Bursar/Student Accounts

About the Program

After considerable thought and careful review, SUNY Cortland adopted a new policy in 2006-07 requiring all full-time undergraduate students to have adequate health insurance coverage.

This program transitioned to a "hard waiver" process in 2007-08, which means all full time undergraduate students will be billed the cost of single-premium health insurance for the fall and spring semesters, respectively. The charge will be waived upon verification of existing coverage through an online, Web-based process.

Cost

Rates listed are those for 2007-08. The rates for 2008-09 have not yet been negotiated but an increase of between 3% and 10% is expected.

Important Points

Please note that the details listed below were in effect for the 2007-08 academic year. Some aspects of the program may change for the 2008-09 academic year.

• The rate for the fall semester will be included on all bills sent to full-time undergraduate students. Part-time undergraduates and all graduate students (with at least six credit hours) may opt to enroll in the health insurance plan.
  
  
• To remove a charge, a student must request a waiver from our provider, Aetna Student Health. This waiver request MUST be done online via Banner Web (Student Accounts, Waiver Requests, Health Insurance) The ability to access the waiver portion of Aetna Student Health's web site will be available for fall waivers starting on or abount July 17, 2008 and will be available for spring 2009 waivers (for students not charged in fall 2008) starting on or about Dec. 10, 2008. The last day to submit a waiver request for fall 2008 will be on or about Oct. 13, 2008.
  
  
• If a waiver is granted, the student's charges will be reduced by placement of a waiver (reduced charge). The waiver will not appear in real-time. If approved, it will take between 24-72 "business" hours for the reduction to appear on a student's account. Please note: a new semester bill will NOT be generated. Instead, a student should monitor his/her account to ensure the reduced charge appears and payment should be adjusted accordingly.
  
  
• If an online waiver is denied, the student will receive a message to that effect and may appeal the waiver denial. Appeals should be forwarded to the Student Accounts office.
  
  
• Students will be allowed to file only one waiver or one enrollment request. If the attempt to complete the waiver online is unsuccessful, contact Aetna Student Health for assistance at (866) 396-2573. Please do not contact Aetna Student Health until the waiver site is available!
  
  
• Waivers need to be filed once each academic year. Students who waive insurance in the fall will not be charged for health insurance on their spring semester bill.
  
  
• Students who fail to file a waiver by the last date to waive will be responsible for payment of the health insurance charge. 
  
  
• Last day to waive for fall 2007 will be on or about Oct. 13, 2008. Last day to waive for spring 2009 will be on or about March 30, 2009 (for stuednts not charged in fall 2008). Waivers are unavailable after these dates.
  
  
• Important! Waivers are for the academic year.  This means that undergraduate students enrolled for the fall semester who are eligible to waive insurance and who will continue on for spring semester must process their waiver during the fall waiver period.  The spring waiver period is only for 2classes of students:  1.) Those students who commence/resume study for the spring semester; 2.) Those students who were enrolled less than full-time (12 or more hours) during the fall who are full-time for spring;  

• Please note that the Student Health Insurance should not be confused with the Student Health Service Fee. The Student Health Service Fee supports the operations and activities of the on-campus Student Health Center. 
  
  
• Students with six to 11 credit hours may choose to voluntarily enroll in the SUNY Cortland Student Health Insurance Plan by enrolling directly with Aetna Student Health. Coverage for domestic partners and dependent children is also available directly from Aetna Student Health.
  
  
• In accordance with NCAA regulations, Cortland athletic team members must show proof of coverage at or before their initial team practice. Athletes who need to utilize the SUNY Cortland Health Insurance Plan, who have responded to their semester bill by confirming their attendance and/or making payment on their semester bill, may contact Aetna Student Health at www.aetnastudenhealth.com or (866) 396-2573 for instructions on obtaining a health insurance ID card. Student Health Service may also provide temporary ID cards for in-person pickup only.
  
  
• Inbound international F-1 visa holders, international exchange students, and those enrolled in study abroad programs must meet SUNY’s minimum standards for health insurance coverage and may be required to purchase the SUNY Board of Trustees mandated plan. Be sure to contact the International Programs Office for specific requirements. OAP students may be responsible for waiving out of the SUNY Cortland Plan if picking up the SUNY International Students Health Insurance Plan. Waivers out of the SUNY mandatory International Student Health Insurance Plan are separate and handled through the International Programs Office.
  
  
• The refunding of an insurance charge for a student who drops from full to part time during the official add/drop period is a manual transaction. Student Accounts must receive a written request within 10 days of status change. Student Accounts will verify with Chickering whether or not an insurance claim has been filed. No refund will be given if any insurance claims have been made. Refunds will not be made until claim verification has been received from Aetna Student Health.
  
  
• If a student goes from part-time to full-time status during the official add/drop period, the insurance charge will be automatically added to the student’s bill. The student is then responsible for waiving the insurance within the required time period if they have coverage under another plan.
  
  

• Students who have a qualifying life event should contact the Student Accounts Office as this may provide an additional opportunity to either enter the program past the last date for voluntary enrollment, or provide pro-ration of premiums if the student’s coverage is either resumed or suspended due to the QLE during the academic year.

  What is a Qualifying Life Event?

  A Qualifying Life Event is an event defined by the Internal Revenue Service in Section 125 that allows you to change your FSA election. QLEs include:

  1.      - Change in your legal marital status (i.e., marriage, legal separation, divorce, or death of your spouse)

  2.      - Change in your number of tax dependents

  3.      - Birth or date you adopt a child, or placement for adoption

  4.      - Death of a dependent

  5.      - Change in your dependent's eligibility (for example, your child reaches age 13 where he/she is no longer eligible under a DCFSA)

  6.      - Change in child care/elder care provider or cost or coverage, such as a significant cost increase charged by your current daycare provider, or a change in your daycare provider. This applies to a DCFSA only. It does NOT apply to a HCFSA or LEX HCFSA.

  7.      - Change in employment status (for employee, spouse, or employee’s dependent) that affects eligibility for health insurance benefits

  Note: A dependent is anyone you claim on your Federal Income Tax return or someone who jointly files a Federal Income Tax return with you.