IC Student Insurance Plan

Please visit the Ithaca College University Health Plans website for more information regarding the 2023-2024 enrollment and waiver period.

Important Dates: 

July 10, 2023: Enrollment and Waiver Process Open

August 10, 2023: First Day of Coverage for Students Enrolled in SHIP for 2023-24

September 15, 2023: Deadline to Submit Waiver Form to Decline SHIP Coverage

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, 2023 through August 9, 2024.

For students re-enrolling in the student health insurance plan, you must complete the online enrollment form by August 9th, 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.

If you have alternate health insurance coverage, you may be eligible to waive enrollment in the student health insurance plan.  Students who do not submit the online waiver form by the September 15, 2023, deadline will be automatically enrolled in the Ithaca College student health insurance plan and will be responsible for paying the annual premium amount of $3,066, which will be charged to your student account.  Submitting the online waiver form prior to the waiver deadline and having another qualifying health insurance plan is the only acceptable way to opt out of the Ithaca College student health insurance plan.

Find the waiver form AND the enrollment forms here. 
Main University Health Plans Ithaca College website.

The charge for one full year of coverage from August 10, 2023 through August 9, 2024 is $3,066.00. 

In order to ensure that all students have health insurance coverage, all student accounts will initially be charged for the plan. 

If you are a domestic student and 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, 2023 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 7-10 days for the waiver to be posted to your account.

If you are an INTERNATIONAL 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. The following providers do not currently offer a health insurance product that is comparable to the Ithaca College plan: ISO, GBG Insurance, HDL Global Specialty, PGH (United), PSI, Student Medicover, and Tata AIG and will not be approved for a waiver.

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.