Health & Counseling Services
Art by Chenwei Xu
Students covered under the SVA sponsored health insurance plan: Cigna/ Wellfleet, the insurance company, has informed it will cover student member costs for COVID-19 testing at an In-Network facility, including emergency room, urgent care and office visits. They’ll waive all out of pocket expenses (co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance).
Free and confidential counseling services at SVA
Matriculated undergraduate and graduate students may request to make an appointment* with one of SVA's licensed therapists. This service is provided at no cost.
*Our appointments are online-only for Fall 2020. Appointments take place between the hours of 9 am-3 pm (Eastern Standard Time/U.S.)
SVA does not have any medical services
SVA does not have any medical services or an infirmary. If a student is feeling sick, there are urgent walk-in clinics around the SVA area. Urgent walk-in clinics do not require an appointment. Please review the Map of Medical Facilities on the bottom of this page, located under 'Resources'.
Waiving/removing the health insurance fee - Fall 2020
Students already covered under their own health insurance plan: please take the time to find out if your insurance plan will provide adequate network coverage in New York City.
All students, new and returning to SVA (i.e., sophomore, junior, senior year) are billed annually for the Cigna insurance plan.
The line item on the tuition bill is noted as 'health insurance fee' .
A health insurance waiver must be submitted every academic year in order for the health insurance fee to be removed from the tuition bill.
Once the waiver is submitted by the student/parent/guardian and approved, it may take a billing cycle for the fee to be removed.
The insurance waiver is available at sva.edu/uhp. The deadline to submit a waiver is November 1.
Other important items to note regarding waiving the fee
- Students cannot remove the health insurance by writing to SVA administrative offices (this includes the Health & Counseling office and Student Accounts).
- The insurance fee is not removed by calling SVA administrative offices and requesting to have it removed.
- Crossing off the health insurance line item on the tuition bill does not communicate to Student Accounts or Health and Counseling that you wish to opt out of the insurance.
- If SVA does not have a waiver on file, submitting tuition payment without the health insurance fee will not remove the fee.
24/7 emotional support
NYC WELL is a free mental-health support resource. NYC Well offers English, Spanish or Mandarin speakers and has access for translators in about 200 languages.
- Call 1.888.NYC.WELL (1.888.692.9355)
- Text "WELL" to 65173
- Chat online
The Samaritans organization operates a confidential hotline when you need someone to talk to. Call 212.673.3000.
Crisis Text Line offers free, around-the-clock support. Text "HOME" to 741741.
International crisis numbers
Suicide Hotlines in China
National Suicide Hotline:400-161-9995
Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center Hotline
Hotline: Free: 0800-810-1117 Hotline: Mobile/IP/extension users: 010-8295-1332
Website: crisis.org.cn
Lifeline Shanghai
Hotline: (021) 63798990 Website: lifelineshanghai.com
Crisis hotline in Israel
"ERAN" (-ï"øò) Hotline: 1201 Hotline: Tel from abroad: 972-9-8891333
Website: 1201.org.il/
Suicide Hotlines in Japan
Befrienders International, Tokyo
Hotline: +81 (0) 3 5286 9090 Website: www1.odn.ne.jp/~ceq16010
BI Suicide Prevention Centre, Osaka
Hotline: +81 (0) 6 4395 4343 Website: spc-osaka.org
Tokyo English Lifeline
5-4 22 rm 302, Minami Aoyama Minao Ku 107-0062 TOKYO
Hotline: Counselling: 03 5774 0992 Hotline: Face to Face: 03 3498 0231 Website: telljp.com
Crisis Hotlines in India
Befrienders India - National Association
c/o Sneha, 11 Park View Road R.A.Puram 600 028 Chennai
Website: befriendersindia.org
Lifeline Foundation
17/1A Alipore Road Sarat Bose Road 700 027 KOLKATA
Hotline: +91 33 2474 4704 Hotline: +91 33 2474 5886
Hotline: 2474 5255 Website: education.vsnl.com/n4h/
ROSHNI
1-8-303/48/21 Kalavathy Nivas, Sindhi Colony S.P. Road 500003 A.P.
SECUNDERABAD Hotline: +91 40 7904646 E-mail Helpline: help@roshnihyd.org
The Samaritans Sahara
Sir J-J. Road Byculla Bridge 400 008 MUMBAI
Hotline: +91-22-2307 3451 Website: mumbainet.com/health/samarita.htm
Suicide Hotline in Singapore
Samaritans of Singapore
Block 10, Cantonment Close #01-01 80010
Hotline: 1800- 221 4444
Website: samaritans.org.sg/
Crisis/Suicide/Helplines in South Korea
Counsel24
Counsel24 provides 24-hour counselling and mental health support for people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 1566-2525
Lifeline Korea
Lifeline Korea offers 24-hour telephone service to people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 1588-9191
Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling
Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling offers 24-hour service to people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 1577-0199
Ministry of Health & Welfare Call Center
Ministry of Health & Welfare Call Center offers 24-hour service to people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 129
Crisis Lines in Canada:
Nationwide suicide prevention and support network.
