The student health insurance program is only available to full-time Ph.D. students and first professional students (D.D.S., M.D. and Pharm.D students), as well as international students (those on F-visas and J-visas). These students will all fall under a hard waiver, meaning they will be automatically enrolled into the program unless they can provide proof of other coverage.

A hard waiver means that you are automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan unless you can provide proof of other insurance. Step-by-step instructions on how to enroll in the plan or opt out will be provided prior to the insurance portal being opened.

Once you have enrolled in the VCU student health insurance plan, you will then need to create your UnitedHealthcare Student Resources account. There you will be able to find providers, access your insurance cards, submit a claim, etc. You can find step-by-step instructions on creating your account through the Help Center Website. 

No, no benefits will be paid for routine vision or dental treatment costs.

The portal updates overnight so changes to your enrollment may not show until 48 hours after enrollment changes. Additionally, a domestic address needs to be listed in your student information account. Please review your eServices to ensure a domestic address is listed. If the error persists, please contact your eligibility coordinator for assistance. 

Yes. Dependents can be added via the insurance portal once it is available. Costs for the dependent will be billed directly by the vendor.

If you experience a significant life change that affects your insurance coverage after the open enrollment deadline, you must complete the QLE form and submit it to UnitedHealthcare. Subsidies do not apply to those enrolling in the plan via QLE.

For questions about the student health insurance program, please contact your respective eligibility coordinator.

• All first professional students take action in the fall semester to opt in or waive coverage in the annual plan that runs from August to August.
• If you enroll in the plan during the fall semester, you are enrolled for the academic year.
• If you have a QLE during the plan year, you can enroll in the Virginia Commonwealth University health insurance for the remainder of the current coverage period by submitting a QLE form to UHC for processing and payment. Also, please email a copy of your QLE form and paid premium to your eligibility coordinator. 

• Student insurance costs will appear on their student bill once the student enrolls in classes and tuition and fees are assessed for the semester.
• First professional students who opt into the annual coverage will have the cost split and billed in August and January. 
  • Additional costs for any added dependents will be paid directly to the vendor (UHC) and will not appear on the student accounting bill.
• Once enrolled, students will be insured until their coverage expiration date, even if they graduate before that time.
• The full details of the insurance package can be found on our plan benefits webpage.

• First professional students must enroll or opt out of the health insurance program during fall open enrollment.
• If waiving coverage, the waiver will automatically roll over to the next semester in the current academic year.
• If the student experiences a QLE, the QLE form must be submitted to UHC and applicable fees will be paid to them UHC.
• If no action is taken during open enrollment, the student will be hard waived (automatically enrolled) into the health insurance program and responsible for any applicable fees.

• During the fall semester open enrollment, all first professional students must take action to enroll in or opt out of the health insurance program by providing proof of comparable coverage.
• Opt-in
  • Within the open enrollment portal, you will complete the enrollment details to opt into the program. Your coverage will become active when you complete the enrollment process. 
• Waiver
  • Within the open enrollment portal, you will be able to provide proof of your insurance coverage. 
  • UHC will review your coverage to determine if you meet the requirements to waive the university health insurance coverage. 
  • If approved, the waiver will automatically roll over to the next semester in the current academic year. 
  • If the student experiences a QLE, the QLE form must be submitted to UHC, and applicable fees will be paid to UHC.
• Failure to take action to opt in or waive coverage by the end of open enrollment will result in a hard waiver (automatic enrollment) into the university health insurance program and responsibility for the applicable fees. 

• International undergraduate and master's students are on semester-based plans and must take action during each open enrollment period to opt in or waive coverage.
• There are two open enrollment periods–fall (August 1) for the fall-only plan and spring (December 17) for the spring/summer plan. Please note that coverage for spring insurance is for the spring and summer semesters. 

