Yale Health operates a multispecialty group practice on campus through its state-of-the-art medical center, Yale Health Center, located at 55 Lock Street in New Haven, CT. Yale Health Center offers a wide variety of on-site health care services including primary care, specialty care, acute care, mental health & counseling, radiology, blood draw, pharmacy, eye care, infusion and medication administration center, and a 17-bed inpatient care unit. Nearly all care is provided by Yale Health staff; when a student’s condition requires more specialized care or a hospitalization, there is an extensive network of specialists drawn largely from Yale School of Medicine or other in-network contracted providers. Yale Health’s network hospital is Yale-New Haven Hospital. With Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage, emergency care is covered anywhere in the world.  Yale Health’s services are detailed in the Yale Health Student Handbook, available through the Yale Health Member Services Department, 203-432-0246, or online at yalehealth.yale.edu.

Whether you are a new student on campus or continuing your studies, Yale Health has a dedicated resource to help you navigate your Yale Health benefits and health care. Reach out or schedule a time to meet with the Yale Health Student Health Care Navigator whenever you have questions.

A. Eligibility for services

If you are an eligible degree-candidate student enrolled half-time or more, the University provides you with primary care services at the Yale Health Center through Yale Health Basic Student Health Services. These services are free and automatically provided: you do not need to enroll or submit any forms. For new students and newly eligible students, basic services are available to you on the date you are required to be on campus for orientation and continue through July 31, providing you remain eligible. Basic Student Health Services includes preventive health, blood draw, and medical services in Student Health, Gynecology, Mental Health & Counseling, Nutrition, Acute Care, and Inpatient Care. For returning students, access to Basic Student Health Services begins August 1 and ends July 31, providing you remain eligible. Please note that this is not an insurance plan. For full details, see Yale Health Basic Student Health Services. 

Students on leave of absence or a Year or Term Abroad are not eligible for Basic Student Health Services but may enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage. Students enrolled in the Nondegree Students program are not eligible for Basic Student Health Services but may enroll in the Billed Associates Plan and pay a monthly premium. Students enrolled in the Eli Whitney Students program receive Yale Health Basic Student Health Services if enrolled at least half-time; others in that program are eligible to elect the Student Affiliate Coverage. Associates must register for at least one term within the first thirty days of affiliation with the University. Students not eligible for Basic Student Health Services may also use the services fee-for-service. Students who wish to be seen fee-for-service must register with the Member Services Department. Enrollment applications for the Student Affiliate Coverage, Billed Associates Plan, or Fee-for-Service Program are available from the Member Services Department.

Most students meet the University requirement for hospitalization and insurance coverage by subscribing to Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Coverage, which provides coverage for all approved hospitalizations, specialty care services, and prescription medications. If you are an eligible degree-candidate student enrolled half-time or more, you are automatically enrolled in and billed for this coverage. Full-year coverage dates are identical to those for Yale Health Basic Student Health Services. However, Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage may also be purchased for either the fall term only or spring term only. All students who remained enrolled in and do not waive Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage (https://yalehealth.yale.edu/student-coverage) can use specialty and ancillary services at Yale Health Center. Upon referral, Yale Health will cover the cost, minus any applicable copayments, of specialty and ancillary services for these students. Students with an alternate insurance plan should seek specialty services from a non-Yale Health provider who accepts their alternate insurance. 

1. Completion of Incoming Student Health Requirements - Required for ALL students.

   All new students are required to complete these requirements by August 1, 2025. Key information and a description of Student Health Requirements may be found at https://yalehealth.yale.edu/new-student-health-requirements. This page may be periodically updated and should be considered the most up-to-date source of information. All requirements are to be completed through Health On Track (https://healthontrack.yale.edu/s/), Yale’s portal for tracking health requirements. Specific requirements are outlined below. 

