Mandatory Health Insurance FAQ

The mandatory insurance requirement calls for “comprehensive coverage.” What does that mean?

The university has determined nine points of criteria that your insurance plan must have. You are allowed to waive out of the University Student Health Insurance Plan if you meet all of the criteria. Click here for information on waiving coverage.
Who may waive out of the University Student Health Insurance Plan?

Students may waive out of the plan if they can provide proof of adequate coverage. Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa are not allowed to waive out of the plan unless they are on a U.S.-based employer plan through a U.S.-based insurance company.

Does Medicare or Medicaid coverage fulfill the mandatory health insurance requirement?

Medicaid and Medicaid do not meet the waiver criteria. Out of state Medicaid provides “emergency only” coverage when the student is away from home. Habif is not able to bill any Medicaid or Medicare plans. Students with Missouri Medicaid or Medicare who have established healthcare in the St. Louis region can request an exception through the insurance waiver appeals process, however, if granted, these students would be required to pay out of pocket at the time of service for any medical care received at Habif Health & Wellness. For more information about the health insurance waiver and appeals processes visit: Health Insurance Waiver Process.

Does my plan have to provide coverage for all medically necessary care while in St. Louis?

Your insurance plan must cover more than emergency care while you are in St. Louis. Emergency care ends when a person leaves the emergency room. Often students need care from another provider such as orthopedics for sprains and fractures, or other specialty care for conditions occurring while in St. Louis. You will need a plan that proves comprehensive health care while at the university to be waiver eligible.

When will my health insurance charge be reversed after I submit my waiver?

Once your waiver is approved a credit will be applied to the student account in 1-3 business days. Students may view this credit on WebSTAC under Billing – Account Inquiry. Parents may view this credit on the parent portal under Your Account – Click here to view transactions since your last bill. Please note the existing bills will not change. The bills are a PDF of your account as of the last business day of each month. On your next bill that will generate at the end of the month you will see your credit for the student health insurance fee.

When does my student accounting statement get charged for the student health insurance plan?

The university registrar’s system verifies a student’s eligibility based upon registration status. Students who are considered full-time, degree-seeking on the Danforth Campus are required to have health insurance coverage. The student health insurance premium will be applied to student accounting statements in July for the fall semester and in November for the spring semester. Students who register after these dates will be assessed the premium upon completion of registration. These students will still be required to complete the waiver process if they do not wish to participate in the student health insurance plan.

When does coverage begin and end?

Coverage on the university student health plan:

  • begins on August 1 and ends on December 31 for the fall semester
  • begins on January 1 through July 31 for the spring semester
Can I enroll late?

Yes, if for any reason your current health insurance coverage terminates, contact us at studentinsurance@wustl.edu.

What if I drop below full-time status?

Students dropping below the full-time status prior to September 30th will not fall under the health insurance requirement and the Student Health Insurance Plan premium will be credited to the student’s account.

Students dropping below full-time status after February 28th will fall under the student health insurance requirement until July 31st.

What if I want to waive out of the plan but have claims on the plan?

Any person who has claims on the plan must pay the full premium for that year. There is no option out of the plan once claims have occurred.

When will health insurance cards arrive?

  • Student health plan cards will not be mailed to students. To print out a copy of your card, you’ll need to go to WashU UnitedHealthcare page and log into or create a new My Account.
    • If you’ve logged in before, but forgotten your User ID, use WUSTL email address (name@email.wustl.edu) to find your account.
    • If you’ve never been on the website before, enter your six-digit student identification number to find your account and create a login.
    • Click ID CARD
    • Click View ID Card
    • Print PDF ID CARD or Take Screenshot

How is the Health and Wellness Fee different from the Student Health Insurance Plan?

Washington University has a mandatory student health and wellness fee designed to improve the health and wellness of the entire WashU community. The fee is billed to the student tuition statement each semester. This fee covers a membership to the Sumers Recreation Center, health education/prevention services, and various other benefits including several no fee counseling sessions.
What if I submit my waiver but then later drop my health insurance plan I used to waive out of the university plan?

All students are required to have adequate health insurance coverage. Dropping required coverage is a breach of this requirement and may affect your student status under the current university code of conduct.

What if I lose my current coverage after waiving out of the university health plan?

Students may purchase the student health insurance plan at any point if they lose existing coverage under a current plan due to a life event. Please contact us at studentinsurance@wustl.edu for more information.

I am going to travel abroad. What kind of insurance coverage should I have?

The university’s Student Health Insurance Plan provides in-network coverage while abroad. It also has a travel assistance benefit. Most U.S. insurance plans provide no coverage while a student is abroad. This is something to consider while you are exploring the possibility of travel or study abroad. You must have adequate coverage as outlined in the waiver process while abroad in order to waive out of the Student Health Insurance Plan.

For questions concerning insurance benefits, enrollment, deductibles, claims, etc., contact UHC Customer Service at: 866-346-4826.