FAQs
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, contact 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 because you registered late, or had special circumstances that prevented you from completing the waiver prior to the deadline, please contact our partners at Academic Health Plans (AHP). You can reach them toll-free at 1-833-838-6584. Or visit their website, wvu.myahpcare.com , to access their chat feature, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
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 MIX email, and the insurance fee, if assessed, will be credited back to your student account within a few 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.
When I try to log in to the Care26 site to complete the waiver it says my username or password is incorrect. What do I do?
This message usually means that the waiver system does not recognize you. If you haven’t registered for your classes yet, your record will not be loaded into the waiver system until you do so. Remember, domestic students must be registered for at least 6 credit hours and international students for at least 1 credit hour before they are eligible for enrollment in the student insurance plan and required to complete the waiver. Once registered for your classes and loaded into the Care26 site, you should receive an email from Academic Health Plans prompting you to finish your account set-up.
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?
Yes, eligible online students must opt out of the WVU-sponsored SHIP plan by completing the student health insurance waiver prior to the posted deadline or take no action to be automatically enrolled in the plan. Fully online students residing outside of the campus area who do not have coverage meeting the minimum requirements can email sio@mail.wvu.edu to request an administrative waiver based on their fully online status.
Note: High School Access students and students enrolled in exempt majors, 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 the current Term Address and your Mailing/Local Address. If you would prefer not to receive paper correspondence, visit Aetna’s website to create an online account by clicking the “Member Log-in” 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?
No. Students enrolled in the SHIP 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. Visit https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/student-insurance/insurance-card to view instructions on accessing your Aetna ID card.
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.