Health Insurance FAQs
Why does WVU require students to carry health insurance?
Students come first at WVU, and their health and well-being, both in and outside
of the classroom, is of utmost importance. WVU aims to eliminate barriers to
achieving academic goals such as illness, limited access to health care and large
medical bills. Health insurance guarantees being able to obtain necessary treatment
in the event of serious illness or injury. Health insurance also protects against
potential catastrophic financial losses by limiting the extent of fiscal responsibility
for the cost of medical treatment. While it’s hard to know with certainty, WVU
believes only about 15 percent of students come to the University without health
insurance of some sort, either through their parents’ plans or their own. This
means that the large majority of students will not be affected by the requirement.
I already have health insurance. How do I show proof of insurance?
Students who are covered by health insurance (i.e. through parent plans, family
plans, or employer-sponsored plans) may complete a waiver application by the
published deadline to show proof of insurance in order to opt out of the WVU-sponsored
plan. Waiver applications must be completed each academic year. Eligible students
who do not show proof of health insurance by completing the online student health
insurance waiver by the published deadline will be automatically enrolled in
the WVU-sponsored health insurance plan and the premium will be billed to their
student account.
Do I have to enroll in the WVU student health insurance plan to use WVU Student
Health Services?
All registered WVU students can be seen at WVU Student Health, regardless of the
type of insurance they have. Your copay at Student Health will be based on your
individual health insurance plan. If WVU Healthcare does not participate with
your insurance, you may be expected to pay a deposit prior to receiving treatment
at WVU Student Health. If you are not sure whether WVU Healthcare participates
with your insurance, contact your insurer at the phone number listed on your
insurance ID card.
How do I know if my health insurance coverage is adequate?
Please refer to the
waiver criteria to determine if your plan meets minimum requirements. If
you're not sure if your plan meets the minimum requirements listed, contacted
your health insurance carrier at the phone number listed on your insurance ID
card.
Waiver FAQs
I missed the waiver deadline to opt out of the student health insurance, and I have other insurance coverage. What should I do?
If you missed the waiver deadline for the current semester, you can reach out to the Student Insurance Office at
sio@mail.wvu.edu to request a Late Waiver Appeal. You'll receive a response with a determination to your MIX account within 10 business days.
I completed the waiver because I have other qualifying health insurance, when will the student health insurance fee be removed from my account?
Once the student insurance waiver is submitted and
approved, confirmation will be sent to your your MIX email, and the insurance fee, if assessed, will be credited back to your student account within 5-7 business days.
I did not complete a waiver, what happens?
Eligible students without an approved annual waiver on
file will be automatically enrolled in the WVU Aetna student health insurance
plan, and the applicable insurance fee will be charged to your student
account when tuition and fees are assessed for the semester.
My waiver was declined, what do I do?
If your waiver is declined, you will also receive notification to your MIX email
indicating the reason the waiver failed and instructions for how to proceed.
I logged into the waiver site and I'm receiving a message that I'm ineligible.
What should I do?
This message usually means that the waiver system is not recognizing you. Please
double-check your nine-digit student ID and be sure to enter your date of birth
in the format listed below the field. This message may also mean that you haven't
yet been loaded into the waiver system, or that you already have an approved
waiver on file. If you continue to receive this message after double-checking
your student ID, and you're not sure if you already have a waiver on file for
the academic year, contact the Student Insurance Office at
sio@mail.wvu.edu.
What if I missed the waiver deadline?
If you're eligible for the student health insurance plan and do not opt out, then
you will be automatically enrolled in the WVU student health insurance plan.
Waivers must be completed each academic year. For example, a waiver approved
for Fall would be applicable for the entire academic year, but
a new waiver will need to be completed for Fall. A waiver completed for
Spring would be applicable for the remainder of the academic year, but a
new waiver would need to be completed for Fall. If you missed the waiver
deadline due to special circumstances, contact the Student Insurance Office for
information on submitting an appeal.
I'm a Graduate Assistant. Do I need to complete the student health insurance waiver?
