Student Health Insurance Policy   

INTRODUCTION

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) recognizes that access to comprehensive health insurance is essential for student wellness and academic success. This policy ensures that all designated students maintain health insurance coverage that meets established standards. Students may either enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or submit proof of comparable coverage under a health insurance policy or plan through an annual waiver and approval process.

DEFINITIONS

Designated Students under this policy are UAB students who fall into at least one of the following categories:

Clinical Students:  Undergraduate or Graduate Students who have direct patient contact as part of their UAB course or program.

Non-clinical Graduate Students: Defined here as determined by school and program requirements.

International Students: Enrolled students who are citizens or permanent residents of a country other than the United States.

Undergraduate Students: Students enrolled in an on-campus or hybrid degree-seeking undergraduate program for nine or more credit hours, if any of those nine credit hours are on-campus or hybrid.

Students enrolled in an undergraduate non-clinical, online only (Q code distance learner) programs are not Designated Students for the purposes of the health insurance requirement.

Any questions about this Designation should be directed to Student Health Services or the student’s academic program.

POLICY STATEMENT

All Designated Students are required to maintain health insurance coverage that meets UAB’s minimum standards. The health insurance requirement may be satisfied by either of the following:

1. Enrollment in the UAB Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), a commercial policy which is reviewed annually.
2. Submission and approval of a valid waiver demonstrating equivalent coverage through a health insurance policy or program.

Students who have not had a waiver approved will be automatically enrolled into the SHIP and the premium will be charged to their student account.

SHIP

Students enrolled in SHIP may access Student Health Services (SHS) with reduced out-of-pocket costs (e.g., no co-pays, most deductibles and coinsurance waived). All students, including those who are not Designated Students, and dependents[1] of students, may voluntarily enroll in SHIP.

Waiver Process

Students may opt out of SHIP by submitting an application for a waiver with proof of equivalent coverage through a health insurance policy or program and obtaining the approval of that waiver application. Waivers must be submitted annually in the fall semester, or if not enrolled in fall upon initial enrollment in spring. Waiver instructions and specific deadlines are available at UAB Student Health Services. In order to qualify for a  waiver, coverage must meet the following minimum coverage standards:

1. Meets Affordable Care Act (ACA) minimum essential health benefits, providing coverage for:
   1. Ambulatory services
   2. Emergency services
   3. Hospitalization
   4. Maternity and newborn care
   5. Mental health and substance use treatment
   6. Prescription drugs
   7. Rehabilitative/habilitative services
   8. Laboratory services
   9. Preventive/chronic disease management
   10. Pediatric services (including oral/vision)
   11. Birth control and breastfeeding support
2. Includes coverage for healthcare providers and facilities in the State of Alabama
3. Covers inpatient and outpatient mental health
4. Covers pre-existing conditions
5. Offers unlimited coverage per illness/injury
6. Remains active throughout all enrolled semesters

The following plan types DO NOT qualify for a waiver:

1. Short-term limited duration plans
2. Accident/disability-only plans
3. Specified disease/sickness plans
4. Ministry cost-sharing programs
5. Financial assistance programs
6. Life insurance plans
7. Traveler’s insurance plans

Any questions about whether a student’s coverage will meet waiver criteria or questions about waiver rejections should be directed to Student Health Services.

NONCOMPLIANCE

A student’s failure to follow this policy or established procedures could result in significant consequences for the student, up to and including termination of student status.

IMPLEMENTATION

The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for procedures to implement this policy.

Related Policies and Procedures

UAB Enterprise Code of Conduct

[1] Spouse and/or minor child(ren) and/or disabled adult child(ren) of the enrolled student.