Cornell Health does not provide services for children of students, with the exception of our pharmacy and travel services. However, we hope the following information is helpful to parents who are studying on Cornell’s Ithaca campus.
We also encourage you to refer to Cornell’s Students with Families website and the Graduate School’s Students with Partners and Families information for more helpful resources.
Support for parents
Students who are also parents have unique challenges and stressors that may affect their health and well-being. When you visit Cornell Health for your own health care needs, don’t hesitate to let your providers know you’re a parent so they can be sensitive to that dimension of your life.
If you need help coping with the competing demands of school and family, our Mental Health Care services can help. More resources for support are available on the Mental Health at Cornell website.
Finding a pediatrician
Cornell’s Students with Families website lists options and contact information for Ithaca-area pediatricians on their Medical Care page. Or, if your family is enrolled in Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP), use Aetna’s DocFind service.
Health insurance for dependents
Students who are enrolled in Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP), Dental Plan, and/or Vision Plan may enroll eligible dependents, including children. Learn more about enrolling dependents on Cornell’s Student Health Benefits website. Student Health Benefits staff members can advise you on other coverage options for dependents, and help you pick a plan that best fits your family’s needs.
You may also visit the New York State of Health website (NY State's health insurance marketplace), or contact the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County for information about private insurance options in the Ithaca area.
Other community resources
Tompkins County Whole Health provides a number of services for families with children, including:
- Immunization information and clinics
- Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Program for low-income pregnant and post-partum women, and their children who are under five years of age
- Medicaid Obstetrical and Maternal Services (MOMS) for 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
- Children with Special Care Needs (CSCN) for children with physical disabilities or developmental delays
New York State provides resources to help working families make ends meet (including links to information about nutrition programs, tax filing assistance, job placement services, and more). Visit the Governor's Resources Page for Working Families.