Yale University has asked students to remain away from the Yale campus for the remainder of the spring semester. We hope that you and your families remain safe and healthy during this time. The information on this page and the associated links should help you navigate your health during this unusual time.

Yes, you can use this coverage remotely subject to the following conditions:

• Urgent and emergency care, as defined in the Student Handbook and including COVID-19, continues to be covered worldwide.
• Yale Health is temporarily expanding coverage for visits with non-Yale Health providers for non-emergent, medically necessary care. This provision would include coverage for medically necessary care for newly acquired medical conditions, including COVID-19, as well as for chronic conditions and prenatal and labor and delivery care. Prior to booking an appointment, you must:

1. Contact Student Health at 203-432-0312 for guidance regarding whether the care you are requesting falls under the expansion of coverage. If possible, have the name of the provider, facility address, phone and fax number on hand.
2. Wait for approval from our Referrals Department before booking an appointment.

• Coverage is not guaranteed, based on the terms of your Yale Health Plan contract as well as determination of medical necessity and time sensitivity.
• Final decision about coverage is made after the visit when we have documentation from your healthcare provider.

1. Do not assume that any visits/studies/equipment prescribed by your outside provider are subsequently covered. You must call Student Health to discuss these recomendations and allow us to determine whether they are medically necessary and time sensitive.

• Preventive and elective visits with non-Yale Health providers are not covered. If you are unclear how preventive or elective care is defined or feel such care is medically necessary and cannot be postponed, you may call Student Health.
• International students, please contact Student Health with any questions.
• For additional information, please refer to the “COVID-19 Health Care for Students Away From Campus” announcement and the Student Health Coverage page.

• In all cases, you should give providers all of your insurance coverage information to allow determination of which plan is primary.
• If Yale Health is your primary insurance, we will make the first determination about coverage.
• If Yale Health is primary but we deny coverage for a given service, you can explore coverage through your other insurance.

Two federal laws govern privacy of student health information. The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulate communication of private health information to ensure your privacy. You can designate another person to receive your protected health information or to ask questions on your behalf, but you must give written permission, with a Designation of Patient Spokesperson form. For more information, call Yale Health’s Health Information Management Department at 203-432-0062.

• If you are currently receiving care from Yale Health Mental Health and Counseling, please contact your clinician at 203-432-0290 to develop a plan for care while you are away from campus.
• If you are not receiving care from a clinician at Yale Health Mental Health and Counseling, please contact Mental Health and Counseling at 203-432-0290 for advice and options.

Yale Health offers a self-service option for getting a copy of your member ID card.

• To ensure an adequate supply of medication, the Yale Health Pharmacy will authorize early medication refills for most maintenance medications (excluding controlled substances). If you have less than 50 days of your medication on hand, call the Pharmacy at 203-432-0033.
• We recommend using Magellan Rx Home for mail delivery of your maintenance medications. Magellan will apply your benefit automatically so there will be no need for a claim form. You will pay only your copayment for your prescription.
• To avoid unnecessary trips to the Yale Health facility, we will temporarily modify our reimbursement practices for use of non-Yale Health pharmacies.From now through July 31, 2020, you can fill your prescriptions at any pharmacy, pay for them at the time of service, and then complete a claim form to receive reimbursement for the cost of the medication less your regular copayment. You can electronically submit your claim for reimbursement of outside pharmacy expenses, you will need your member ID number and the Yale Health RxBIN#017449; or use the paper Pharmacy Claim Form.

The community transmission of COVID-19 is continuing locally, in the region, and in the United States. Do your part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It’s critical to minimize the number of people who get seriously ill at the same time. If too many people get sick all at once, this will put too much of a burden on our health care system. If that happens, people at highest risk — people over 60, and those with underlying health conditions may not be able to get the care they need if they get seriously ill.

Students who live in residence halls and communal housing should take these steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Stay calm. Remember that when young adults get sick with COVID-19, they almost always have mild symptoms.
• Wash your hands. Good handwashing hygiene is even more important for people living in close proximity. Use soap and water, scrub for 20 seconds and dry your hands. Repeat often.
• Don’t touch your face. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes, unless you have just washed your hands.
• Clean your room and bathroom daily. Use a disinfectant to clean high-touch surfaces regularly, such as door handles, light switches, remotes and phones.
• Practice social distancing. Maintain a 6-foot distance from others. Avoid parties and get-togethers. Use platforms like FaceTime and Zoom to stay connected with friends and colleagues.
• Do not shake hands or hug.
• Limit travel to essentials—groceries, pharmacy, medical care. Abide by state requirements and follow these CDC guidelines for Running Essential Errands.
• Use cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Wearing cloth face coverings is an additional public health measure people should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. CDC still recommends that you stay at least 6 feet away from other people (social distancing), frequent hand cleaning and other everyday preventive actions. 
• Minimize contact with others who may be ill or carrying COVID-19, including those in your household.
• Monitor your health at home and watch for symptoms. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever (99.9°F/37.8°C or higher). Watch for cough or trouble breathing.

If somebody you live withg develops symptoms of COVID-19 infection:

• That person should stay home, self-isolate and avoid contact with others, and follow the advice on the If you have COID-19 symptoms of COVID-19 or Tested Postitive for COVID-19 page.
• If sharing a bathroom and/or kitchen is unavoidable, create a schedule so that the ill person is able to use the bathroom and kitchen alone, and then disinfect before housemates use the same space.