Student Insurance Office - New Students
WELCOME TO WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY!
West Virginia University’s first priority is our students. We want them to be healthy, happy, and successful, in and out of the classroom. In order to ensure that our students have access to the quality healthcare they need, and as a measure to protect them from unexpected healthcare costs, all eligible domestic and international students at West Virginia University (WVU) and West Virginia University Institute of Technology are required to carry health insurance coverage. Eligible students who do not have an approved waiver on file for the academic year are automatically enrolled in the WVU-sponsored Aetna student health insurance plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What is the Student Insurance Office (SIO)?
A. The Student Insurance Office (SIO) is located in the Division of Talent and Culture at WVU. Our office offers support to students regarding the health insurance requirement and helps to facilitate the process of waiving (opting out of) student insurance for students already enrolled in qualifying health insurance plans. In addition, the Student Insurance Office assists eligible students with mid-year enrollment in the school sponsored health insurance plan should they lose their current coverage due to a qualifying life event. To contact the Student Insurance Office, please email sio@mail.wvu.edu . We work to ensure a safe, healthy environment for all students within West Virginia University.
Q. What students are eligible for the student health insurance plan?
A. Domestic students at West Virginia University and WVU Institute of Technology who are enrolled in 6 or more credit hours, and international students enrolled in 1 or more credit hours, are eligible for the student health insurance plan.
Q. Why does WVU require students to carry health insurance?
A. Students come first at WVU, and their health and well-being 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 a large majority of students will not be affected by the requirement.
Q. I already have health insurance. How do I show proof of insurance?
A. Students who are covered by health insurance (e.g., 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.
Q. How do I know if my health insurance coverage is adequate?
A. 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.
Q. When will the waiver be available? When is the deadline?
A. Visit the SIO website for exact dates and deadlines announcements.
- Fall: The fall waiver is typically available the first week of June. The deadline for completing the fall waiver is typically early August.
- Spring: The spring waiver is typically available the first week of November. The deadline for completing the spring waiver is typically the end of December.
Q. Where can I complete the Health Insurance Waiver?
A. You can complete the Health Insurance Waiver by visiting the Student Insurance Office website and clicking on the waiver link. This link will take you to the Pre-waiver Checklist. Upon completing Aetna waiver site where you can sign in to complete the online waiver.
Q. Is the insurance waiver only available online, or can I complete a paper form?
A. The student health insurance waiver is only available online and must be completed each academic year.
Q. Why do I have to enter my information into an Aetna website to complete the waiver?
A. West Virginia University has partnered with Aetna student health to create a health insurance plan which is available exclusively to WVU students. Aetna also facilitates the waiver process to opt students out of their student insurance plan. Because of this partnership, individuals completing a health insurance waiver enter their insurance information into the Aetna website. Aetna will not utilize your personal information for any purpose other than to confirm your insurance meets the requirements to opt students out of the student insurance plan. For any additional questions regarding the confidentiality of your personal information, please contact the Student Insurance Office.
Q. What ID number do I enter to access the health insurance waiver?
A. To enter the health insurance waiver through the Aetna site, you will need to enter your 9-digit WVU Student ID number. If you are unsure what your WVU Student ID number is, you can find it at the following website: https://login.wvu.edu/self-service/lookup
Q. If I am a Graduate Assistant (GA), do I still need to complete the health insurance waiver?
A. Graduate Assistants (GAs) are offered the WVU Aetna student health insurance plan at no or reduced cost. GAs who are expected to work at least 20 hours per week are provided with the WVU Aetna student health insurance at no cost, while GAs who are expected to work 10 hours per week will have half of the WVU Aetna premium covered. If you meet minimum eligibility requirements and do not opt out of the WVU Aetna student health insurance plan by completing the online student health insurance waiver, you will be automatically enrolled in the WVU Aetna plan.
https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/student-insurance/ga-coverageQ. I am enrolled in a fully online program. Am I required to complete the waiver?