If you are a Graduate Assistant, and you are covered by another insurance plan that
meets the waiver criteria described on the
Waiver Information
page, you are encouraged to submit the insurance waiver application by the posted
deadline. Although being covered by the WVU plan while you are a GA may not
cost you anything, you will be responsible for managing coordination of benefits
between the two plans you carry if you have claims (which can be complicated),
and paying for the WVU plan provided for you as part of your GA position represents
a significant and potentially unnecessary cost for the University. If you do
not want to opt out of the health insurance plan offered to you as a GA, do
not complete the waiver. Your student account will automatically be credited
the student health insurance fee once you are identified as a GA. Visit the
Graduate Assistant Insurance page for more information.
I'm enrolled in an online program and will not be attending classes on campus.
Do I need to complete a waiver?
Based on input from students, beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year, online
students will no longer be exempt from the student insurance requirement. Online
students may opt out of the WVU Aetna plan by completing the student health insurance
waiver prior to the posted deadline, or take no action to be automatically enrolled
in the plan if eligible. Fully online students residing outside of the campus
area who do not have coverage meeting the minimum requirements may complete the
appeal form linked to in their waiver denial email. Students should note on their
appeal form if they are a fully online student. Appeals are reviewed by WVU Student
Insurance Office staff, and the student will be notified of the appeal decision
via their MIX account. Please note, High School Access students, as well at students
enrolled in major codes 006T, 011T, 049T, and 052T at WVU Tech, will remain exempt
from the student insurance requirement and do not need to complete the student
insurance waiver.
Aetna Student Health Insurance FAQs
My privacy is very important to me. Can I change the address with Aetna Student
Health, or can I go paperless?
If you are enrolled in the Aetna student health insurance plan, correspondence
from Aetna will be mailed to your mailing address listed in STAR. You may change
your mailing address by logging into STAR and updating your Local/Mailing address.
If you would prefer not to receive paper correspondence, visit Aetna’s website
and sign up for Aetna Navigator by clicking the Aetna Navigator link at the top
of the page. After signing up, you will have the option to go paperless.
Can I pay for the WVU Aetna plan with financial aid?
Yes. The WVU health insurance fee, which is the premium for the student health
insurance plan, may be paid the same way you pay your tuition and fees, including
any financial aid received from scholarships, grants, loans, or by credit card.
If you have specific questions about your financial aid package or making payment,
please contact the WVU Hub.
What happens to my health insurance coverage if I withdraw from classes?
Students enrolled in the WVU-sponsored Aetna health insurance plan who withdraw
from the University or drop below the eligibility requirements (less than 6 credit
hours for domestic students):
PRIOR TO the Add/Drop date established by Student Accounts will be eligible
for a full refund of the insurance fee and un-enrolled in the health insurance
plan; AFTER the Add/Drop date established by Student Accounts during the fall
semester will maintain their insurance coverage through the end of the calendar
year and will NOT be eligible for a refund;
AFTER the Add/Drop date established by Student Accounts during the spring or
summer semesters will maintain their insurance coverage through the end of the
plan year and will NOT be eligible for a refund. Please refer to the Student
Accounts website for the Add/Drop date for each semester.
What happens to my health insurance coverage when I graduate?
If you're enrolled in the WVU Aetna student health insurance plan, and you graduate
in December, then your health insurance coverage would terminate on December
31st. If you graduate in May, then your health insurance coverage would terminate
on August 10th.
Can I enroll my spouse and children in the WVU Aetna plan?
Due to health insurance legislation changes, dependent enrollment is no longer
offered through the Aetna student health insurance plan. Students enrolled in
the WVU or WVU Tech Aetna plan who are seeking coverage for their dependents
may want to review their options on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
How do I access my Aetna ID card?
Aetna will not be automatically mailing ID cards to enrolled participants. You
may print your ID card from the Aetna website or call Aetna customer service
at
(866) 654-2338 to request a card be mailed to you.
Note: It could take up to 5 – 7 business days once you have registered for classes
to be able to print your ID card. If you need to make a doctor’s appointment
prior to your card being available on the website, contact the WVU Student Insurance
Office at
SIO@mail.wvu.edu.