Health Services at Columbia and Student Medical Insurance

Departments | Contact Information | Health Service Fee | Student Medical Insurance Plan | Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine | Measles, Mumps and Rubella Immunity

Health Services at Columbia (HSC) on the Morningside Campus provides integrated, accessible services and programs that support the well-being of the campus community, and the personal and academic development of students. HSC is comprised of more than 100 individuals: medical providers, dietitians, disability specialists, health educators, therapists, psychiatrists, peer counselors, student personnel, support staff, and administrative professionals. All programs and services provided by HSC adhere to strict standards of confidentiality in compliance with State and Federal laws.

DEPARTMENTS
The Alice! Health Promotion Program recognizes that health is a vital part of learning, and works to create and sustain a healthy campus community in which students can achieve their personal and academic goals. Alice! coordinates Stressbusters, CU Move, and the Go Ask Alice! Internet Q&A service. Wien Hall, Main Floor; (212) 854-5453.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) supports the psychological and emotional well-being of the campus community by providing short-term individual counseling for students, couples counseling for students and their partners, student life support groups, and medication consultations. Emergency consultations are available to the entire university community. Alfred Lerner Hall, 8th Floor; (212) 854-2878.

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) facilitates equal access for students with disabilities by coordinating reasonable accommodations and support services. Reasonable accommodations are adjustments to policy, practice, and programs that “level the playing field” for students with disabilities and provide equal access to Columbia’s programs and activities. Examples include the administration of exams, services such as note-taking, sign language interpreters, assistive technology, and coordination of accessible housing needs. Accommodation plans and services are custom designed to match the disability-related needs of each student and are determined according to documented needs and the student’s program requirements. Registration includes submission of both the Application for Accommodations and Services and disability documentation. The application and disability documentation guidelines are available online and at the ODS office. Students are encouraged to register within the first two weeks of the semester to ensure that reasonable accommodations can be made for that term. Please note that students are not eligible to receive reasonable accommodations until the registration process is complete. Disability Services Liaisons are representatives from the student’s respective school and assist ODS in coordinating the provisions of reasonable accommodations.

Contact: Columbia University Office of Disability Services: telephone: (212) 854-2388; TTY: (212) 854-2378; fax: (212) 854-3448; email: disability@columbia.edu; http://www.health.columbia.edu/docs/services/ods/index.html.

The Morningside campus office is located on the 7th floor of Lerner Hall, and the Medical Center Campus office is located at 101 Bard Hall.

Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS) provides comprehensive care for routine, urgent and chronic medical needs of students. PCMS also provides sexual health, reproductive and gynecological services, travel medicine, LGBTQ health care, immunizations, and referrals. Also part of PCMS are the Travel Medicine Program, CAVA (Emergency Medical Services), and the Gay Health Advocacy Project (GHAP). John Jay Hall, 3rd & 4th Floors; (212) 854-7426.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Program (SVPRP) educates students and administrators about consent and coercion, and promotes community standards for a respectful and safe campus. Through its programs and services, SVPRP fosters individual and collective action to end sexual and relationship violence. The Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center provides peer counseling, advocacy, and education to survivors and co-survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, childhood sexual abuse, and other forms of violence. The Men's Peer Education Program provides educational events, prevention strategies, and leadership training programs to engage men to end sexual and relationship violence. For information on how to report sexual assault, or for the University's policy on sexual assault, please contact the Disciplinary Procedure for Sexual Assault at (212) 854-1717 or go to Alfred Lerner Hall, Room 701.

CONTACT INFORMATION
www.health.columbia.edu

HEALTH SERVICE FEE
By paying the Health Service Fee, students enroll in the Health Service Program and are granted access to the programs and services provided on-campus through the five Health Services departments. The fee also includes coverage for specific off-campus services. The fee is mandatory and automatically billed through the Student Account Statement to all full-time students and to those who elect enrollment in the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan. Other students may elect enrollment in the Health Service Program; the fee is then added to the Student Account Statement. After paying the fee, students pay no additional charges when using services provided on campus, except for immunizations and travel assessments. The fee provides coverage for services from Sept. 1, 2008 to Aug. 31, 2009. Please review the full program descriptions and directions for utilizing the benefits at www.health.columbia.edu.

STUDENT MEDICAL INSURANCE PLAN
University policy requires all registered full-time students to have acceptable health insurance coverage. Columbia University offers the Student Medical Insurance Plan, which provides both Comprehensive and Basic Levels of coverage. The Plan is administered by Aetna Student Health and is underwritten by Aetna. Full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Basic Level of the Plan and billed for the insurance premium in addition to the Health Service Fee. Part-time students may elect enrollment in the Health Services Program and in the Student Medical Insurance Plan. For detailed information about medical insurance coverage options and directions for confirming enrollment, upgrading coverage, or submitting a waiver request, visit www.health.columbia.edu.

MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS VACCINE DECISION
New York State public health law requires that college and university students receive information from their institutions about meningococcal meningitis and the vaccine that protects against most strains of the disease that occur on university campuses. Columbia University students must certify their meningitis vaccination decision on the Health Services website. Students must use their individual University Network ID (UNI) and password to provide this certification, which must be completed before registration for classes is permitted.

MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA (MMR)
New York State public health law requires that college and university students taking 6 or more credits provide documentation of immunity to MMR before their first term of study. There are several ways to document immunity. The options are described on the Columbia University MMR Form.

If you have any questions about these requirements, please email hs-enrollment@columbia.edu or visit www.health.columbia.edu.