Email this pageHealth Matters
Immunization Requirements
New York State Public Health Law #2165 requires all full-time and part-time (enrolled for at least six credit hours per semester or four credit hours per quarter) students born on or after January 1, 1957 attending a college or university in New York State provide documentation of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella before they can attend college in New York. New York State Public Health Law #2167 requires colleges and universities to provide information about meningococcal meningitis (also called meningococcal disease) and vaccine availability to students.
In addition to the New York State requirements, the University of Rochester requires all full-time students to receive a tetanus/diphtheria (Td) immunization. The tuberculin skin test (PPD) is required for students from countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis (see list of countries.) Students entering specific programs (e.g., health professions) may have additional requirements.
University Health Service (UHS)
University Health Service (UHS) provides a full range of confidential, high quality primary health care services for full-time students and other members of the University community.
Full-time students participate in the Student Health Program, which covers primary care visits to UHS, time-limited therapy at the University Counseling Center (UCC), and health promotion services. Employees and other members of the University community can choose a UHS physician as their primary care provider and come to UHS for their personal health care. UHS also provides health care services for employees through its Occupational Health Program. All visits to UHS are confidential.
UHS has offices on the River Campus, in the Medical Center, and at the Eastman School of Music
Mandatory Health Fee
All full-time students pay a mandatory health fee which covers the cost of visits made to UHS. This fee will appear on your electronic billing statement. Fully-funded students will see the charge for mandatory health fee on their billing statements as well as a credit applied through fellowship awards.
Health Insurance
All full-time students are also required to have health insurance coverage. You can enroll in the BlueCross/BlueShield (BC/BS) insurance offered through UHS or remain on your own or your parent's or spouse's insurance. Health insurance covers services the student health fee does not cover such as laboratory tests, X-rays, hospitalization and surgery. International students are required to enroll in the University's insurance plan. If you have comparable coverage by some other U.S. company, the insurance fee may be waived. Fellowship awards cover the cost of a single BC/BS policy for fully funded doctoral students. Coverage is for a 12-month period beginning September 1 of each year.
UHS also offers additional coverage for students who wish to enroll a spouse/partner and/or other dependents in a Family Insurance Contract.
Each year, every full-time student must submit a Health Insurance Options online form to UHS. Students who waive the UR Standard Plan Insurance offered through UHS also must provide information about their insurance coverage on the Options Form by selecting the Waiver Plan option and documenting equivalent insurance coverage. Students covered under a parent's policy who fail to request the Waiver Plan will be covered automatically by the Standard Plan policy and must pay the Standard Plan fee because the University will have incurred the expense of the duplicate coverage.
