Douglas Olsen
Washington University in St. Louis, also known as WashU, offers a mandatory and comprehensive student health insurance plan for its students. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is provided in partnership with United HealthCare Student Resources. The plan includes comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health care in the St. Louis area, nationwide, and for travel abroad. While the cost of the insurance plan is not explicitly mentioned, students can expect to pay premiums, deductibles, copays, and/or coinsurance, which may vary based on the chosen option. Students with financial constraints can contact their financial aid representative to explore options such as insurance waivers or grants to cover the cost of health insurance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Insurance | Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) |
| Current Provider | United HealthCare Student Resources |
| Group Number | 702111 |
| Customer Service Number | 1-800-382-2599 |
| Website | MyUHC.com |
| Cost | $2500 |
| Registration Website | geo-blue.com |
| WashU Group Access Code | QHG99999WUBT |
| In-Network Hospitals | WashU Provider Network, Barnes Jewish Hospital Network |
| Coverage | Comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health care in the St. Louis area, nationwide, and for travel abroad |
| Additional Coverage | Emergency assistance for medical evacuation when a student is 100 miles or greater from home, worldwide assistance |
| Deductible | Varies by plan |
| Co-pay | Varies by plan and service |
| Out-of-pocket Maximum | Varies by plan |
| Immunizations Required | Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), meningitis, tuberculosis (depending on country of origin) |
| Waiver | Available for students with existing insurance or financial need |
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What You'll Learn
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) has partnered with United HealthCare Student Resources to provide the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for the current academic year. SHIP provides coverage for students in grades 6-12, giving peace of mind that they are safe while at school. The plan includes:
- Preventative care and immunizations
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Mental health claims treated as any other illness
- Unlimited coverage for interscholastic sports
- First-dollar coverage for prescription drugs
- Global emergency medical assistance
- No deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance
The cost of the WashU student health insurance plan is $2500. While financial aid typically does not cover this expense, students can opt out of the school plan if they have outside insurance that meets the school's requirements. Students can also apply to get the WashU healthcare fee waived or receive a health insurance grant to cover the cost if they cannot afford healthcare. To do so, students can reach out to their financial advisor or SFS counsellor and explain their situation.
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Health Insurance Waiver
Students at WashU are automatically enrolled in the United Healthcare Student Resources plan, also known as the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This insurance is mandatory for all full-time domestic and international graduate students on the Danforth campus. However, students who already have qualifying health insurance from a parent, spouse/partner, or employer can apply for a waiver of insurance coverage. This waiver process must be completed annually and allows students to opt out of the SHIP for both the fall and spring semesters. The deadline to submit a waiver for the fall semester is September 5, and for the spring semester, it is February 12.
To initiate the waiver process, students must use the UHC website. They will need to log in with their WashU email address and select the "opt-in" button to ensure they can use their health insurance promptly on the policy start date (August 1). It is important to note that simply having the Health Insurance Premium charge on the student account does not exempt students from completing the opt-in step if they need to use insurance between August 1 and September 5.
Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa are not allowed to waive out of the SHIP unless they are on a US-based employer plan through a US-based insurance company. If a student's waiver request is denied, they can submit an appeal request in writing to Student Insurance by September 12 for the fall waiver and by February 19 for the spring waiver. Final appeals will be considered by a committee consisting of health services and student support staff.
While the health and wellness fee cannot be waived for any student, those with financial concerns can reach out to their financial advisor or aid representative to discuss options for getting the health insurance covered or waived. Additionally, if a student has outside insurance that does not meet all the requirements of the WashU insurance plan, the university may still waive the requirement in certain cases.
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Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) offers a student health insurance plan through United HealthCare Student Resources. This plan is mandatory for students unless they already have insurance coverage that meets the university's waiver requirements.
When covered under the WashU student health insurance plan, students must use the Student Health Center (SHC) as their primary care provider and receive referrals for any other medical care. Some services at the SHC, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, and procedures, may incur additional costs.
