Intercom

Dear Ithaca College Students,

We hope that your summer has been restful and restorative thus far. As we begin to turn our attention to the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, we write to you today to provide some important updates regarding the services provided by Cayuga Health at Ithaca College, our on-campus health care resource located at the Hammond Health Center.

This coming academic year will mark the third year of Ithaca College’s partnership with our regional health care provider, Cayuga Health System, to deliver more easily accessible and robust on-campus health care options to our students. Cayuga Health at Ithaca College has continued to provide critical services to our students including primary care, confidential urgent care, mental health services, lab testing, and vaccinations.

Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, costs for clinical office visits for sexual health and mental health will be billed through students’ insurance providers, like all other services offered at the Hammond Health Center. Previously, the college covered those costs and did not bill insurance providers. This change brings our on-campus health care into alignment with the type of experience you would receive visiting a home primary care office.

Cayuga Health at Ithaca College will also be adding some new services available to students at the Hammond Health Center during the upcoming academic year. Students will now be able to visit the Health Center for intrauterine contraception (IUD insertion) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP). The Hammond Health Center will also be offering a general expansion of mental health services, including increased hours for mental health appointments and screenings.

We are excited to announce that Cayuga Health at Ithaca College has added an additional staff position entitled Health Insurance Navigator. The primary role of the Health Insurance Navigator will be to provide an extra layer of support to help students and families navigate the complex landscape of health insurance to better understand their insurance coverage and how it might apply to any charges incurred for care received at the Hammond Health Center. Please visit the Health Insurance Navigator page on our Student Health Services website for more information.

As a reminder, all Ithaca College students are required to have coverage under a valid health insurance plan. Cayuga Health at Ithaca College accepts coverage under most major insurance providers; however, I strongly encourage students and families to consult our list of Participating Insurance Providers and contact their own insurance provider for additional information pertaining to coverage for our on-campus services. To see if your current insurance is one of our valid participating providers, please contact your insurance and check to see if Ithaca Medical Services (Tax ID: 862943718) is included.

Ithaca College offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) option for all students actively enrolled in classes through our preferred provider, University Health Plans. For students currently covered in a plan that is out-of-network or not accepted by Cayuga Health at Ithaca College, this in-network student health plan may be a preferable option. Please be on the lookout for a message with additional information about the Student Health Insurance Plan in mid-June.

Thank you for your consideration of this important information and we look forward to continuing to provide our IC students with a high-quality, on-campus health care experience.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Metzgar, FNP
Director, Student Health Services - Cayuga Health at Ithaca College