​Required for ALL students

B. Health coverage enrollment

Your status as an eligible Yale University undergraduate, graduate, or professional student automatically makes you eligible for Yale Health Basic Student Health Services. If you are eligible for Yale Health Basic Student Health Services, the University requires you to obtain adequate insurance coverage for hospitalization and specialty care. Here, you have two options: purchase your hospitalization, specialty, and prescription coverage through Yale Health or through another 
insurer. Students may remain enrolled in Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage or waive the plan if they have other hospitalization coverage, such as through a spouse or parent. The waiver must be renewed annually, and the student must confirm receipt of the waiver by the University’s deadlines noted below.

1. Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. For a detailed explanation of this plan, which includes coverage for prescriptions, see A Student’s Guide to Yale Health. Students are automatically enrolled and charged a fee on their Student Financial Services bill for Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage each term. Students with no break in coverage enrolled during the fall and spring terms are billed each term and covered from August 1 through July 31. For students entering Yale for the first time, readmitted students, and students returning from a leave of absence who have not been covered during their leave, Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage begins on the day the dormitories officially open or when orientation requires students to be on campus. A student enrolled in coverage for the fall term only is covered for services through January 31; a student enrolled in coverage for the spring term only is covered for services through July 31.
   1. ​Waiving Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Students can waive Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage by completing an online waiver form. Students are responsible for reporting any changes in alternate insurance coverage to the Member Services Department within 30 days. Students are encouraged to review their present coverage and compare its benefits to those available under Yale Health. The waiver form must be filed annually and received by September 15 for the full year or fall term or by January 31 for the spring term only.

   2. Revoking the waiver. Students who waive Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage but later wish to be covered must complete and send a form voiding their waiver to the Member Services Department by September 15 for the full year or fall term or by January 31 for the spring term only. Students who wish to revoke their waiver during the term may do so, provided they show proof of loss of the alternate insurance plan and enroll within thirty days of the loss of this coverage. Yale Health fees will not be prorated.

2.  Yale Health Student Dependent Plans. A student may enroll their lawfully married spouse or civil union partner and/or legally dependent children under twenty-six in one of three student-dependent plans: Student + Spouse, Student + Child/Children, or the Student Family Plan. These plans include services described in Basic Student Health Services and Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Coverage is not automatic, and enrollment is done by application. Applications are available from the Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the Yale Health website and must be renewed annually. Applications must be received by September 15 for full-year or fall-term coverage or by January 31 for spring-term coverage only.
3. Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage. Students on a non-medical leave of absence or extended study or paying less than half tuition may enroll in Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage, which includes services described in Basic Student Health Services and Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Applications are available from the Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the Yale Health website and must be received by September 15 for full-year or fall-term coverage or by January 31 for spring-term coverage only.
4. Yale Health Undergraduate Affiliate Coverage on Medical Leave of Absence. Students approved for a medical leave of absence and who are already enrolled in the Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage have the option to enroll in Yale Health’s Undergraduate Affiliate Coverage at the start of their medical leave of absence. This coverage includes services described in Basic Student Health Services and Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage, as well as addition supplemental coverage when outside of Connecticut, providing an additional layer of coverage through Aetna Healthcare that provides you with access to primary and specialty care outside of the Yale Health services area. This coverage only extends to the continental United States (Alaska & Hawaii are not included). Care required for students who reside in Connecticut is managed by Yale Health. Care necessary for patients who reside elsewhere will be administered by Aetna Healthcare. This enrollment must be selected by the eligible student as Yale University does not require students to purchase hospitalization coverage when taking a medical leave of absence. Applications are available from the Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the Yale Health website and must be received by September 15 for full-year or fall-term coverage or by January 31 for spring-term coverage only. Funding for this coverage may be available through your specific school. Reach out to your Financial Aid office for more information. 

C. Eligibility changes

Withdrawal. Withdrawing from the University directly impacts your Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage. The timing of your withdrawal can impact whether you can get a refund for your health coverage or be billed for health services you used. Note: Tuition and Yale Health coverage fees are billed separately and considered separately in the withdrawal policies. Contact Yale Health Member Services or Student Heath Care Navigator for guidance or questions about your specific situation.

