Mandatory Health Insurance for College Students Guide

As a college student, navigating the world of health insurance can be overwhelming, but it's a crucial step in ensuring you're covered in case of emergencies.

Some colleges require students to have health insurance, while others offer it as an optional benefit. This is often determined by the college's size and location.

If your college requires health insurance, you'll likely receive information about the specific plan and coverage options. Be sure to review the details carefully to understand what's included and what's not.

Typically, college health insurance plans cover essential services like doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medication.

Mandatory health insurance is a requirement for many college students. This means that students in certain groups must have health insurance, or the university will charge them for it.

Some universities, like Georgia Tech, require health insurance for students in specific groups, such as graduate students receiving a tuition waiver, international students, and students in certain programs that require proof of health insurance.

If you're a student in one of these groups, the university will charge you for the premium, which is usually due by the fee deadline for the term. You'll then need to enroll in the university's health insurance plan, which is usually provided by a company like United Health Care Student Resources.

Not all universities require health insurance for all students, but some, like USC Columbia, require it for all students, including undergraduates taking six hours or more and graduate students taking six hours or more.

If you're a student who's required to have health insurance, be aware that the university's plan is usually the only in-network plan for medical and mental health services. This means that if you don't have the university's plan, you may have to pay out-of-network costs for some services.

Here are some universities that require health insurance for certain students:

It's also worth noting that some universities, like USC Columbia, offer a waiver option for students who have comparable health insurance through a family member or employer. However, this waiver must be completed annually and usually has a deadline, such as the second Friday in October for the fall semester.

If you're already covered by a comparable insurance policy, you can waive the student insurance. Students who fall into mandatory groups but are already covered by a comparable policy can submit a waiver request to United Health CareStudent Resources, the insurance carrier.

The waiver deadline for each term is crucial, so make sure to submit your request on time. Failure to do so will result in automatic enrollment in the plan and the insurance charge will remain on your student account.

To request a waiver, select the Waive tab and click the Request a Waiver button to provide your information. You can find more information on the waiver process on the Student Financial Services webpage on the The Solution Center website.

The waiver process must be completed annually, so don't forget to submit your request each semester. The deadline for waiving the university student health insurance plan is typically on the second Friday of October for the fall semester, and on the second Friday in March for the spring semester.

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Here are the waiver deadlines to keep in mind:

Remember to follow the email instructions from the insurance verification provider to make adjustments to complete your waiver. No adjustments will be made after the waiver deadline, so act quickly to avoid any issues.

Student health insurance is required by law in Massachusetts, so all matriculating college students must be enrolled in a health insurance program that meets the state's required benefits.

The university offers a health insurance policy to support compliance with this law, which begins on August 1 and terminates on July 31.

All undergraduate students enrolled in on-campus credit hours and graduate students carrying nine or more credit hours are eligible and will be charged for health insurance.

If you're covered by a comparable health insurance policy through a family member or employer, you can request to waive the mandatory insurance, but this must be done annually.

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The waiver process becomes available once you receive your invoice for the upcoming semester, and the deadline for waiving is the second Friday of October for the fall semester and the second Friday in March for the spring semester.

If you withdraw from or drop all your classes within the first 31 calendar days of the semester, you won't be allowed to enroll in the university's student health insurance plan.

The Student Health Insurance Plan is a comprehensive coverage that includes most medical and mental health services, x-rays, labs, procedures, and prevention services.

The plan has a low co-payment of just $10 for generic prescription drugs, making it an affordable option for students with ongoing medical needs.

You can enroll in the plan on an annual basis for $3,205, or on a semester-by-semester basis for $1,355.29 for the fall semester and $1,849.71 for the spring/summer semesters.

The plan is available for purchase during specific enrollment periods, which are June 3 to September 9 for the fall semester and November 9 to February 3 for the spring/summer semesters.

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If you experience a qualifying life event, such as losing private insurance through loss of employment or divorce, you can enroll in the plan at any time of the year.

You can also enroll your spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children in the plan, but you will be charged for their coverage separately.

Here are the premium costs for the Student Health Insurance Plan:

The Student Health Insurance Plan is considered a Gold Plan in the insurance marketplace, and a comparable plan purchased elsewhere would cost more than $350 per month.

If you have questions about a health insurance claim, you can contact University Health Plans by phone at 833-251-1123 or email at [email protected].

You can reach Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Member Services by phone at 888-753-6615 for specific benefits questions about your insurance card.

To request an insurance member ID, update your address, or ask general plan information, contact University Health Plans by phone at 833-251-1123 or email at [email protected].