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2025-2026 Rates and Dates

Important: Rates for the 2025-2026 academic year are not yet final. Estimates are provided below for planning purposes only. This page will be updated upon approval of our rate by the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Academic Year Coverage Dates and Cost

Student Coverage Rates Full Year (12 Month) Coverage ESTIMATE: $3,960-$4,080

Student StatusCoverage DatesFall BillSpring Bill
August 2025 Graduates 7/1/2025 - 8/31/2025Approx.: $660-$680 (billed to summer term)n/a
Fall 2025 New Students8/1/2025 - 6/30/2026Approx: $1,650-$1,700Approx: $1,980-$2,040
Fall 2025 Returning Students (including students starting Summer 2025) and all Fully-funded Graduate Students7/1/2025 - 6/30/2026Approx: $1,980-$2,040Approx: $1,980-$2,040
Spring 2026 New Students & Students Returning From Leave1/1/2026 - 6/30/2026n/aApprox: $1,980-$2,040

Dependent Coverage Rates & Dates

Dependent Coverage Type(s)July Start (7/1/2025 - 6/30/2026)August Start (8/1/2025 - 6/30/2026)
Spouse/Domestic Partner Approx. $3,960-$4,080Approx. $3,300-$3,400
One ChildApprox. $3,960-$4,080Approx. $3,300-$3,400
Two or More ChildrenApprox. $7,920-$8,160Approx. $6,600-$6,800

Dependent Enrollment Deadlines

Population(s)Deadline
  • Dependents of Fall Start Students
  • Fall Start Students Who are NOT Automatically Enrolled
8/31/2025
  • Dependents of Spring Start Students
  • Spring Start Students Who are NOT Automatically Enrolled
1/31/2026
  • Dependents of SHP-Enrolled Late Registered Students
Within 30 days of student SHP enrollment
  • Following a Qualifying Life Event (Students and/or Dependents)
Within 30 days of event

See the Dependent Enrollment section for instructions on enrolling dependents and payment. Coverage dates for dependents are the same as for students unless the dependent is enrolled outside open enrollment due to a qualifying life event.

Open enrollment is when any eligible person may choose to enroll in the plan for any reason. When the open enrollment period has ended, you or your dependent must show that you have recently experienced a qualifying life event to enroll.  

Coverage for dependents will not be activated until a request for SHP coverage is processed by Gallagher and payment for the first semester of coverage is received by credit card or eCheck. Dependent coverage cannot be billed to your bursar account.


Waiver Deadlines

StudentDeadline
Early Start Students at NYC Tech Campus (continuing in Fall 2025)5/31/2025
Early Start Students at Ithaca Campus Seeking Waivers for Both Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 (Waiver Effective 6/1/25)7/31/2025                 
Early Start Students at Ithaca Campus Seeking Waiver for Fall 2025 Coverage only (Waiver Effective 7/1/25)7/31/2025   
New Admit Fall Start Students (also see New Student To Do List)7/31/2025
Fall Waiver Reverification Updates of Prior Approved Waivers (Active Coverage Check)7/31/2025
Returning Fall Students with Leave Date Before Spring 20257/31/2025
Spring New Matriculated Students 1/21/2026 (Additional documentation, if required after initial submission, is due 1/31/2026.)
Spring Waiver Reverification of Fall Approved Waivers (Active Coverage Check)1/31/2026
Late Registered StudentsWithin 30 days of SHP enrollment

Waiver Deadlines waiver must be approved every academic semester you are an active student.  Waiver submission does not guarantee approval.  It is your responsibility to monitor your waiver status and to update your waiver by the deadline. Log in to Gallagher Student Health to check your waiver status. For more information on waiving, visit our pages on Eligibility to Waive and How Do I Waive.

For any waiver submitted by the deadline that could meet the requirements but needs additional information for approval, the student will receive a message from Gallagher Student Health requesting additional information. After the waiver update deadline as listed above, all waivers are locked for editing. You can submit a termination of coverage request to receive a pro-rated refund.

Coming back from leave? 

Due to the complexity of returning from leave of absence, any student returning from leave who is planning to waive SHP is strongly encouraged to contact our office at studentbenefits@cornell.edu as soon as their return date has been formally confirmed.


Continuation of Deadlines, Dates, and Cost

Graduation StatusWhen to Request and Pay*Dates of CoverageCost
August 2025 Graduates with Summer Credits7/1/2025 - 10/31/20259/1/2025 - 11/30/2025Approx: $990-$1,020
August 2025 Graduates without Summer Credits6/1/2025 - 8/31/20257/1/2025 - 9/30/2025Approx: $990-$1,020
December 2025 Graduates12/1/2025- 2/28/20261/1/2026 - 3/31/2026Approx: $990-$1,020
May 2026 Graduates6/1/2026 - 8/31/20267/1/2026 - 9/30/2026TBA

*If you receive notice that your coverage has ended after the last day your were covered, your deadline to request and pay for coverage will be extended to 60 days following the date of our notification to you.

For more information, see our Continuation of SHP Options for Recent Graduates page.