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 both in and out of the classroom. In order to ensure that our students have access to quality healthcare when they need it, and to help protect them from unexpected healthcare costs, all domestic students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours and all 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.
*Beginning Fall 2026, this requirement will also apply to students enrolled at Potomac State College.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Who is Academic HealthPlans (AHP) and what is Care26?
A. WVU and the Student Insurance Office (SIO) has partnered with AHP to administer the student health insurance plan (SHIP) and the waiver process (opting out of) SHIP for students already enrolled in qualifying health insurance plans. Care26 is AHP's waiver and enrollment platform.
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 works 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.
*Beginning Fall 2026, Potomac State College students 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 by the published deadline to show proof of insurance in order to opt out of the WVU-sponsored plan. Waivers 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 late July.
- Spring: The spring waiver is typically available the first week of November. The deadline for completing the spring waiver is typically late December.
Q. Where can I complete the Health Insurance Waiver?
A. You can complete the Health Insurance Waiver by visiting wvu.myahpcare.com and clicking on the blue "Opt-Out/Waive" button.
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 the AHP/Care26 website to complete the waiver?
A. West Virginia University has partnered with AHP to facilitate the waiver process to opt students out of WVU-sponsored student health insurance plan. Because of this partnership, individuals completing a health insurance waiver enter their insurance information into the AHP website. AHP 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 AHP 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 WVU-sponsored SHIP 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 WVU-sponsored SHIP, 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 (PSC) student. Do I need to complete the health insurance waiver?
A. Effective Fall 2026, PSC students are subject to WVU's student health insurance requirement. All domestic students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours and all international students at PSC are required to carry health insurance that meets the University's waiver criteria. Students who have health insurance that meets the waiver criteria must complete a waiver if they would like to opt out of the WVU-sponsored SHIP.
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.
*Beginning Fall 2026, this will also apply to students enrolled at Potomac State College.
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 our students. The SHIP 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 2025-2026 Aetna student health insurance plan has an annual premium of $3,050 ($1,196 for the Fall semester and $1,854 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 each coverage period, resulting in different premiums assessed to your student account for the fall and the spring/summer semesters.
Q. How can I find out more about the Aetna student Insurance plan?
A. The current plan year summary document is available at https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/student-insurance/aetna-student-health-insurance.
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.
Visit https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/student-insurance/insurance-card to view instructions on accessing your Aetna ID card.