Policies and Procedures
Student Health Insurance Policy

Policy Statement

All full-time domestic (undergraduate and graduate) and international students are required to have health insurance coverage. ESF strongly encourages each student to review the ESF Student Health Insurance Plan (ESF Student Plan) and any other insurance coverage they may have. Each insurance company has specific rules regarding health insurance coverage and it is the student’s responsibility to determine if their individual or family health insurance plan is accepted by Central New York health providers. Therefore, it may be prudent to purchase the ESF Student Plan if the student’s individual or family health insurance coverage will not cover services away from his/her home community.

Reason for Policy

Requiring students to have health insurance is a requirement at most colleges and universities (nationally) and ensures that students are able to access health care services when needed, and that our students have access to an affordable, cost-effective private insurance plan with benefits that have been carefully reviewed and approved by the College.

Scope of Policy

This policy applies to:

• Students

Website Reference

ESF Student Handbook
SUNY policy on Student Health Services
ESF health insurance information
ESF Student Health Insurance Plan information
ESF Student Health Insurance Plan benefits summary
International student health insurance requirement information
SUNY International Plan information
Executive Student Affairs Officer

Contacts

Specific questions should be directed to the following:

Subject: Policy Clarification and General Information

Contact: Executive Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students

Telephone: 315-470-6660

Office E-mail/Web Address: students@esf.edu

Definitions

Full-time Student

A student enrolled at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) who is an undergraduate enrolled in 12 or more credit hours during the fall and/or spring semester(s) or a graduate student enrolled in 9 or more credit hours during the fall and/or spring semester(s). All non-international students meeting these credit hour guidelines are required to have and maintain health insurance coverage from the first day of matriculation into classes or participation in pre-class events and activities such as new student orientation, athletic training, etc.

International Student

A student enrolled at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) who possesses a F-1 or J-1 status. All ESF international students are required by federal law and State University of New York (SUNY) policy to have and maintain international health insurance.

ESF Student Health Insurance Plan Year

The coverage period for the ESF Student Health Insurance Plan as determined by the College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the plan provider. 
The Plan Year is from August 15-August 14 each year.

Policies

Domestic Students

Effective Fall 2016, all full-time domestic ESF students (undergraduate and graduate) are required to have and maintain health insurance coverage from the first day of matriculation into classes or participation in pre-class events and activities such as new student orientation, athletic training, etc. Details about the ESF Student plan, which is administered by insurance agency Haylor, Freyer & Coon. 

A summary of the ESF Student Plan benefits can be found at Student Health and Wellness. Part-time students are eligible to purchase this plan if interested.

International Students

As required by federal law and SUNY policy, ESF’s international students (F-1 or J-1 status) must have and maintain international health insurance. International students are not eligible to enroll in the domestic ESF Student Plan. Instead, all international students will be automatically enrolled in the SUNY International Student Insurance Plan (SUNY International Plan). In addition to F-1 and J-1 students, J-1 visiting scholars and J-2 dependents of ESF-sponsored J-1 persons will also be required to enroll in the SUNY International Plan. These persons will not be automatically enrolled and will need to purchase their coverage on an individual basis from the Cashier’s Office. Spouses or dependents of ESF international students are eligible to purchase the plan if interested. 

F-1 Visa holders who hold a Graduate, Teaching or Research Assistantship may be eligible and/or required to enroll in their assistantship insurance. For any international student who opts into assistantship insurance, they will be eligible to waive out of the SUNY International Plan. To do so, they must provide a copy of their assistantship insurance card to the Cashier’s Office. Students may also waive out of the SUNY International Plan if they are conducting research abroad in their home county. All international students who are granted waivers from enrolling in the SUNY International Plan will still be auto-enrolled in the supplemental Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance. This insurance is non-waivable.

Additional Information

• All questions regarding domestic health insurance at ESF should be directed to the Division of Student Affairs (general questions) at 315-470-6660.
• All questions regarding international health insurance at ESF should be directed to the College's Office of International Education at 315-470-4754.

Forms

No forms are associated with this policy.

Revision Record

Issued: March, 2018 

Revised: August 2023

Revised: October 2023