Frequently Asked Questions

The Hammond Health Center will continue to provide a wide range of Urgent Care services including the treatment of acute illness and injuries.  The provision of Primary Care Services including physical exams, gynecological care, contraceptive care, STI testing, injection services, and the treatment of uncomplicated anxiety and depression will continue to be offered on-campus at the Health Center.  Sports Medicine Services will also continue to be offered.  Many laboratory tests will be able to be offered on-campus and we will work closely with local off-campus laboratories where we will be able to send some tests that are initiated on campus for processing. 

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Office services will not be changed based on this partnership. CAPS will remain under the sole purview of Ithaca College. 

X-ray services will no longer be able to be obtained on campus.  Students will be referred to Cayuga Health System for X-ray services.  

Appointments to be seen on-site will still be booked through the Student Health Services . Students can call the Hammond Health Center at 607-274-3177 to make an appointment. 

Service hours will be from 8am to 7pm Monday-Thursday, from 8am to 5pm Friday and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.  

Students can be referred to any provider of their choosing.  Students and their families should check their individual insurance policies for the listing of in-network providers in order to reduce their overall health care costs.  

CAPS services will not be changed based on this partnership. CAPS will remain under the sole purview of Ithaca College. 

Student Health Services will be partnering with the Cayuga Medical Center Employee/Outpatient Pharmacy to have prescriptions delivered to the health center as a convenience for students. Students will be required to complete the Pharmacy and Medication Release Authorization Form for prescription delivery.

Some over-the-counter medications will be available for purchase at the Hammond Health Center as well. Students will need to have a form of payment for prescriptions or over-the-counter medications. Student Health Services cannot bill directly to student accounts. 

We will continue to offer the same injection services. There may be a copay for injections just as you would have at your allergist or primary care office. Please check your insurance plan for details. 

Yes, the medicar is available for students who need to travel to off-campus medical appointments. Medicar can be scheduled by calling Student Health Services at 607-274-3177. There is no cost to the student or to insurance for use of the medicar. 

Student Health Services will be implementing an integrated behavioral health model. Two behavioral health consultants (independently licensed mental health providers) and a behavioral health/collaborative care manager will work hand-in-hand with the primary care medical team to support the physical, mental, and behavioral health needs of our students. We will be adding two behavioral health consultants and a collaborative care manager to the Student Health Services staff. The primary care providers, working with a consulting psychiatrist, will have the ability to prescribe and manage psychotropic medications. Students who might be identified by their primary care provider as benefiting from services in the integrated behavioral health model could include students dealing with depression, anxiety, substance misuse, stress management, adjustment issues including grief and bereavement, relationship concerns, chronic medical conditions, sexual dysfunction, sleep, pain management, etc. Students participating in the integrated behavioral health program will have an integrated treatment plan and will receive a “warm hand-off" from their primary care provider to their behavioral health consultant or collaborative care manager. This new program will expand the resources we currently have available to address student mental health, behavioral health and medication management needs. 

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Office services will not be changed based on this partnership. CAPS will remain under the sole purview of Ithaca College. 

You can find a list of participating insurances accepted by Cayuga Health Systems here. 

Ithaca College requires all returning and new incoming Fall Term matriculated graduate and undergraduate students to have health insurance. For students re-enrolling in the student health insurance plan, you must complete the online enrollment form by August 5, 2023, to ensure there is no interruption in your coverage.  For students choosing the student health insurance plan for the first time, you have until September 15, 2023, to enroll in the plan.  Please note, your coverage will not be effective until you complete the online enrollment form.   

For students who do not want the student health insurance plan, you must complete the online waiver form before September 15, 2023.  Given the changes to the College’s student health services this year, families are strongly encouraged to review their insurance coverage prior to waiving the student health insurance plan.  Students who do not submit the online waiver form by the September 15, 2023 deadline will be enrolled in the Ithaca College student health insurance plan and will be responsible for paying the annual premium amount of $3066, which has been charged to your student account.  Submitting the online waiver form prior to the waiver deadline is the only acceptable way to opt out of the Ithaca College student health insurance plan.   

