Services for Dependents

You may be coming to Cornell with a family. Members of your family will have their own health issues and will need to receive medical care while in Ithaca. Below is some information designed to assist with establishing connections and handling issues as the arise.

Read special information for spouses/partners of students. Information about child dependents and same sex partners is provided below.

Insurance matters

Most international students at Cornell receive their health insurance through the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This coverage can also be purchased for the spouses/partners or child dependents of the enrolled student. Talk with the Office of Student Health Insurance for more information.

Services for spouses and/or same-sex partners and children

Gannett offers medical services for your spouse or same-sex partner. If you have children, we recommend that you identify a pediatrician in the area to be their primary care provider. Our staff can help you locate a pediatrician in Ithaca.  

Finding a Pediatrician

A list of physicians is available at the Cornell Office of Student Health Insurance and in the Yellow Pages of the  Ithaca phone book. You may also wish to consult the pediatricians noted in Cayuga Medical Center's list of medical providers.

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Health resources for women and children

The Tompkins County Heath Department provides several services for women and children including: 

• Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Program: provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to community services for low-income pregnant and post-partum women, and their children who are under five years of age. Breastfeeding support also is available.  Call 607 274-6644 for more information.
• Immunization Clinics: Children ages six weeks to 18 years may receive at no charge, routine childhood immunizations: DPT(diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis), Polio, Hib (Haemophilus influenza type B), Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR, (measles, mumps, reubella), Pneumococcal Prevnar, Td (tetanus, diphtheria), varicella (chickenpox). Call 607-274-6644 for clinic dates and locations.
• Medicaid Obstetrical and Maternal Services(MOMS): Women and teens who are pregnant and do not have insurance that will cover the full cost of their pregnancy, and who meet certain income guidelines can receive complete medical care during pregnancy, delivery, and for at least two months after delivery. The program provides assistance in obtaining a physician, accessing Medicaid, WIC and other community services and programs. You may be eligible even if you have health insurance. Call 607 274-6622 for more information.
• Children with Special Care Needs (CSCN):  It is the goal of CSCN to ensure family access to comprehensive, appropriate, family-centered, community-based services which focus on the child's individual needs related to physical disabilities or developmental delays. Call 607-274-6644 for information.

New York State Special Health Coverage

• NY State's Health Care Coverage for Uninsured Children and Teens
  New York State provides health insurance to children through Medicaid and Child Health Plus. In order to be eligible for enrollment, a child must be under the age of 19, a resident of the State of New York, and a U.S. citizen. Whether a child qualifies for Child Health Plus or Medicaid depends on family income. Children who are not eligible for Medicaid can enroll in Child Health Plus if they don't have other health insurance and are not eligible for coverage under the public employees' state health benefits plan.
  
  A child born in the U.S. (regardless of the parents' immigration status) is considered a U.S. citizen and may be eligible for this program. However, eligibility criteria for children born elsewhere are more complicated. The majority of Cornell's international students and their dependents are here on non-immigrant visas (e,g, "F" or "J") and therefore not eligible for Medicaid and Child Health Plus unless they are in the process of applying for permanent resident status.
  
  Because eligibility is complex, we encourage you to call the Mothers and Babies Agency directly in order to understand more fully how this program may (or may not) be of service to your family: 1-800-231-0744
  
• NY State's Health Care Coverage for Uninsured Adults
  Family Health Plus is New York State's public health insurance program for adults age 19-64 who do not have health insurance coverage either on their own or through their employer, but have incomes or resources too high to qualify for Medicaid.  Family Health Plus is available to single adults, couples without children, and parents with limited income who are residents of New York State, and are U.S. citizens or fall under certain immigration categories.  (The majority of Cornell's international students are here on non-immigrant visas (e.g., "F" or "J") and therefore are not eligible for Family Health Plus.) 
  
  Family Health Plus provides comprehensive coverage, including prevention, primary care, hospitalization, prescriptions and other services. There are minimal co-payments for some Family Health Plus services. Health care is provided through participating managed care plans in your area.
  
  Because eligibility is complex, we encourage you to call the Mothers and Babies Agency at 1-800-231-0744 or the Tompkins County Department of Social Services at 607-274-5252 in order to understand more fully how this program may (or may not) be of service to you or others in your family.