Student Insurance Waiver Information
General Information
All full-time undergraduate and graduate students will be enrolled in the university-endorsed Student Insurance Plan and the cost will be billed to your student account in two installments (fall and spring semester) UNLESS proof of other adequate health insurance coverage is furnished. Students who already have health insurance for the entire year/term must submit a Waiver Request by the posted deadline EACH academic year, and the Waiver Request must be approved to avoid being enrolled in the Student Insurance Plan. Waiving the Student Insurance Plan does not affect eligibility for services at the Student Health Center.
You will need your individual 9-digit W&M Student ID number (beginning with 93) and your current insurance ID card to complete the form. Click on the link below under the appropriate student heading to access the Waiver Request form.
Important Notes:
- You will be redirected to a secure waiver system provided by UnitedHealthcare StudentResources (UHCSR), the contracted student insurance company. Your private insurance information is secure and can only be accessed by a W&M administrator with a unique logon and password.
- The form requires a simple, electronic signature to indicate that you accept the Acknowledgement. To sign electronically, you simply type your name into the form field prior to submitting the completed form. If someone other than the student completes the form, please include reference initials.
- Immediately after submission, there is an onscreen confirmation and separate one is also sent to the W&M email address on the form. You should retain a copy of one of these confirmations for your records.
- Students will be responsible for the charge(s) on their student account if the Waiver Request is not approved or is not submitted in a timely manner.
The Waiver FAQ's may answer any questions you have regarding the waiver process.
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Deadlines
| Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 | |||
| Insurance Billing Due Date | Mon. 07/31/2024 | Insurance Billing Due Date | Sun. 12/31/2024 | |
| Final Waiver Deadline | Fri. 09/13/2024 | Final Waiver Deadline | Fri. 02/14/2025 |
To avoid being billed for the W&M Student Insurance for the Spring term, an approved 2024-2025 Student Insurance Waiver Request form is due by July 31 for ALL full-time New, Transfer, & Readmitted students who have other health insurance coverage for the entire Spring 2024 academic term. (Please note that any student who does NOT file an approved Fall 2024 Waiver by the Final Waiver deadline listed above may submit a Spring 2025 Waiver Request between 12/01-12/31/2024 to avoid being enrolled in the additional Spring/Summer coverage and being billed the Health Insurance Policy-Spring charge.)
The Student Insurance Waiver/Enrollment system is not yet opened for submissions for the 2024-2025 school year, but is expected to open on or around 7/1. Don't delay, be sure to submit your Waiver Request by 7/31/2024 so you don't have to pay for insurance you don't need!
After the Insurance Billing deadline, you may still submit a Waiver Request, but you may see the charge on your Student's Account. If your late Waiver Request is approved and you were charged the Health Insurance Policy fee, you should see the credit post to your eServices Account Activity within 1-3 business days. After the FINAL deadline, late Waiver Requests may be considered at the discretion of the school. If your Waiver Request is not approved or you failed to submit a waiver in a timely manner, you will be responsible for the insurance charge on your student account. Waivers may NOT be considered AFTER the Final Waiver deadline.
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Domestic Students
For the purposes of the Insurance Waiver, Domestic students includes Citizens (U.S. or Dual), Permanent Residents as well as DACA, Asylum-seeking applicants, nationals from designated countries with a Visa Waiver Program and Non-Immigrant Visa types OTHER than F-1/J-1 Student Visas).
Insurance plans submitted for waiver must provide the following:
- Coverage for the entire 2024-2025 academic year (08/23/2024 to 05/17/2025 and 01/17/25-05/17/25 for Spring 2025 term); and
- Must be one of the following:
- Individual Marketplace health insurance plans, or
- Employer or employee organization group health plan, or
- Virginia Medicare or Medicaid Fee for Service, MCO (Managed Care plan) or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plan (Out-of-state Medicaid not acceptable), or
- Private U.S. Commercial health insurance plan or
- Tricare or Military health insurance plan.
- Must provide coverage to see a primary care provider, a specialty physician, and for in-patient hospitalization in the Williamsburg area (30 mi. or 30 mins. of campus). Hospital emergency room/urgent care coverage only is not considered primary or specialty care, and
- Must have a Deductible not to exceed $500 or have a Health Savings Account (HSA)/Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to cover a higher deductible.
