Waiver Requirements

If you have active health insurance with benefits that meets all the criteria listed below, you may apply for a waiver of enrollment in the WesternU Student Health Insurance plan. You will need to have your current insurance ID card and information regarding your plan benefits to complete the process. You must submit a copy of your Health Insurance ID card's front and back with your request. Once you have submitted the required information, you will receive an email verifying if your waiver meets the WesternU waiver requirements. WesternU will not accept waivers past the required deadline.

Acceptable Waivers

All students MUST be covered by an ACA-compliant domestic health insurance plan for the entire academic year, including summer and holidays.

Plans that qualify to waive the WesternU student insurance plan are:

Parent's Employer Group
Spouse’s Employer Group
Partner’s Employer Group
Student's Own Employer Group
COBRA - Must provide proof of payment monthly
Veteran/Tricare Benefits
California Medicaid (CA campus students only) - must live in the state the entire academic year
Oregon Medicaid (OR campus students only) - must live in the state the entire academic year
Individual Plans - Marketplace

Acceptable coverage to waive the WesternU-Sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan, ALL plans must include:

A provider network in your WesternU campus area for primary care, specialty, hospital, and diagnostic care. (Students attending online programs, including those that are only partially online, are exempt from this requirement.)
Deductible MUST NOT be more than $1,000 for individual and family (In many cases even if an individual deductible is listed, the family deductible must be met before benefits apply and is considered the deductible.) NO Exceptions.
Unlimited Major Medical Coverage
Coverage for an annual exam
Prescription coverage
Mental health coverage

Short-term health insurance policies, traveler's plans, or plans originating outside the United States will not be accepted as part of the Waiver process.

*Please Note: To be eligible to waive with COBRA coverage you must provide proof of payment monthly to the office of HSAC.

Additionally, the University will allow students to waive out of the student health insurance plan using Medicaid based coverage that originates in the state of California (Pomona campus students) or the state of Oregon (Lebanon campus students) The University will not approve any other state’s Medicaid coverage as an acceptable waiver, subject to the Distance Education Program Exception below.

Distance Education Program Exception: Students participating in distance education programs (distance nursing programs offered by the College of Graduate Nursing, the DPT (Post-Professional) program, or the Master of Science in Health Sciences program only) may waive out of the student health insurance plan using Medicaid based coverage that originates in the state in which they currently reside. Students who are completing clinical rotations/experiences out of state are not considered enrolled in a distance education program if they are not enrolled in one of the three programs listed above.

**Please note: Students in programs that are currently being delivered through distance education as a direct result of COVID-19 do not qualify for the student health insurance exemption.

Limitations Regarding Out of State Rotations/Clinical Experiences: California or Oregon-based students who waive out of the student health insurance plan using their respective state’s Medicaid-based coverage may only be eligible for emergency services coverage while completing clinical rotations/experiences out-of-state. Some of the University’s out-of-state clinical rotation/experience sites may require that you have comprehensive health insurance coverage; therefore, you may not be eligible to attend certain clinical rotation/experiences using Medicaid-based coverage. Students using Medicaid-based coverage while completing a clinical rotation/experience out-of-state are responsible for all medical expenses incurred that their Medicaid-based plan is not covered. Graduating students completing clinical rotations/experiences out-of-state that match to an out-of-state residency program during their final year should note that their out-of-state placement may cause them to lose eligibility for their respective state’s Medicaid-based coverage.

WAIVER APPEALS

If your waiver is denied, you may appeal the decision. The University will only override the waiver denial if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

As the student, you are enrolled on a parent, guardian, or spouse’s employer health insurance plan, and the responsible party signs the High Deductible Appeal Form on your behalf. (You must be a dependent on the plan)
You can provide documentation (current statement) of a health savings account that holds a balance that will cover the difference between your health insurance plan deductible and the University’s $1,000.00 deductible requirement.

HSAC will provide instructions and deadlines for submitting your waiver appeal in your waiver denial email. Final Approval of your Waiver Appeal is the decision of WesternU.

If an acceptable waiver is not received by the posted waiver deadline, WesternU will finalize your enrollment in the student health insurance plan, you will no longer be eligible for a refund of the fall 2022 premium, and your student account will automatically be assessed the applicable spring 2023 premium during registration.