The website can be viewed in both English and French.
Opening hours: 24/7.
Call: 1 833 456 4566.
https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/crisis-centres/canadian-crisis-centres/ - List of Canadian crisis lines by region/providence
Crisis Lines by Country or Region:
https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ - lists crisis line information for different countries and regions across the world
http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html - another list of crisis lines by region or country
Students returning to SVA from a medical leave
Students looking to return from a medical leave of absence must have a Certificate of Readiness form completed by a licensed clinician, ideally 1-2 months before a student's intended return. The form is available at the bottom of this page under 'Resources'. It may be e-mailed directly to health@sva.edu.
SVA-sponsored health insurance plan - Cigna
Students (new and returning) are automatically enrolled and billed in the SVA sponsored health insurance plan, Cigna PPO. The insurance runs the full academic year, from August 25, 2020-August 24, 2021.
Wellfleet will be e-mailing students at their SVA account information on how to download their insurance card in August.
SVA Student Health Form
The SVA Student Health Form is required of all students looking to register for classes. The form is available on the bottom of this page under 'Resources'.
- Step 1- Meningitis Response - to be completed by the Student.
- Step 2 - Measles, Mumps Rubella vaccinations - to be completed a doctor. If you have a record of your Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccinations (also known as MMR), you may skip Step 2 and email a picture of your medical record displaying MMR vaccinations.
Students with medical or religious exemptions - please read page 2 of the SVA Student Health Form for further information.
If you have previously attended SVA or submitted a health form for SVA's Pre-College Summer program, please e-mail health@sva.edu to inquire.
Health insurance waiver deadline
All incoming students are billed annually for the Cigna insurance plan.
The line item on the tuition bill is noted as 'health insurance fee' .
Students already covered under their own health insurance plan: please take the time to find out if your insurance plan will provide adequate network coverage in New York City.
If this is the case, a health insurance waiver must be submitted every academic year in order for the health insurance fee to be removed from the tuition bill.
Once the waiver is submitted by the student/parent/guardian and approved, it may take a billing cycle for the fee to be removed.
The insurance waiver is available at sva.edu/uhp. The deadline to submit a waiver is November 1.
Important information about the waiver for Fall 2020 only
Due to classes being held online for Fall 2020, SVA will make an exception for students who want to waive out of the school-sponsored insurance plan with a plan that does not match SVA's waiver requirements.
Students that have insurance/health coverage in their own country or state may apply to waive out of the Fall 2020 SVA-sponsored health insurance plan ($1,380) with this Online Waiver Form
Other important items to note regarding waiving the fee
- Students cannot remove the health insurance by writing to SVA administrative offices (this includes the Health & Counseling office and Student Accounts).
- The insurance fee is not removed by calling SVA administrative offices and requesting to have it removed.
- Crossing off the health insurance line item on the tuition bill does not communicate to Student Accounts or Health and Counseling that you wish to opt out of the insurance.
- If SVA does not have a waiver on file, submitting tuition payment without the health insurance fee will not remove the fee.
Community of Mental Health Resources
A list of therapists and psychiatrists outside of SVA is available for download at the bottom of this page under “Resources.”
Cigna PPO FAQ
How Do I Create an Account to Download My Health Insurance Card?
Students enrolled in the SVA health insurance plan receive emails from Wellfleet along with the SVA Health and Counseling Services office at the start of the semester. E-mail notifications inform students to create an account with Wellfleet to access the insurance card.
Please review the below video for instructions on how to create an account.
Credit: WellfleetHow to Create an AccountHow Do I Log in to My Account to View My Card or Claims?
If you have already setup a Wellfleet account, you may login to download a copy of your insurance card and view your claims.
Credit: WellfleetLogging Into Your AccountWhat Should I Bring When I Go to an Urgent Care Clinic or Doctor’s Office?
Students should bring a form of identification (driver's license or passport) along with a copy of their health insurance card (a screenshot or a physical card).
What Is the Name of SVA’s Health Insurance Plan?
The name of the insurance plan is Cigna PPO (Note: the insurance name is not called Wellfleet).
- It is an accidental injury and sickness plan.
- It does not cover dental (teeth) or vision.
- It is a school-sponsored insurance plan, so students may need to inform the clinician/doctor's office of this before an appointment is made. There's a group number on the card you may need to offer as well: ST0654SH.
Community of Mental Health Providers
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New York, NY 10010