A. Fully online students are eligible for enrollment in the Aetna plan and will be automatically enrolled if they are registered for the minimum number of credit hours (6 or more credit hours for domestic students, and 1 or more credit hours for international students). If you are eligible for enrollment in the Aetna plan, and would like to opt out, you must complete the online waiver.
Q. I am a fully sponsored international student, do I need to complete the waiver?
A. If you are a fully sponsored international student, with health insurance provided by your sponsor, and a Financial Guarantee has been submitted to the Office of Student Accounts, it is not necessary for you to complete the waiver. Fully sponsored students are automatically waived from the student insurance plan once they have been identified as sponsored. You would be identified as a sponsored student after an active Financial Guarantee has been applied to your student account.
Q. I’m a Potomac State College student. Do I need to complete the health insurance waiver?
A. Students enrolled at Potomac State College are exempt from the insurance requirement, are not eligible for the WVU health insurance plan, and do not need to complete the student health insurance waiver for the current academic year.
Q. I completed a pre-registration form with WVU Medicine, do I still need to complete the waiver?
A. Yes. The pre-registration form is to begin/create a medical chart with WVU Medicine/Student Health Services so the student’s insurance information is already entered in their medical record system should the student present for care. Completing pre-registration does not waive the student from the Aetna student insurance plan.
Q. Do I have to enroll in the WVU student health insurance plan to use WVU Student Health Services?
A. 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 Medicine does not participate with your insurance, you may be viewed as a self-pay patient and expected to pay a deposit prior to receiving treatment at WVU Student Health. If you are not sure whether WVU Medicine participates with your insurance, contact your insurer at the phone number listed on your insurance ID card.
Q. I am going to need health insurance coverage while attending WVU, what do I need to do to enroll in the student health insurance plan?
A. Domestic students at West Virginia University and WVU Tech, enrolled in 6 or more credit hours, and international students enrolled in 1 or more credit hours are eligible for the student health insurance plan. Eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the WVU-sponsored health insurance plan, unless they have a waiver on file, and the health insurance fee will be assessed to their student account each semester.
Q. Does the student health insurance plan cover me only while I am at campus?
A. West Virginia University has negotiated an excellent health insurance plan for WVU and WVU Tech students. The Aetna student health insurance plan includes nationwide coverage through Aetna’s extensive national network of providers, as well as worldwide medical assistance. The plan was designed specifically with students’ needs in mind, and provides high-level coverage with low out-of-pocket costs.
Q. When does the student insurance plan go in to effect?
A. The Aetna student health insurance plan is effective for a full academic year from August 11 through August 10 the following year.
Q. What is the cost for student health insurance?
A. The 2024-2025 Aetna student health insurance plan has an annual premium of $2,739 ($1,073 for the Fall semester and $1,666 for the Spring/Summer semester)*. The premium is assessed to the student’s account in two separate transactions, once for the fall semester when fall tuition and fees are assessed, and again for the spring semester when spring tuition and fees are assessed.
The student insurance fee is based on the number of days in the coverage period; this is a change from prior years. For planning purposes, please be aware that the spring/summer coverage period for 2025 will be $1,666 based on the number of days in the spring/summer coverage period.
Q. How can I find out more about the Aetna student Insurance plan?
A. The current plan year summary document is available on the Aetna website.
Q. If enrolled in the student insurance plan, how do I get my insurance ID card?
A. Once your enrollment is complete and the card has been generated, you can visit the Aetna website to print your ID card. Aetna does not automatically mail physical copies of your insurance ID card. You also may call 866-654-2338 to request one be mailed to you.
* All insurance coverage is subject to applicable state form and rate filing approval and, once approved, to the terms of the Master Policy. We have not yet received approval from the state insurance department for the 2024-2025 benefits, features and rates described in this document. As part of the approval process, the State may require us to make changes to the benefits, features and/or rates. We will notify you if that happens.
Still have questions? Contact us!
- Email: sio@mail.wvu.edu
- Voicemail: 304-293-6815