These requirements are mandatory and no exceptions will be made. If your plan meets ALL of these requirements, you must submit an online 2024-2025 Domestic Student Insurance Waiver Request form as proof of other insurance by the posted deadline. Partial Waivers for one semester may be granted on Appeal only, AFTER you file a Waiver Request that has been denied, submit a Waiver Decision Appeal to provide more information.
Students with health insurance plans that have a closed-network of providers with limited or no coverage outside of your area (such as EPOs or HMOs like Kaiser Permanente, Oscar & Tricare Prime), or otherwise inadequate benefits (such as HDHPs) should carefully review their options before waiving the university-sponsored insurance plan because healthcare may not be reasonably accessible in the Williamsburg area with some other health plans.
Please note that Medicaid coverage is state specific and does not provide coverage out-of-state. Therefore, out-of-state Medicaid is not considered adequate health insurance coverage so a waiver request will not be approved.
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F-1 & J-1 International Students
For the purposes of the Insurance Waiver, International students includes foreign nationals carrying a nonimmigrant F-1 or J-1 International Student visa (including visiting & exchange students but not including J-1 scholars.)
Insurance plans submitted for waiver must provide the following:
- Coverage for the entire 2024-2025 academic year (08/23/2024 [or date of arrival in the U.S., whichever is earlier] to 05/17/2025 [or date of departure from the U.S., whichever is later] or 01/17/25-05/17/25 for Spring 2025 term) (*Exchange or Visiting students see note below); and
- Must be one of the following:
- Individual Marketplace health insurance plans, or
- Employer or employee organization group health plan, or
- Virginia Medicare or Medicaid Fee for Service, MCO (Managed Care plan) or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plan (Out-of-state Medicaid not acceptable), or
- Backed by the full faith and credit of your home government (such as Saudi Arabia or Kuwait). Travel policies, short-term/limited duration, disability, hospital indemnity, accident only, and other limited benefit policies will not be accepted.
- Must provide coverage to see a primary care provider, a specialty physician, and for in-patient hospitalization in the Williamsburg area (30 mi. or 30 mins. of campus). Hospital emergency room/urgent care coverage only is not considered primary or specialty care; and
- Must have a Deductible not to exceed $500 or have a Health Savings Account (HSA)/Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to cover a higher deductible, and
- Must provide coverage for essential health benefits and pre-existing conditions with no dollar limits or lifetime maximums (as defined under the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) to include:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care without being admitted to a hospital);
- Emergency services;
- Hospitalization (surgery and overnight stays);
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (including contraception and breastfeeding coverage);
- Prescription drugs (minimum of $2,500 coverage);
- Laboratory services;
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management; and
- Does your insurance provide coverage for Repatriation & Medical Evacuation that meets the U.S. Dept of State minimums (repatriation=$25,000; medical evacuation=$50,000); and
- Does your insurance provide coverage for mental health (including suicide attempts, substance abuse and alcohol abuse treatment) paid the same as any other sickness or injury; and
- Does your insurance provide coverage for intentional harm to self, suicide or attempted suicide; and
- Is your insurance payable in US dollars; and
- Is your plan provided by a company licensed to do business in the United States, with a U.S. claims payment office and a U.S. phone number; and
- Can you provide an entire copy of the policy in English with US dollar amounts (may be submitted via email)
These requirements are mandatory and no exceptions will be made. If your plan meets ALL of these requirements, you must submit an online 2024-2025 International Student Insurance Waiver Request form as proof of other insurance by the deadline. We strongly urge F-1/J-1 students to verify waiver eligibility BEFORE purchasing other health insurance to ensure that you do not have to pay for two insurance plans if your Waiver Request is NOT approved. Please see the International Student Insurance Waiver guidelines for more information.
*Note: If you are an Exchange or Visiting student attending W&M for one semester, your insurance must provide coverage for the entire academic term in which you are attending W&M. The Fall 2024 academic term minimally requires coverage from 08/23/2024-12/17/2024 and the Spring 2025 academic term minimally requires coverage from 01/17/2025-05/17/2025 (or date of arrival or departure, whichever is longer).
