Ithaca College requires all matriculated undergraduate and graduate students to have valid health insurance coverage. We are pleased to announce that Ithaca College has partnered with Aetna Student Health to provide a plan with comprehensive coverage for IC students.
The Ithaca College Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), offered in partnership with Aetna Student Health, provides enrolled students a comprehensive insurance coverage option. The enrollment/waiver process is managed through our partners at University Health Plans. The Student Health Insurance Plan is available to any IC student actively enrolled in classes during the 2024-25 academic year.
August 10: First Day of Coverage for Students Enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan
September 15: Deadline to Submit Waiver Form to Decline Student Health Insurance Plan Coverage and Provide Proof of Existing Coverage Under Another Valid Insurance Plan
Ithaca College has partnered with Aetna to provide a student health plan with comprehensive coverage for students needing insurance protection. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) provides coverage from August 10, 2024, through August 9, 2025.
For students planning to re-enroll in the student health insurance plan for the 2024-25 academic year, you must complete the online enrollment form by August 9, 2024, to ensure there is no interruption in your insurance coverage. For students choosing the enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan for the first time, you have until Sunday, September 15, 2024, to enroll in the plan. Please note, your coverage will not be effective until your online enrollment form is processed.
In order to ensure that all Ithaca College students have required health insurance coverage, all students will have their accounts initially charged the semester enrollment fee for the plan. However, if you have alternate health insurance coverage, you may be eligible to waive enrollment in the student health insurance plan.
In order to complete the process of waiving enrollment in SHIP, you must complete the online waiver form and provide proof of existing coverage to Ithaca College Student Health Services. Families are strongly encouraged to review their insurance coverage prior to waiving the student health insurance plan. It is important that your insurance participates with our local medical system. If your insurance participates with the Ithaca College Health Center, you will have excellent local coverage. Contact your insurance company via the customer service number on your insurance card, referring to us as Ithaca Medical Services. Our Tax ID # is: 862943718.
Submitting the online waiver form and providing proof of having coverage under another valid insurance plan is the only way to opt out of receiving coverage under the Student Health Insurance Plan. Any student who does not successfully complete the online waiver process by Sunday, September 15, 2024, will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan for the Fall 2024 semester and will be responsible for paying the semester premium amount charged to their student account.
Each academic year is a stand-alone process. Students who were enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) during the 2023-24 academic year will need to re-enroll for the 2024-25 academic year. Students who elected to waive SHIP coverage in 2023-24 and would like to continue to waive coverage in the plan in 2024-25 need to complete a new waiver process.
All students will initially be charged the semester premium for SHIP. Students can expect to see this charge on their account during the first half of July.
If you are adomestic studentand wish to opt out of this plan and have the insurance charge removed from your account, you must visit University Health Plans website to submit the online waiver form and provide proof of current health insurance coverage prior to the September 15 waiver deadline. You will receive an email confirmation that you submitted the waiver, which we recommend you keep for your records. Please allow up to 3-5 days for the waiver to be posted to your account.
Once processed, you will receive a credit on your student account equal to the semesterly premium cost.
If you are anINTERNATIONAL student or other NON-U.S. RESIDENT,you are not allowed to waive the plan unless University Health Plans determines that your health plan is comparable to Ithaca College’s plan. It may be possible to have this mandatory coverage waived if you have a health plan where covered benefits/services, protections for pre-existing conditions, provider networks, deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket maximum limits are comparable to the Ithaca College plan. You can review this information for the Ithaca College plan here so that you are able to complete an initial comparison. Do not purchase any health insurance coverage, even if it is marketed by insurers as being “college-approved” or “ACA-compliant” or “ACA-approved”, until it is reviewed by University Health Plans for comparability to the Ithaca College plan. University Health Plans has sole responsibility for making the determination of comparability for Ithaca College.
Coverage from an Embassy Sponsored Program or a U.S. based health insurance plan with equal or better coverage to the Ithaca College plan is typically approved for a waiver, after review by University Health Plans.
If you would like to have a health plan assessed for comparability, please do so before you purchase it by contacting University Health Plans by phone at (800) 250-8996 or email info@univhealthplans.com to request the International Student Waiver Form. Ithaca College is not responsible for your medical costs, so it is important to contact University Health Plans.
Yes, the Ithaca College student health insurance plan meets the J1/J2 visa requirements.
Ithaca College encourages you to compare the costs, coverage, and benefits of the student health insurance plan to those of your existing plan before making any decision about your health insurance.
Consider the following in making your decision:
Students with out of state HMO/PPO or Medicaid plans often incur higher charges when obtaining care outside of the plan’s local service area or network and access to local services in Ithaca may be limited or denied.
Some insurance plans, including out-of-state Medicaid Plans, only cover urgent or emergent care when care is obtained out of network or outside of the plan’s local service area.
Some plans do not cover outpatient referrals, or may only cover them after a high deductible or co-payment; this plan can help cover those expenses.
This plan includes coverage for preventive and well care services, has a low deductible, and a prescription plan.
If you do elect to waive coverage, we ask that you provide Ithaca College Student Health Services with a copy of your medical and prescription cards. Please present these documents in person or by emailing a photo copy to Cayuga Health at Ithaca College (Hammond Health Center) atIChealth@cayugahealth.org
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Please call University Health Plans at 1-833-250-8996 for questions regarding the student health insurance plan.
