Health Offices
It is the mission of the Student Health Services of the City University of New York to make quality health care and health education available to all of its students in order to contribute to their academic success and personal growth.
The provision of these medical and psychological services will be sensitive to the needs of our non-traditional student body and will be tailored to the cultural diversity of the CUNY population.
With guidance from the Health Services Advisory Council, all programs are designed to help meet or exceed The Minimal Standards adopted by the CUNY Board of Trustees in May 2000. In a commitment to retain students who will successfully graduate from The City University, health promotion and disease prevention are our primary goals
Please review CUNY’s Counseling and Mental Health website for more information, including:
Health Insurance for all students
Eligible students may sign up for Medicaid and Child Health Plus through the Health Insurance Exchange at any time.
To view health insurance options available on the Exchange, visit the NY State of Health Official Health Plan Marketplace website or call 1-855-355-5777.
For more information about health insurance options, visit the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access NYC Health Insurance Link, or find out when you can speak with an Enrollment Navigator on your campus by visiting your campus Health Services Center.
Health Insurance for International Students
J-1 Student Mandatory Health Insurance
Federal regulations governing J-1 status require all J-1 students and their dependents to carry health insurance throughout their duration of status in the United States. J-1 student’s and J-2 dependents are obligated to meet specific health insurance requirements, and show proof of sufficient coverage to their CUNY college’s J-1 Responsible Officer, throughout their enrollment.
Required Coverage
Regulation 22 CFR 62.14 stipulate that J-1 students and J-2 dependents health insurance plans must include:
- $50,000 per accident or illness
- Deductible of no more than $500
- Medical evacuation up to $10,000
- Repatriation up to $7500
- A reasonable waiting period for per-existing conditions
- Includes provision for co-insurance under the terms which the exchange student may be required to pay up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness
- A policy backed by the full faith and credit of the student’s home country or an insurance company that meets the minimum USIA rating requirements:
- A. M. Best rating of “A-” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-I” or above
- a Standard and Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-” or above
- or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.
- Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Important Note: Keep in mind that the requirements above meet the minimum specifications. Therefore, you may elect to have more coverage.
Penalties
J-1 students who willfully fail to maintain J-1 health insurance, misrepresent their insurance coverage or fail to maintain coverage for their dependents are considered in violation of status. Consequently, the college is required to terminate the student’s J-1 Program in SEVIS [22 CFR 62.14(h)(i)] and 62.78]. Students who lose their status due to non-compliance with health insurance requirements cannot reinstatement their J-1 status [62.45(f) (1)]. Once a status has been terminated, J-1 privileges are no longer available and the student and dependents must leave the U.S. To prevent a violation of status due to health insurance as well as in other areas, J-1 students should maintain on-going contact and conduct regular discussions regarding their responsibilities with their college’s J-1 Responsible Officer.
F-1 Student Health Insurance
Although federal regulations do not mandate health insurance for F-1 students, it is highly recommended that CUNY F-1 international students and their dependents purchase international student health insurance to:
- reduce the high costs of out of pocket medical expenses
- have access to a wide-range of bonafide health care providers
- and ensure that they have medical evacuation and repatriation benefits to their home countries.
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