Aetna Student Health
Several schools near our office offer student health insurance through Aetna Student Health, including Columbia, Barnard, and NYU. Morningside is in network with Aetna Student Health.
These student plans usually have one rule that matters most: get a referral from your campus health service before your visit. According to each school's 2026–27 plan documents:
- Columbia (including Teachers College): you need a referral from Columbia Health or CUIMC Student Health before seeing a clinician outside campus. Without one, the visit is paid at the out-of-network level.
- Barnard: for visits to medical specialists in New York City, referrals from Barnard's Primary Care Health Service are required for the plan to pay at its highest level.
- NYU: referrals are required for care in Manhattan outside the Student Health Center, with some exceptions, such as when the health center is closed.
If you're not sure whether you need one, call your campus health service or the number on your card before you book.
Do you need a referral with an employer plan?
It depends on your plan type. According to Aetna's plan definitions:
- Open Choice PPO: no primary care provider and no referrals needed. It also covers some care outside the network at a higher cost.
- Open Access plans, including Open Access Managed Choice: you can go directly to network specialists without a referral.
- HMO and Managed Choice POS plans: you choose a primary care provider, and you generally need a referral to see a specialist, except for OB-GYN care.
Your member ID card shows your plan name. If you're not sure, call the number on the back.
Aetna Medicare Advantage
Morningside is in network with Aetna Medicare Advantage plans. Rules for referrals and costs depend on your plan, so check your plan documents or call the number on your card. To compare Medicare plans, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Same-day and telehealth visits
New and returning patients can book same-day visits whenever we're open. We treat sudden illnesses and minor injuries, and we offer labs and ultrasound at our office. You can also see a clinician by telehealth.
Care you can get with Aetna
- Same-day care: sore throats, urinary tract infections, rashes, minor injuries, and more.
- Primary care: annual physicals, preventive screenings, vaccines, and care for ongoing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Rheumatology: arthritis, lupus, gout, and autoimmune conditions.
- Women's health: well-woman visits and birth control, including IUDs and implants.
- Pediatrics: care for infants, children, and teens.
Where to find us
Our office is a short walk from the 116th St subway.
Service areas: Upper Manhattan, including Harlem, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, and Inwood; the Upper East Side above 90th Street; and the South Bronx. Spanish translation is available.
How to book with Aetna
- Check your plan. Call the member services number on the back of your card, or your campus health service if you're a student, to see whether you need a referral.
- Book your visit. Book online for an in-person, telehealth, or same-day appointment.
- Bring your card. Bring your Aetna member ID card, your referral if you have one, a list of your medications, and any recent test results.