Primary Care

Medical Services provides a full range of health care services on campus, including the following:

  • Acne care
  • Cold and virus care
  • Allergy desensitization shots
  • Men’s health
  • Women’s health
  • Transgender health
  • STI testing
  • Travel assessments and medication
  • Tobacco cessation
  • Vaccinations
  • Laboratory tests
  • Nutrition services
  • Wart removal
  • Weight management

If you are enrolled in the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan, your primary care provider is your Columbia Health Medical Services or Counseling and Psychological Services clinician. Students can schedule an appointment with their Columbia Health primary care provider to receive any of these services.

Telehealth consultations

Students who are on campus or in New York State can also schedule telehealth appointments instead of an in-person appointment through the Patient Portal or by calling 212-854-7426.

If you are currently outside of New York State, please call 212-854-7426 so our health services assistants can help schedule an appointment with one of our providers or facilitate a referral to a telehealth provider licensed in your state.

Radiology Services

X-rays and other types of diagnostic imaging are usually performed at near by imaging centers. The cost to the student depends on their insurance coverage.

Insurance Coverage

Medical Services serves as the primary care provider which covers all visits, including urgent and routine care, for all students who carry the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan and also for all students who have paid the full Columbia Health and Related Services Fee. There is no limit to the frequency or total number of on-campus medical visits.

For visits to outside specialists, students should arrange a consultation with their primary care provider, who may offer a referral. Outside specialists within the Aetna network, if needed, are covered under the Columbia Plan. A referral is required for all visits to outside providers and is required in advance of the visit, so plan accordingly.

To obtain a referral, students should schedule an appointment to be evaluated by their primary care physician. Referrals are written at the discretion of providers at the time of the visit, based on medical condition. Students who have their own medical insurance will be covered for medical services as determined by their individual carrier.