New York City Students | Student Health Benefits

Insurance requirements & COVID-19 distance learning

Cornell's current insurance requirements and waiver process are based on the assumption that students will be attending in-person classes in Fall 2020. If distance learning extends into the fall semester, these requirements will change slightly (see details).

Cornell University requires all students to have quality health insurance (see Cornell Requirements).

The following information explains how these requirements apply to students at Cornell Tech and in other New York City programs. (See information for Weill Cornell Medicine students.)

Automatic Student Health Plan (SHP) enrollment

Each year, full-time registered students are automatically enrolled in Cornell's Student Health Plan (SHP) to ensure that they have health insurance that meets Cornell's requirements.

Automatic SHP enrollment takes place each June for the following academic year, and each December for students starting in the spring.

Exceptions: Summer students and Continuing Education students have different requirements.

About SHP

SHP is a platinum-level plan designed with input from Cornell students to support your health care needs in New York City, and anywhere else in the United States and abroad.

Learn more about SHP's benefits, and how to find participating providers in New York (information specific to Cornell Tech students can be found at the bottom of that page). Additional information – including a list of in-network mental health providers – is available on Cornell Tech's Student Services website.

Waiving SHP

Eligible students who have alternate health insurance that meets Cornell's requirements may apply to waive their SHP enrollment. For academic-year students, the waiver application period begins in June and ends on July 31. For spring entrants, the application period begins in December and ends on December 31.

Students must submit a SHP waiver application annually to demonstrate that their insurance meets the university's requirements. Learn more about waiving SHP.

Exceptions:

International students are required to maintain their SHP enrollment (with a few exceptions).
Fully funded graduate students have SHP provided as a benefit of their program, and do not need to waive.

Additional coverage (optional)

Dental & vision coverage: Students may also choose to enroll in Cornell's Dental Plan and / or Vision Plan, whether or not they enroll in SHP.
Enrolling dependents: Students with partners or families can enroll dependents in SHP, or in Cornell's Dental Plan and / or Vision Plan (students must be enrolled in the respective plan before enrolling spouses, domestic partners, or children).

Questions?

Please contact us by phone, email, or – if you're visiting Ithaca – by stopping by our offices at Cornell Health. We are here to help you make the best decisions for your personal health care needs.