Student Health Insurance Waiver Process Guide

Each academic year, students enrolled at least half-time in a university degree program are automatically included in the Student Health Benefits Plan. However, students with existing health insurance meeting regulatory compliance requirements can opt out by completing the waive process through Buckeye Link before their first semester, usually in the autumn.

Students should review their current insurance coverage to understand its functionality when using campus resources like the Wilce Student Health Center. The interactive Comparison Worksheet is a useful tool for evaluating coverage. To successfully opt out of the university's health plan, students must provide precise insurance details during the waiver process.

Waive requests are subject to audits to ensure that the insurance provided is adequate and active for the entire academic year, including autumn, spring, and summer semesters. Failure to comply with this process results in automatic enrollment in the university's plan, with corresponding charges applied.

For those who do not waive coverage by the deadline, enrollment in the Student Health Benefits Plan is enforced, and fees are charged for each eligible period during the policy year. Once a waiver is approved, it remains in effect for the remainder of the academic year without needing resubmission.

The deadline for the 2026-27 academic year waiver is August 18, 2026. Students should be prepared with insurance policy details, such as group numbers and contact information. After successfully submitting the waiver, students should retain the Confirmation page. It may take up to two business days to remove the health insurance fee from accounts.

If students miss the waiver deadline, they can still submit a Waive Request for the current policy year, which is contingent on having valid insurance details. The requests apply only for the ongoing year and not retroactively. Meanwhile, international students, except those who qualify for certain exemptions, must enroll in the Student Health Benefits Plan.

International students residing in their home country and participating in Distance Learning may request fee removal, providing necessary documentation like I-94 forms. For more information, international students can contact the Student Health Insurance office via email.