The amount a student pays out of pocket depends on the insurance plan's deductible, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximum. A deductible is the amount a student must pay before the insurance company covers any benefits. A co-pay is a set amount that the student pays upfront at the time of service, which varies by plan and service. The out-of-pocket maximum is the total amount a student is responsible for paying during a policy year, after which the plan pays 100% of all medical expenses.
Students who are on another person's health plan, such as a parent's insurance, should consider privacy implications. Bills sent to other insurance carriers may be viewed by the owner of that plan. Therefore, students and their families should discuss how to handle out-of-pocket costs and the explanation of benefits sent by the insurance company.
For students who receive full financial aid or have low incomes, there is a process to get insurance coverage included in their aid package. During the summer, students can fill out a health insurance waiver, indicating that they do not have insurance coverage. After the waiver is denied, students can provide a screenshot of the denial to their financial aid advisor, who will then add an additional grant to cover the insurance cost.
Additionally, students who cannot afford the student health insurance plan can reach out to their financial advisor to discuss options for getting the insurance covered or waived. In some cases, WashU may provide a health insurance grant to cover the cost.
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In-Network Benefits
Washington University in St. Louis offers eligible students and employees several health plan options. The university has partnered with United HealthCare Student Resources to provide the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for the current academic year. This plan is mandatory for students without existing insurance.
The student health insurance plan provides comprehensive in-patient and out-patient medical and mental health care in the St. Louis area, nationwide, and for travel abroad. The plan also provides emergency assistance for medical evacuation whenever a student is 100 miles or greater from home, including worldwide assistance.
When you are covered under the school plan, you must use the Student Health Center (SHC) as your primary care provider and receive referrals for any other medical care. Exceptions to the referral requirement include emergency care, urgent care when SHC is closed, medical care received 50+ miles from SHC, OBGYN services, and mental healthcare. In addition, dependents on the plan do not require a referral to seek care.
The in-network benefits under each of the health plan options are summarised on the Washington University website. These include the EPO health plan, the POS, High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), Basic PPO, and Excel PPO health plans. Prescription drug benefits are included as part of your health care package when enrolled in a university health plan.
A deductible is the amount of money you must pay before any benefits are paid by the insurance company. A co-pay is generally required upfront at the time of service and varies by plan and service. You will likely have a different payment structure for accessing doctors, hospitals, radiology, etc., from a list of “in-network” providers than from those not in the network.
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Health Insurance Coverage
Washington University in St. Louis offers a mandatory and robust student health insurance policy for students' convenience. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is provided by United HealthCare Student Resources. Students who participate in SHIP will be the \"owners\" of that coverage.
The insurance plan covers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health care in the St. Louis area, nationwide, and for travel abroad. It also provides emergency assistance for medical evacuation when a student is 100 miles or more from home, including worldwide assistance.
Students must use the Student Health Center (SHC) as their primary care provider and receive referrals for any other medical care. However, there are exceptions to the referral requirement, including emergency care, urgent care when SHC is closed, medical care received 50+ miles from SHC, OBGYN services, and mental healthcare. Additionally, dependents on the plan do not require a referral to seek care.
There are several financial considerations when choosing a plan, including premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. A deductible is the amount of money you must pay before any benefits are paid by the insurance company, while a copay is generally required upfront at the time of service. Out-of-pocket maximum refers to the total amount of money you are responsible for paying for medical expenses during a policy year. Once this amount is reached, your plan will pay 100% of all medical expenses incurred.
If you already have insurance, you can submit a health insurance waiver, and WashU won't charge you for their insurance. If you don't have insurance, you can apply for a health insurance grant to cover the cost. To do this, you can reach out to your financial advisor or aid representative to discuss getting the health insurance covered or waived.
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Frequently asked questions
If you have a full ride, you can apply to get your WashU healthcare fee waived. You will need to contact your financial aid representative to do so.
If you don't have insurance, you can apply for a health insurance grant to cover the cost. You will need to fill out a health insurance waiver.
If you already have insurance, you can submit a health insurance waiver and WashU won't charge you for their insurance.
If you can't afford the insurance, you can email your financial aid representative and explain your situation. You can also apply to get your WashU healthcare fee waived.
