needs Health Insurance? page.
Additional Information
For SHP costs, billing, coverage dates, and waiver deadlines, please visit the SHP Costs, Billing & Important Dates page.
For information about enrolling spouses, domestic partners, or children, visit the Dependent Enrollment page.
Specific Information based on Student Type
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 or June) 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 and continuing into the following academic year, 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.
Returning Students
All degree-seeking students will be enrolled in SHP automatically every fall and spring semester unless they have successfully opted-out/waived coverage.
If you had a valid waiver through the end of the preceding fall or spring semester, or terminated coverage by providing proof of alternate coverage meeting the student health insurance criteria, we will attempt to reverify your coverage is still active twice per year in June and January. If we successfully reverify your coverage, your waiver will remain approved until the next reverification date. 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 in SHP and billed for coverage.
Students Returning from Leave of Absence (LOA)
If you are returning from Leave of Absence (LOA), please review the Returning from LOA page.
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.
If you are an international student enrolled only during the summer, please see the information for summer students below.
Students In Absentia
Students whose registration status is In Absentia are generally still subject to the same insurance and waiver requirements that would apply if they were still in their on campus program and will still be automatically enrolled in SHP unless they waive coverage. For information on waiving while In Absentia, including for PhD students, please see our waiver eligibility page.
Students who remain enrolled in SHP while In Absentia will have access to care at providers throughout the US and internationally.
Please note that In Absentia status is distinct from university-approved leave of absence. For information on leave of absence status, please see our LOA and Graduation page.
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.
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
Fully Remote Summer Students
Students enrolled in fully remote studies for the summer will not be enrolled in SHP.
Degree Seeking Students
Degree-seeking students must enroll in SHP or waive for the summer if taking at least one in-person academic credit.
Non-Degree Students On Campus
Students with 6 or more credits, with at least one on-campus credit, in the summer through the School of Continuing Education will be automatically enrolled in SHP. Continuing education students with fewer than 6 academic credits in the summer term are not eligible for 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.
