Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage
Students who are ineligible for Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage are eligible to enroll in Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage*. This enrollment is not automatic and optional only. The following students are ineligible for Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage and are eligible to enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage:
- Degree-candidate students who are no longer enrolled half-time or more or who are paying less than half of the term’s tuition
- Undergraduates in a junior-year-abroad program
- Students registered as special students in a degree-candidate program
- Students registered in absentia who are studying at another institution
- Students on a leave of absence
- Yale College students on a medical leave of absence see Undergraduate Affiliate Coverage
- Students enrolled in the MBA for Executives Program or the Broad Center MMS Program through the School of Management (SOM)
- Students enrolled in the Physician Assistant (PA) Online Program through the School of Medicine
- Students enrolled in the Executive MPH Program through the School of Public Health
- Students enrolled in the Master of Nursing Online Program through the School of Nursing
*Visiting Assistant Research, Non-Degree Students, and Visiting Scholars are not eligible for Student Affiliate Coverage. Please contact Member Services to understand what plans may be available to you.
Yale Health Student Affiliate Coverage is a comprehensive insurance plan that covers primary care, specialty care, emergencies, prescriptions, and more. The coverage matches that of Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage. Please review the Schedule of Benefits and Student Guide to understand what all is covered under this plan.
Funding may be available through your school’s financial aid office. Reach out to them directly to understand your options. For those who do not have funding, payment in full is required at the time of enrollment. See the Student Affiliate Coverage rates here.
If you are going on a leave of absence, visit our leave of absence page to understand how the timing of your leave impacts your health coverage.
Student Affiliate Coverage Dates
| Full Year | Fall Term | Spring Term | |
| Students eligible for Affiliate Coverage not on a leave of absence | *August 1st – July 31st | *August 1st – January 31st | *February 1st – July 31st |
*The start of the insurance term is determined by your status as a new or continuing student for that academic term. Continuing students start August 1st for the Fall term and February 1st for the Spring term. Contact Member Services to know your insurance term dates for new students
For students on a leave of absence:
| Date Registrar is Notified | Date Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage Terminates | Start Date of Undergraduate Affiliate Coverage, if Enrollment is Requested | End date for Fall Term | End Date for Spring Term |
| On or before the first day of classes | Coverage ends retroactively to the start of the insurance term* (Fall or Spring) | Coverage would begin at the start of the insurance term* | January 31st | July 31st |
| After the first day of classes | Coverage ends on the day the Registrar is notified of your Leave of Absence | Coverage would begin the day after Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage is terminated | January 31st | July 31st |
*The start of the insurance term is determined by your status as a new or continuing student for that academic term. Continuing students start August 1st for the Fall term and February 1st for the Spring term. Contact Member Services to know your insurance term dates for new students.
Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment Process and Deadlines
To enroll, complete the Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment Form and submit it to Member Services by the below deadline. If you are not eligible for funding, payment is required in full at the time of enrollment. Enrollment forms are accepted starting mid-June for the Fall term/full year and mid-November for the Spring term.
| Program/Student Type | Application Availability | Fall Term or Full Year | Spring Term |
| MBA for Executives Program Participants | Affiliate Coverage applications are available directly from the MBA for Executives Program and special enrollment deadlines apply | July 15th | January 15th |
| Broad Center MMS Program Participants | Affiliate Coverage applications are available directly from the Broad Center MMS Program and special enrollment deadlines apply | July 15th | January 15th |
| Physician Assistant Online Program Participants | Affiliate Coverage applications are available directly from the Physician Assistant Online Program and special enrollment deadlines apply | July 15th | January 15th |
| Executive MPH Program Participants | Affiliate Coverage applications are available directly from the Executive MPH Program and special enrollment deadlines apply | July 15th | January 15th |
| Master of Nursing Online Program Participants | Affiliate Coverage applications are available directly from the Master of Nursing Online Program and special enrollment deadlines apply | July 15th | January 15th |
| Degree-candidate students who are no longer enrolled half-time or more or who are paying less than half of the term’s tuition | Complete Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment form and return to Member Services | September 15th | January 31st |
| Undergraduates in a junior-year-abroad program | Complete Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment form and return to Member Services | September 15th | January 31st |
| Students registered as special students in a degree-candidate program | Complete Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment form and return to Member Services | September 15th | January 31st |
| Students registered in absentia who are studying at another institution | Complete Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment form and return to Member Services | September 15th | January 31st |
Students on a leave of absence *Yale College students on a medical leave of absence, see Undergraduate Affiliate Coverage | Complete Student Affiliate Coverage Enrollment form and return to Member Services | September 15th or 30 days from the date you apply for leave, whichever is later *Note: Students on a leave of absence can only enroll in Affiliate Coverage one semester at a time. You will need to re-enroll in the Spring. | January 31st or 30 days from the date you apply for leave, whichever is later |
Understanding If Student Affiliate Coverage Is Right For You
Some students who are eligible for Student Affiliate Coverage spend much of their time off-campus. While you are still eligible to enroll in this plan, it is important that you understand what coverage is available to you depending on where you will be spending your time.