• Student insurance costs will appear on their student bill once the student enrolls in classes and tuition and fees are assessed for the semester. 
• International students (those on F-visas and J-visas) who opt into the program will be billed the semester plan rates in August and January.
  • Additional costs for any added dependents will be paid directly to the vendor (UHC) and will not appear on the student accounting bill.
• Once enrolled, students will be insured until their coverage expiration date, even if they graduate before that time.
• The full details of the insurance package can be found on our plan benefits webpage.

• International students (those on F-visas and J-visas) are on semester-based plans and must take action to enroll or opt out of the health insurance program during the fall and spring open enrollment. 
• If waiving coverage, the waiver will not roll over to the next semester. You will have to submit another waiver for review and approval. 
• If the student experiences a QLE, the QLE form must be submitted to UHC and applicable fees will be paid to them UHC.
• If no action is taken during open enrollment, the student will be hard waived (automatically enrolled) into the health insurance program and responsible for any applicable fees

• Each semester (fall and spring), international students (those on F-visas and J-visas) will be required to take action to enroll or waive coverage during open enrollment. 
• Opt in
  • Within the open enrollment portal, you will complete the enrollment details to opt into the program. Your coverage will become active when you complete the enrollment process. 
  • Please note that coverage for spring insurance is for spring/summer semesters.
• Waiver
  • If waiving coverage, the waiver will not roll over to the next semester. You will have to submit another waiver for review and approval. 
  • Please note that only health insurance plans that comply with all Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements will be eligible for a waiver.  Most alternative plans designed for international students are not ACA-compliant.
• Failure to take action to opt in or waive coverage by the end of open enrollment will result in a hard waiver (automatic enrollment) into the university health insurance program and responsibility for the applicable fees. 

All international students (those on F-visas and J-visas) are enrolled in the UHC program unless they can provide proof of other comparable health insurance coverage during open enrollment. Please note that comparable plans must comply with all Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements, and that most plans designed for international students are not ACA compliant.

• Full-time Ph.D. students are on semester-based plans and must take action during each open enrollment period to opt in or waive coverage.
• There are two open enrollment periods–fall (August 1) for the fall-only plan and spring (December 17) for the spring/summer plan. Please note that coverage for spring insurance is for the spring and summer semesters.  

• Student insurance costs will appear on their student bill once the student enrolls in classes and tuition and fees are assessed for the semester. 
• Full-time Ph.D. students who opt into the program will be billed the semester plan rates in August and January.
  • Full-time Ph.D. students will receive a 70% subsidy to offset the costs of the program. The subsidy is automatically applied and reflected on the student accounting bill. 
  • Additional costs for any added dependents will be paid directly to the vendor (UHC) and will not appear on the student accounting bill.
• Once enrolled, students will be insured until their coverage expiration date, even if they graduate before that time.
• The full details of the insurance package can be found on our plan benefits webpage.

• Full-time Ph.D. students are on semester-based plans and must take action to enroll or opt out of the health insurance program during the fall and spring open enrollment. 
• If waiving coverage, the waiver will not roll over to the next semester. You will have to submit another waiver for review and approval. 
• If the student experiences a QLE, the QLE form must be submitted to UHC and applicable fees will be paid to them UHC.
• If no action is taken during open enrollment, the student will be hard waived (automatically enrolled) into the health insurance program and responsible for any applicable fees.

• Each semester (fall and spring), full-time Ph.D. students will be required to take action to enroll or waive coverage during open enrollment. 
• Opt in
  • Within the open enrollment portal, you will complete the enrollment details to opt into the program. Your coverage will become active when you complete the enrollment process. 
  • Please note that coverage for spring insurance is for spring/summer semesters.
• Waiver
  • If waiving coverage, the waiver will not roll over to the next semester. You will have to submit another waiver for review and approval. 
• Failure to take action to opt in or waive coverage by the end of open enrollment will result in a hard waiver (automatic enrollment) into the university health insurance program and responsibility for the applicable fees. 

At this time, all full-time Ph.D. students, first professional students (D.D.S., M.D., Pharm.D.) and international students (those on F- and J-visas) are eligible for the student health insurance program. The program may be expanded to include additional student populations in the near future.