COLUMBIA STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE/WAIVER RATES & FORMS
All returning full-time students and incoming first-year students will be automatically enrolled in the Columbia Student Health Plan or must waive this coverage by August 1. If waiving coverage, you will need to provide proof of comparable coverage. Visit the orientation page for a complete list of action items and deadlines for incoming students and see this page for returning students.
Here is a summary of key information for the upcoming academic year:
All plans offer robust medical and mental health coverage with pharmacy & lab benefits. Care begins on campus with medical services, and there are no co-pays for medical or mental health visits on campus. The Columbia Plans are fully ACA compliant.
Highlights:
- No in-network deductible
- $30 office copay
- $0 copay for the first 10 mental health visits; $20 mental health copay for subsequent visits
- $150 emergency room copay
- $60 urgent care center copay
- $15/$50/$75 prescription copays
- $30 co-pay on in-network services (e.g. laboratory, radiology)
- $3,000 in-network annual out-of-pocket maximum
- Dental discounts at Columbia Doctors Dentistry (scroll to the bottom of this page for more info)
For more detailed information about the Columbia University Student Health Plans, please see this helpful site from Aetna.
PLEASE NOTE: If you meet any one of the following three criteria, you must pay the Columbia Health Services Fee [2023-24 annual cost $1,364; $682 per semester]: a. full-time students (12+ credits), b. students enrolled in Columbia University Student Health Plans, c. students living in seminary housing.
Full-Time Students (12+ credits)
- Enrollment in the Columbia Student Health Plan is automatic for all full-time students. You may choose to waive this coverage by September 30. If waiving after August 1, though, you will see the charge for the Columbia Student Health Plan on your Fall billing statement.
- Full-time students may choose to waive the Columbia University Student Health Insurance using this link. Comparable coverage must be provided.
- The Fall semester open enrollment period is from July 1 – September 30 each year.
- Students whose status changes from part-time to full-time during the academic year will be automatically enrolled at that time, but may waive the insurance if they have comparable coverage.
- The waiver must be completed each insurance year. The insurance year begins August 15 of each year.
- Full-time students and those on the Columbia Student Health Plan are required to pay the Health Services Fee regardless of the student’s physical location.
Part-Time and Non-Degree Students
Part-time students may elect to enroll in the Columbia Student Health Plan by using this link. Part-time students who enroll in the Columbia Student Health Plan must pay the Columbia Health Services Fee.
Students whose status changes from part-time to full-time during the academic year will be automatically enrolled at that time but may waive the insurance if they have comparable coverage by using this link.
Part-time students, including non-degree students, taking less than 12 credits, are not required to waive or enroll in the Columbia Student Health Plan, or to pay the Columbia Health Services Fee, unless their status changes to full-time. Part-time students may elect to pay the Columbia Health Services Fee to benefit from the health program and may also choose to enroll in the Columbia Student Health Plan. Please email Dean Abby [email protected] for support.
International Students
Union Theological Seminary requires ALL international students (regardless of credit status) to enroll in the Columbia Student Health Plan. Navigating the U.S. healthcare system can be complex, and this will ensure that international students have access to the highest quality of care both on- and off-campus. Please reach out to Dean Abby with any questions: [email protected]
International students attending Union on an F-1 visa may wish to waive their health insurance. In order to request a waiver from mandatory enrollment in the Columbia Plan, students must have alternate coverage that meets the Seminary’s requirements. Students must provide sufficient information regarding their alternate health insurance plan to allow independent verification that the alternate plan meets the Seminary’s requirements.
The Student Affairs Office considers all requests, but approval is not guaranteed. Previous waiver approvals do not guarantee future approvals – be sure to review the annual requirements before submitting a waiver request. Charges on the student account are only removed after a waiver request is approved.
➜ This checklist will help you determine if your health insurance plan meets the waiver criteria.
- The plan must meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, including coverage for routine, urgent, and emergent care for all of the Act’s Essential Health Benefits in New York State.
- The plan must provide routine coverage throughout the United States.
- The plan must be based in and licensed to do business in the United States.
- The plan must be effective and remain in force for the duration as noted below.
- No yearly or lifetime coverage maximums for essential health benefits.
- The plan must include medical evacuation (minimum of $50,000) and repatriation coverage (minimum of $25,000). This requirement may be met via a secondary coverage plan for evacuation and repatriation only.
Dual-Degree Students
After the first two years, students are given the status of “dual degree semester (other institution),” which denotes that a student is paying full-time tuition at another school. Students with the status of “dual degree semester (other institution)” are not charged Union tuition and are expected to pay relevant fees such as the student activity fee, housing rent, and meal plan fee as applicable. Students with the dual degree semester (other institution) enrollment status may not take more than six credits per semester at Union in years three and four. Students who are full-time at another institution must enroll in health insurance through their home school and will not be charged the Columbia Health Services Fee as part-time students at Union.
2023-2024 Rates | Fall Premium (8/15-12/31) | Spring/Summer (1/1-8/14) | Monthly (for comparison only) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Students Only | $5,647.00 | $2,145.00 | $3,502.00 | $470.58 |
Student and Spouse/Partner | $11,294.00 | $4,290.00 | $7,004.00 | $941.17 |
Student and Child | $11,264.00 | $4,278.00 | $6,986.00 | $938.67 |
Student and Children | $16,881.00 | $6,411.00 | $10,470.00 | $1,406.75 |
Student, Spouse/Partner and Child | $16,911.00 | $6,423.00 | $10,488.00 | $1,409.25 |
Student, Spouse/Partner and Children | $22,528.00 | $8,556.00 | $13,972.00 | $1,877.33 |
- Please note that dependents are not automatically enrolled or renewed. Please complete the Dependent Enrollment Application to enroll.
- Students completing their program or not registering for spring classes will terminate their coverage effective December 31 and not be charged spring insurance premiums.
- If you have existing coverage and missed the September 30 deadline or obtained new coverage after the plan start date, you must email the following information to Alberta McCants: the Certificate of Coverage from your existing/new insurance with the effective date and copies of the insurance card (front and back). If approved, you will receive a pro-rated refund of your insurance premium.
Aetna Voluntary Dental Plan (2023-2024) | |
---|---|
Student | $439.00 |
Add a Spouse/Partner | $465.00 |
Per Child | $705.00 |
Aetna Voluntary Vision Plan (2023-2024) | |
---|---|
Per Enrollee | $81.00 |
Per Family | $199.00 |
DISCOUNTED DENTAL SERVICES
Students enrolled in the Columbia Plan have access to covered preventative dental services and specially discounted rates for other dental needs through Columbia Doctors Dentistry. Dental discounts include:
- One routine examination per plan year
- One dental cleaning (prophylaxis) per plan year
- A 25% discount off self-pay fees on additional services
- X-rays as needed and with the routine examination
- Evaluation of emergency dental conditions and emergency pain relief
- A $20 copay per visit
**Columbia Doctors Dentistry (operated by Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine) facilitates these dental benefits and are not underwritten by Aetna or administered by Aetna Student Health.
COLUMBIA DENTAL ASSOCIATES LOCATIONS:
Upper West Side/Morningside Practices
1244 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
(212) 342 – 2300
430 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
(212) 662 – 4887
Northern Manhattan Practices
CUIMC/Haven Towers
100 Haven Ave
New York, NY 10032
(212) 342 – 0107
CUIMC/Presbyterian Hospital and Vanderbilt Clinic
622 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305 – 4552
Midtown Practice
ColumbiaDoctors – Midtown
51 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 326 – 8520