John Jay, 3rd Floor
Phone: 212-854-3286
health.columbia.edu/insurance
[email protected]

All full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Columbia Plan. To request a waiver from enrollment (domestic students only), you must submit a request at health.columbia. edu before September 30 (February 15 for new spring term enrollment or June 15 for new incoming full-time summer students). All waiver requests are considered, but approval is not guaranteed.

Navigating the U.S. health care system can be complex. To help ensure that international students have access to the highest quality of care on- and off-campus, Columbia University requires all international students to enroll in the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan. Confirm or upgrade your enrollment in the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan online before the open enrollment deadline. For more up-to-date information, visit the Columbia Health website or www.aetnastudenthealth.com/columbiadirect.html.

Immunization Compliance

John Jay, 3rd Floor
Phone: 212-854-7210
health.columbia.edu/immunization
[email protected]

There are two immunization requirements that all new students must meet before arrival on campus:

Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination

New York State public health law requires that students receive information from their institutions about meningococcal meningitis and the vaccine that protects against most strains of the disease that can occur on university campuses. Columbia students must make an informed decision about being vaccinated and certify their decision online. Full instructions are given at health.columbia.edu and the process takes two to three minutes to complete. You must formally indicate your decision about being vaccinated before you will be permitted to register for classes.

Deadline: Decisions must be recorded online before classes begin.Students will not be permitted to register until a decision is recorded.

Documentation of Immunity to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

New York State public health law and University Policy require all students document their immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. Instructions and the Columbia University MMR Form are available at health.columbia.edu.

Deadline: Completed forms must be mailed or faxed 30 days before registering for classes.

Please visit us at  health.columbia.edu or contact us for questions.