Columbia University Health Services

Welcome to New York! We know you may have questions about how to handle health concerns here, and it can be challenging to understand the way health care is provided in the US. As a first step, it is important to talk with a student affairs advisor at your school or an advisor at the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to discuss your eligibility for enrollment in the Health Service Program and the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan . Certain requirements or restrictions may apply depending on the visa-type you have and your designated status at Columbia (self-funded student, funded student, exchange student, visiting scholar, etc.).

If you are enrolled in the Health Service Program , you may make an appointment to see a provider in Primary Care Medical Services or a clinician at Counseling and Psychological Services . Clinicians and other professional staff members can provide advice and help with many kinds of health issues, both serious and routine. We are happy to answer questions by phone or to meet with you to talk about more complex issues. Remember that we follow professional standards for protecting the confidentiality of students’ health information.

Other sections of this website provide important background information about the services we provide through the Health Service Program and about the medical insurance plan that Columbia offers. We encourage you to become familiar with the health resources available to you both on-and off-campus.

Health Library