Enroll in or Waive Health Insurance
All registered full-time domestic students and all international students are required to have health insurance.
Columbia Health is the on-campus resource that provides extensive health care programs and services for you while you are at the University*. The coverage provided by Columbia Health and an insurance plan work together to meet your health care needs.
To meet the insurance requirement, you must log in to the Patient Portal to either confirm enrollment (step-by-step instructions) in the Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan (the Columbia Plan) or request a waiver by documenting enrollment in another plan that meets the University’s coverage criteria (step-by-step instructions).
Open enrollment period
The Fall 2026 enrollment and waiver period for new and returning students runs from July 15 through September 30, 2026.
Coverage for the 2026–27 academic year is effective August 15, 2026, through August 14, 2027.
Why enroll in the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan?
Columbia University wants you to have good coverage so that health needs and concerns--including unanticipated health care costs--are not a barrier to the achievement of your personal and academic goals. Here are a few key reasons to consider enrolling in the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan:
- No co-pays for medical and mental health services with Columbia Health providers
- Plan optimized to the needs of students
- Global coverage for routine, urgent, and emergency care
- Dental service discounts
- Premiums billed to your student account (no upfront payments)
- Dedicated insurance team to provide support (onsite at John Jay, 3rd Floor and virtual)
Please visit the Columbia Health website for detailed information about the Plan, eligibility, optional dental and vision plans, contact information, and more.
*By paying the Columbia Health and Related Services Fee, students can access programs and services provided through Columbia Health (Alice! Health Promotion, Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Services, Medical Services, Sexual Violence Response, the Student Health Insurance Office, and Immunization Compliance Office).
⚠️ Important: Students who DO NOT take action before the September 30 deadline will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan.
Action items:
July 15 through September 30, 2026:
- All new full-time domestic students and all international students wishing to use an alternate health insurance plan must submit a waiver request (instructions) via the Columbia Health Patient Portal.
- All new full-time domestic students and all international students must confirm their insurance enrollment.
- All new part-time domestic students can choose to enroll in the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan.
- All new and returning students can choose to enroll in optional dental and vision plans.