At the beginning of each academic year, students can either choose to waive the Penn State Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) by providing documentation of a comparable insurance plan through an online form. Students who do not currently have adequate coverage on or near campus are strongly encouraged to enroll in SHIP. This process ensures students have access to health insurance that meets their health care needs and that covers them on or near the Greater Allegheny campus.
All international students are required to purchase the Penn State Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or submit proof of health insurance coverage that meets the full set of requirements.
- All medical expenses incurred are the responsibility of the student.
- For further assistance, students may contact University Park at 814-865-7467
- Information about new and current insurance requirements may be found on the website at: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/SHIP/Waiver.
- A LionPATH insurance submission tutorial may be found at: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/sites/default/files/LionPATH_Insurance_Tutorial_2018.pdf
Public Assistance Programs
As many students may become under-resourced during this time, there may be state and federal assistance programs that can help them. Key questions to ask to determine if assistance programs may help:
- Do you have income or means to support yourself/your family?
- Do you have stable housing? Access to and resources to get food? Can you pay your utility bills?
- If you/your parents are recently unemployed, will you have health insurance?
If they have children, they may have access to special programs.
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Pennsylvania resident students can apply for assistance programs via the PA Compass website: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome
- Links for information on assistance programs offered through the PA Dept of Human Services:
- Healthcare/Medical Assistance:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps):
- Cash Assistance:
- Housing resources and Public housing:
- Heating assistance (closed for 2019-2020 season on 4-10-20):
- PA Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program:
- Resources for Energy/utilities bills:
- Here are some helpful links for out-of-state students (focused on states with higher PSU student populations):
- New Jersey: https://www.njhelps.org/
- New York: https://www.mybenefits.ny.gov/mybenefits/begin
- Maryland: https://mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us/dashboardClient/#/home
- Virginia: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/
- Ohio: https://benefits.ohio.gov/
- West Virginia: https://www.wvpath.org/ , https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1683 , https://www.welfareinfo.org/wv/
- Connecticut: https://connect.ct.gov/access/jsp/access/Home.jsp
- California: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services
- Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/topics/food-cash-assistance
- Florida: https://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
Students can be referred to the Student Insurance Advocate for help with finding programs in their state: Natahsha Gates, LSW | 814-865-3585 | [email protected]