Students who know that they want to enroll in the student health insurance plan for the Annual Term 2023-24 must complete the online enrollment form as soon as possible to expedite the processing of their enrollment in the plan. If you are eligible for the plan and do not complete a waiver or enrollment form by the deadline, your enrollment information will not be submitted to University Health Plans until after the waiver deadline. 

For more information regarding the plan benefits, and to submit the online waiver or enrollment form, please visit www.universityhealthplans.com/ithaca.  

For students who do not want the student health insurance plan, you must complete the online waiver form before September 15, 2023.  Given the changes to the College’s student health services this year, families are strongly encouraged to review their insurance coverage prior to waiving the student health insurance plan.  Students who do not submit the online waiver form by the September 15, 2023 deadline will be enrolled in the Ithaca College student health insurance plan and will be responsible for paying the annual premium amount of $3066, which has been charged to your student account.  Submitting the online waiver form prior to the waiver deadline is the only acceptable way to opt out of the Ithaca College student health insurance plan.   

If you are an INTERNATIONAL student or other non-U.S. resident, you are not allowed to waive the student health insurance plan unless you are covered by an Embassy Sponsored Program or a U.S. based health insurance plan with equal or better coverage.  If this is the case, and you wish to opt out of the plan, you must visit University Health Plans website and print and submit the paper waiver form for international students.  Please note that the Ithaca College Student Health Insurance Plan meets J1/J2 visa requirements. 

Your insurance will be billed in the same manner as when you visit your primary care provider.  Therefore, you will be responsible for copayments and deductibles for office visits and labs similar to what you experience at home. Please contact your insurance company for any questions you may have. There will be billing assistance offered by Cayuga Medical Associates.

Your insurance will be billed in the same manner as when you visit your primary care provider.  Therefore, you will be responsible for copayments and deductibles for office visits and labs similar to what you experience at home. Please contact your insurance company for any questions you may have. There will be billing assistance offered by Cayuga Medical Associates. Student Health Services will not be billing insurance or students for sexual health (including contraceptive care and gender affirming care) or mental health care.    

Student Health Services will not be billing insurance or students for sexual health (including contraceptive care and gender affirming care) or mental health care visits. Laboratory testing, imaging and some prescription medications will still be billed to insurance companies and/or students.

Students are subject to fees established by your insurance company.  It is important to know if Cayuga Health at Ithaca College (click link below) participates with your insurance company to differentiate “in-network” charges from “out-of-network" charges.  It will also be important to understand your deductible.  

Participating Insurance

Students who do not have insurance coverage through their families or who have insurance that doesn’t support the services available through Student Health Services, are strongly recommended to enroll in the student health insurance program. Ithaca College requires all matriculated undergraduate and graduate students to have health insurance. All students are enrolled automatically in our student health insurance plan. Students who have insurance elsewhere can request to have the student health insurance waived. Please visit University Health Plans Ithaca College website for more information.  

Just as with your primary care office, payment is due at the time of service.  Students can pay for services on the patient portal, on the Cayuga Medical Associates website, by phone 1-607-822-0010 or by stopping into any CMA office or by email. Credit cards will be accepted.  We do not have the ability to add the bill for health services to your bursar account.  We will not turn anyone away for lack of ability to pay.   

You will need to check with your insurance company.  

Medical bills will be sent to whoever the student designated as the “responsible party.” Students are highly recommended to use the Cayuga Medical Associates Portal for billing purposes as well. https://www.cayugamedicalassociates.org/about-your-bill/ 

The Medent Patient Portal can be activated once the student has been registered in the Electronic Medical Records by making an appointment for services. At that time, an activation code is given and can be entered into the portal for access. Once students access their Medent Patient Portal, they can conduct a wide variety of medical tasks including: 

• Complete paperwork requested by your provider’s office 

• Request refills 

• Request to add/remove medications 

• Request to add/remove allergy information 

• View lab results  

• View vitals 

• View testing reports 

• View visit notes 

• Submit changes to demographic/insurance information 

• View and pay bills