Medical Information and Insurance
Medical Records, Immunizations, and the Health Form
New York State public health laws require that all students provide documentary evidence of their health history and immunizations (measles, mumps, rubella, and meningitis). You must upload a copy of your vaccination record through the ESF Wellness Portal.
Records must be uploaded prior to the beginning of your first semester.
If you do not supply these records to Health Services prior to or upon your arrival, you will be required to obtain immunization(s) upon arrival and insurance may not cover this expense. Please avoid this expense by providing your completed medical record as soon as possible.
Health Clearance and Tuberculosis Testing
As part of the health clearance process for new students, you are required to go through
tuberculosis screening in accordance with state and county guidelines. This clearance
process should be completed as soon as you arrive in Syracuse. If a chest x-ray is
medically necessary for this clearance, it must be taken and read in the United States
or Canada within 3 months of arrival.
Do not attempt to complete this in your home country as the testing will need to be
repeated in the US. Failure to complete the health clearance in a timely fashion will
result in a hold being placed on a student’s account.
Health Insurance Requirement
ESF students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required by SUNY policies to maintain adequate health insurance with medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. International students (F-1 or J-1 status) are automatically enrolled in the SUNY International Student Insurance Plan prior to matriculation and the fee for the medical coverage is added to the Student’s ESF bill. You will be enrolled in this insurance every year of your program and the coverage will continue until graduation.
Please note that neither the State of New York, through its agents, nor the State University of New York through its agents and employees, is responsible in any manner whatsoever for the payment of any claim for health-related services provided to individuals covered under this insurance policy. The State of New York and State University of New York are not responsible for obligations incurred by individuals who are not covered by this insurance policy. All individuals participating in the health insurance programs described herein are responsible for reviewing all descriptions of the scope and level of coverage offered by this policy. Such participants will be solely responsible for obtaining additional coverage not provided under this program if such is deemed necessary by the participant.
Students who Hold a Graduate, Teaching, or Research Assistantship
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 student who opts into an assistantship insurance, they may provide a copy of their insurance card to the Bursar’s Office in order to waive out of the SUNY International Student Insurance Plan. All international students who are granted waivers from enrolling in the SUNY International Student Insurance Plan will still be auto-enrolled in the supplemental Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance.
Family/Spouse/Dependent Health Insurance
Adequate health insurance with Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance coverage must be obtained for every member of your family who accompanies you to the U.S. The SUNY International Student Health Insurance Plan can be purchased for dependents who join you in the U.S. If you have children who will be attending public schools, you will be required to show proof of immunization, including D.P.T (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus). Bring copies of medical records for yourself and your family members.