Health Insurance

Accessing Care

As a CUIMC student, Student Health on Haven is your primary care provider (including any enrolled spouse or partner) and is responsible for determining the most appropriate treatment for your health care needs. We offer a wide range of services to support your unique health and well-being needs as a CUIMC student. 

Please visit the Aetna Student Health website, select "Columbia University/Columbia University Irving Medical Center" and click "View School" for access to all Aetna-related services for the Columbia University Student Insurance Plan, including:

Your Coverage At A Glance

For detailed information about benefits and coverage, please review the following:

Finding a Health Care Provider

Please visit the Aetna Student Health website, select "Columbia University/Columbia University Irving Medical Center" and click "View School" for access to all Aetna-related services, including finding a doctor, hospital, or pharmacy.

You may search for in-network specialists. Choosing an in-network physician saves you money. Please note there is a $600 deductible if you choose to visit an out-of-network provider.

Specialty Visits

  • Most off-campus specialist care requires a referral from Student Health.
  • ALL referrals MUST be renewed each policy year (except Mental Health referrals).

You do NOT need a referral from Student Health for the following services:

  1. Primary and preventive obstetric and gynecologic services including annual examinations.
  2. For emergency services, you do not need a referral for an emergency room (ER) visit but you MUST get a referral from Student Health for all follow up specialist visits.
  3. If you are ever more than 50 miles away from campus, you may go directly to a provider in that area without a referral from Student Health. Please ensure that the provider you are seeing accepts the Aetna Columbia Student Health Insurance by using Aetna's Directory of Health Care Professionals to maximize your benefits.
  4. Dependent children do not need a referral.

Downloading an Insurance Card

Please go to the Aetna website and download your ID card by entering your Student ID and date of birth (DOB). Your Student ID number is your Columbia PID number, located in your SSOL account.

Questions About:

Enrollment, Coverage Benefits, or Referrals

Plan Benefits, Claims, Inpatient admission, Pre-certification

Prescription Drug and Pharmacy Claims, Medication Coverage, Pre-Authorization

Life Change Events

  • If you have experienced a life change event such as: turning 26 (at or shortly after your birthday), having a child, marriage, divorce, and other specific circumstances and would like to add or drop coverage, please complete a Life Change Event form and submit documentation.
  • Contact Student Health on Haven via phone at 212-305-3206 or email us at shsinsurance@cumc.columbia.edu

Medical Leave of Absence

  • Students in good standing, who are approved for a medical leave of absence by their school are eligible to remain on the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan for a cumulative maximum of two semesters during the course of a student's entire enrollment within a particular school at Columbia, regardless of the length of the program.
  • The two semesters are cumulative but do not need to occur sequentially.  
  • Medical leaves must be approved by the student's academic unit and reflected in the Student Information System.