Health Services

The Yale Health Center is located on campus at 55 Lock Street. The center is home to Yale Health, a not-for-profit, physician-led health coverage option that offers a wide variety of health care services for students and other members of the Yale community. Services include student health, gynecology, mental health, pediatrics, pharmacy, blood draw, diagnostic imaging, a fifteen-bed inpatient care department, 24/7 access to RN clinical triage through an Acute Care clinic, and specialty services such as allergy, dermatology, orthopedics, and a travel clinic. Yale Health coordinates and provides payment for the services provided at the Yale Health Center, as well as for emergency treatment, off-site specialty services, inpatient hospital care, and other ancillary services. 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.

A. Eligibility for services

All registered undergraduates (except those enrolled in the Nondegree Students program) are enrolled automatically for Yale Health Basic Student Health Services. Basic Student Health Services is offered at no charge and includes preventive health, blood draw, and medical services in the departments of Student Health, Gynecology, Mental Health & Counseling, Nutrition, Acute Care, and Inpatient Care. Students on leave of absence or on 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 they are enrolled at least half-time; others in that program are eligible to elect the Student Affiliate Coverage. Associates must register for a minimum of 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 on a fee-for-service basis. 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. All students who purchase Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage (https://yalehealth.yale.edu/coverage/student-coverage/) are welcome to use specialty and ancillary services at Yale Health Center. Upon referral, Yale Health will cover the cost of specialty and ancillary services for these students. Students with an alternate insurance plan should seek specialty services from a provider who accepts their alternate insurance.

  1. Required immunizations and completion of Yale Health vaccination record

    All new students are required to complete these requirements by August 1, 2023. Please access the Incoming Student Vaccination Form for undergraduate students at https://yalehealth.yale.edu/new-undergraduate-student-forms. Once the form has been completed, the information must be entered into the Yale Vaccine Portal and all supporting documents must be uploaded to https://yale.medicatconnect.com/. The Yale Health Vaccination Record Form, which must be completed by a healthcare provider, addresses each of the following:

    1. COVID-19 vaccination: Effective May 15, 2023, COVID-19 vaccination for incoming (matriculating) students in 2023 is strongly encouraged as per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but not required. Students are asked to submit documentation of prior primary series vaccinations or bivalent boosters that they have received. Vaccination requirements remain in place for healthcare workers and trainees, including students who work in settings where patient care is provided, or those who work with human research subjects in clinical settings. Those individuals must submit documentation of vaccination with a primary series and one booster (or, for those who have not yet received a primary series, one bivalent dose of vaccine) to the university or seek approval for a medical or religious exemption. Yale will accept any combination of COVID-19 vaccines that have received full approval or Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have been issued Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by the World Health Organization (WHO). International students who do not have access to WHO or FDA-authorized or approved vaccines may be vaccinated at Yale Health on request. 

    2. Influenza vaccination: All students are required to have flu vaccination in the fall when it is made available to them by Yale Health.

    3. Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox) vaccinations: All full-time matriculated students are required to provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) regulations require two doses of the following vaccines:

      Measles vaccine. The first dose must have been given after the student’s first birthday. The second dose must have been administered at least 28 days after the first measles vaccination. In lieu of vaccination, the student may submit laboratory confirmation of a positive titer result (blood test to determine immunity).

      Mumps vaccine. The first dose must have been given after the student’s first birthday. The second dose must have been administered at least 28 days after the first mumps vaccination. In lieu of vaccination, the student may submit laboratory confirmation of a positive titer result (blood test to determine immunity).

      Rubella vaccine. The first dose must have been given after the student’s first birthday. The second dose must have been administered at least 28 days after the first rubella vaccination. In lieu of vaccination, the student may submit laboratory confirmation of a positive titer result (blood test to determine immunity).

      Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine. The first dose must have been given after the student's first birthday. The second dose must have been administered at least 28 days after the first varicella vaccination. In lieu of vaccination, the student may submit laboratory confirmation of a positive titer result (blood test to determine immunity), or documentation by a healthcare provider, of past varicella disease.

      Students who are not compliant with this CT State DPH regulation will not be permitted to register for classes or move into the dormitories for the fall term, 2023. This regulation applies to all students unless they present a completed CT State DPH Medical Waiver Form and a letter from a physician stating that such immunization is medically contraindicated. This medical exemption form applies to non-COVID vaccine waiver requests only (see above for COVID vaccine medical or religious waiver requests).

    4. Quadrivalent Meningococcal (meningitis) vaccination: All students living in on-campus housing must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. Students are required to provide documentation, by a clinician, of one quadrivalent meningitis vaccination administered within the last five years. The only vaccines that will be accepted in satisfaction of the meningitis vaccination requirement are ACWY Vax, Menveo, Nimenrix, Menactra, Mencevax, and Menomune.

      Students who are not compliant with this regulation will not be permitted to register for classes or move into the dormitories for the fall term, 2023. Please note that the state of Connecticut does not require this vaccine for students who intend to reside off-campus.

      This regulation applies to all students living on campus unless they present a fully completed CT State DPH Medical Waiver Form.

    5. Tuberculosis (TB) screening. All full-time matriculated students are required to provide documentation of a recent screening result and any other testing or treatment related to Tuberculosis if they currently reside in countries other than the United States or have traveled internationally within the past year.

B. Health coverage enrollment

The University requires all students eligible for Basic Student Health Services to have adequate hospital insurance coverage as well. Students may choose Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage or elect to waive the plan if they have other hospitalization coverage, such as coverage through a spouse or parent. The waiver must be renewed annually, and it is the student’s responsibility to 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 the Yale Health Student Handbook. Students are automatically enrolled and charged a fee each term on their Student Financial Services bill for Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Students with no break in coverage who are enrolled during both the fall and spring terms are billed each term and are 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. A student who is enrolled for the fall term only is covered for services through January 31; a student enrolled for the spring term only is covered for services through July 31.

    1. Waiving Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Students are permitted to waive Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage by completing an online waiver form. It is the student’s responsibility to report 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 must be 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 the age of 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 both Basic Student Health Services and Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Coverage is not automatic and enrollment is 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 leave of absence or extended study, or students paying less than half tuition may enroll in Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage, which includes services described in both 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.

C. Eligibility changes

  1. Withdrawal. A student who withdraws from the University during the first fifteen days of the term will be refunded the fee paid for Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. The student will not be eligible for any Yale Health benefits, and the student’s Yale Health membership will be terminated retroactive to the beginning of the term. The medical record will be reviewed, and any services rendered and/or claims paid will be billed to the student on a fee-for-service basis. At all other times, a student who withdraws from the University will be covered by Yale Health for thirty days following the date of withdrawal. Fees will not be prorated or refunded. Students who withdraw are not eligible to enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage. Regardless of enrollment in Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage, a student who withdraws from the University will have access to services available under Yale Health Basic Student Health Services (including Student Health, Athletic Medicine, Gynecology, Acute Care, Mental Health & Counseling, and Care Management) during these thirty days to the extent necessary for a coordinated transition of care.

  2. Leave of absence. Students who are granted a leave of absence are eligible to purchase Student Affiliate Coverage for up to one year. If the leave occurs on or before the first day of classes, Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will end retroactive to the start of the coverage period for the term. If the leave occurs any time after the first day of classes, Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will end on the day the Registrar is notified of the leave. In either case, students may enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage. Students must enroll in Affiliate Coverage prior to the beginning of the term unless the Registrar is notified after the first day of classes, in which case, the coverage must be purchased within thirty days of the date the Registrar was notified. Fees paid for Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will be applied toward the cost of Affiliate Coverage. Coverage is not automatic; enrollment forms are available at the Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the Yale Health website. Fees will not be prorated or refunded.