HSAC will verify health insurance plans approved during the waiver process periodically to ensure students comply with the University’s health insurance coverage requirements.

Coverage must be in force for the entire school term.

Please note - you must have active coverage that meets all requirements set forth by WesternU by the waiver deadline. There are no exceptions to this policy or waiver deadline extensions.

For the 2023-2024 Academic Year, if an acceptable waiver is not received by the required waiver deadline, WesternU will finalize your enrollment in the student health insurance plan. Your student account will automatically be assessed the applicable 2023-2024 Academic Year premium. You will no longer be eligible for a refund once your enrollment has been processed.

HSAC will periodically verify health insurance plans approved during the waiver process to ensure students comply with the University's health insurance coverage requirements.

All full-time students are automatically assessed for half of the annual student health insurance premium upon registration for the Fall Semester. This fee is reversed only if you submit proof of health insurance coverage that meets the University's coverage requirements. When you fail to submit proof of alternative health insurance coverage by the deadline for your program/class year, your student health insurance plan enrollment is finalized. You are no longer eligible for a refund of the first half of the premium. You will automatically be assessed the second half of the premium upon registration for the spring term.

Periodic Waiver Verifications

If your waiver is approved, it is still subject to periodic verification throughout the academic year to ensure that your submitted plan is still active and meets the University's health insurance coverage requirements. It is incumbent on the student to ensure their plan remains active and in compliance with the University's health insurance requirements throughout the current academic year, including summer and holidays.

If your plan is found to be inactive or out of compliance, the University reserves the right to enroll a student in the student health insurance plan from the start of the period of non-compliance (even if your termination date was in the past) through the end of the current academic year. If your plan is found out of compliance, you will receive an e-mail notification from HSAC, and you will have 14 calendar days to respond. If you have not responded within 14 calendar days, the University will proceed with enrollment in the student health insurance plan, assess your student account for the applicable premium charges, and notify your program of your non-compliance with the University's health insurance requirements.

Involuntary Loss of Coverage/Age-Outs

If you originally waived out of the student health insurance plan but find that you need health insurance coverage later in the year due to an involuntary loss of coverage or if you have aged out of your parent's insurance plan, you can also enroll via the Health Sciences Assurance Consulting website. Students enrolling after the initial enrollment period due to an involuntary loss of coverage will be assessed a prorated portion of the insurance premium based on their enrollment dates. Students have 14 calendar days after an involuntary loss of coverage to enroll in the student health insurance plan or submit updated proof of coverage. Proof of coverage must show that the new coverage is in effect as of the termination date of previous coverage. No gaps in coverage are permitted.

Students must maintain continuous enrollment in health insurance. If you are submitting new proof of coverage, it must begin at the same time as your previous coverage termination. You are not eligible to waive if you have any coverage gap.

Once you have submitted the required information, you will receive an email verifying if your waiver meets the WesternU requirements. If your coverage does not meet requirements, you will be provided with details in an email.

Please be aware that you will be automatically enrolled in the health insurance plan, and the health insurance charge will remain on your account if a waiver request is not completed and approved. WesternU will not accept waiver requests after your deadline.

If you are currently insured by another plan, please take the time to compare your benefits and cost to the 2023-2024 WesternU student health insurance plan. The WesternU health plan offers very comprehensive benefits, and the cost for the group coverage may be lower than your current plan. Remember, you will need an involuntary loss of coverage to enroll in the student health plan after the annual open enrollment period has ended once you waive. If you turn 26 during the academic year, it is a qualifying life event. Therefore, you will be eligible to enroll in the WesternU student health insurance plan. It is important to note that voluntary termination does not make you eligible for enrollment after the annual enrollment period has ended.

Insurance Fraud Warning: Any person who knowingly presents a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss of benefits or knowingly presents false information in an insurance application is guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement in prison.

By submitting your waiver request, you acknowledge that you have read the Waiver Requirements and WesternU Insurance Policy, agree to abide by all policy terms and understand that HSAC will verify your insurance coverage.

Waiver Form