Routine Care
Routine care, including primary and specialty care, is only covered at Yale Health or Yale Medicine/Yale New Haven Health with a valid, approved referral. Telehealth services may be available, however, you must physically be in the state of Connecticut to be seen via telehealth.
Prescriptions
The only in-network pharmacy is the Yale Health Pharmacy located at 55 Lock St. You can, however, fill prescriptions at an out-of-network pharmacy anywhere in the United States. If you choose to do this, you will pay out of pocket when picking up the prescription and can submit for reimbursement. If the medication is something that would normally be covered at the Yale Health Pharmacy, you will be reimbursed up to 80% of the cost of the medication. You can check to see if a medication is covered on our online Pharmacy formulary.
You can also have your prescriptions mailed to you through our mail order pharmacy, Prime Therapeutics. You can use their online portal to have prescriptions mailed to your doorstep. It can take time for prescriptions to be processed, filled, and shipped, so this is best for routine, non-urgent prescriptions.
Urgent & Emergency Care
Outside of Connecticut, you only have coverage for urgent and emergency care. This means that if you get sick or injured, you can visit any urgent care or emergency medical facility to receive services. Please contact the Yale Health Referrals department within 48 hours of an urgent or emergency care visit. Urgent care or walk-in clinic services received outside of Yale Health for non-emergent needs are not covered by this plan.
Travel Abroad
While outside of the United States, you only have coverage for urgent and emergency care. It is common for these facilities to require you to pay out of pocket up front for services. If that is the case, please keep your receipts to submit to us for reimbursement. If you received covered services in accordance with your plan rules, you will be reimbursed everything aside from your applicable copay.
Depending on the nature of your travel, you may have medical coverage available through the International SOS Global Travel Assistance University benefit. Reach out to them directly to understand your options.
FAQs
If I do not purchase Student Affiliate Coverage, do I still have access to Basic Student Health Services?
No, if you are not in a degree-seeking program enrolled half-time or more, you are not eligible for Basic Student Health Services nor Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage. Unless you purchase Student Affiliate Coverage, you can only use the Yale Health Center on a fee-for-service basis.
How do I know if I have funding to cover the cost of Student Affiliate Coverage?
You will have to contact your financial aid office directly to inquire about funding for Student Affiliate Coverage.
Why is enrollment not automatic for Student Affiliate Coverage?
If you are not a student enrolled half-time or more in a degree-seeking program, the University does not require that you purchase hospitalization coverage.
Can I enroll my dependents on Student Affiliate Coverage?
The deadline to enroll dependents who were not previously enrolled in your plan is September 15th for the fall term and January 31st for the spring term. If you enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage after these dates, your dependents must have been enrolled in your Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage to be eligible for enrollment in Student Affiliate Coverage. Enrolled dependents receive their coverage under the same conditions and restrictions as the student. Eligible dependents include:
- Any child under 26 years old who is the biologic or legally adopted child of the student or enrolled spouse/civil union partner
- A child for whom the student or enrolled spouse/civil union partner can provide proof of court-appointed guardianship or custody
- Lawfully married spouse
- Civil union partner
The deadline to enroll your dependents is the same as your deadline to enroll. You cannot enroll your dependents if you are not an enrolled member yourself.
If I enroll mid-term, is the cost prorated?
We do not prorate the cost for Student Affiliate Coverage; it is the same regardless of when you enroll. The only time cost is prorated is in the event of a newborn.
Students on a leave of absence: if you were enrolled in Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage and your leave was approved after the first day of classes, you are not eligible for a refund. However, if you enroll in Student Affiliate Coverage, the amount paid for Hospitalization & Specialty Care Coverage is applied to the cost of Student Affiliate Coverage.
Who do I contact if I have other questions or need support with enrolling?
You can contact Member Services or your Student Health Care Navigator for more support.