1. If you withdraw on or before the 15th day of classes: 
   1. You’ll get a full refund for the Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Coverage fee if you did not waive coverage; if you waived coverage, you would not get a refund since you were not billed for coverage.
   2. Your Yale Health membership will end retroactively to the start of the insurance term (Fall or Spring) in which you have withdrawn, as if you were never covered by Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Coverage or Basic Health Services.
   3. You will not be eligible for any Yale Health coverage and unable to access services moving forward.
   4. If you’ve already used health services, those services will be billed directly to you by Yale Health.
   5. You cannot enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage to extend your insurance.
2. If you withdraw more than 15 days after the first day of classes:
   1. You’ll still have access to Yale Health services for 30 days after your withdrawal date.
   2. During those 30 days, you will have access to the same services you had before you withdrew. This may include services like Student Health, Mental Health & Counseling, Acute Care, and Care Management to help with transitioning care.
   3. If you waived coverage, then you will remain with access to Yale Health Basic Health Services for 30 days.
   4. If you did not waive coverage, you will remain insured by Yale Health with Hospitalization/Specialty Care with Prescriptions benefits. 
   5. However, fees for Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage won’t be refunded nor prorated. You are responsible for the semester charge on your student account, even if your tuition has been refunded. 
   6. You cannot enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage to extend your insurance.

If you’re unsure about your options or how these policies apply to your situation, contact Yale Health Member Services (member.services@yale.edu) or Student Health Care Navigator (yhstudentnavigator@yale.edu). They’re here to help you navigate your coverage and ensure your health care needs are addressed. 

Taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the University directly impacts your Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage. The timing of your LOA can impact whether you can get a refund for your health coverage received or be billed for health services you used. Students granted a leave of absence (non-medical or medical) can purchase Student Affiliate Coverage. Note: Tuition and Yale Health coverage fees are billed separately and considered separately in the LOA policies. Contact Yale Health Member Services or Student Heath Care Navigator for guidance or questions about your specific situation. It’s important to understand how these apply to your situation.

1. If the Registrar is notified of your LOA on or before the first day of classes:

a. Your Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will end retroactively to the start of the insurance term (Fall or Spring) in which you have taken a LOA, as if you were never covered by Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage or Basic Student Health Services.

b. You’ll get a full refund for the Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage fee if you did not waive coverage; if you waived coverage, you would not get a refund.

c. You may be eligible for Student Affiliate Coverage and have 30 days to enroll (see below – How to Enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage).

d. If you waived coverage and do not enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage, you will not be eligible for any Yale Health services, and coverage moving forward, and if you’ve already used health services, those services will be billed directly to you by Yale Health.

2. If the Registrar is notified of your LOA after the first day of classes:

a. Your Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage ends on the day the Registrar is notified of your Leave of Absence.

b. If you waived coverage, then your access to Yale Health Basic Health Services ends on this date, and if you’ve already used health services, those services will not be billed directly to you by Yale Health.

c. If you did not waive coverage, then your insurance, Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care with Prescription Coverage, ends on this date. If you’ve already used health services, those services will not be billed directly to you by Yale Health. However, any fees for Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Coverage won’t be refunded nor prorated. 

d. You may be eligible for Student Affiliate Coverage and have 30 days to enroll (see below – How to Enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage).

3. How to Enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage - enrollment in Student Affiliate Coverage isn’t automatic—you’ll need to complete and submit an enrollment form. 

a. Forms are available at the Member Services Department or on the Yale Health website.

b. Fees you’ve already paid for Yale Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will be applied to the cost of Student Affiliate Coverage; the full fee will still be charged to your student account; however, you’ll only be charged the difference in the fee.

c. Regardless of what point in the semester you enroll, fees will not be prorated or refunded.