Health Insurance Program Waiver

WAIVER REQUESTS

Who is eligible to request a waiver to opt-out of the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP)?
This waiver request form is for domestic graduate students who are included in the mandatory group (GA/GRA/GTAs) and wish to opt-out of coverage due to having an existing health insurance policy of equal or greater coverage.

Who is NOT eligible to request a waiver?
International students that carry a J visa must contact the insurance office at insurance@auburn.edu to complete a waiver form. Some international students that complete this online waiver form will have their waiver request denied. You must be sure it is compliant with the mandatory SHIP plan by viewing the International ACA Compliant Wavier Questionnaire (PDF).  All international graduate students in F or J immigration status are subject to the conditions of the Mandatory International Student and Scholar health insurance plan; check with the Office of International Programs at insurance@auburn.edu for any questions or concerns.

How does the waiver work?
Domestic GA/GTA/GRA students who fall under the mandatory coverage requirement may waive out of this policy only by providing evidence of equal or greater coverage than the entirety of the AU policy. Waiver requests to opt-out of the GSHIP received due to insurance purchased through healthcare.gov must be of gold standard or higher in order to be accepted for processing.

What are the deadlines to submit a waiver request to opt-out?

• Waiver portal opens 07/14 and closes 09/15 for fall semester
• Waiver portal opens 01/14 and closes 03/15 for spring/summer
• Waiver portal opens 04/14 and closes 05/15 for summer semester
• Please be aware that a new insurance waiver request form must be completed at the beginning of each new academic year. If a waiver was completed for fall semester, this will be automatically applied to spring/summer semester.
• Students who waive out of the GSGHP/ISSHP will NOT be eligible for the university subsidy.
• Students who waive out of the insurance but wish to re-enroll at a later date may optionally do so at any time by contacting the insurance coordinator.

How will I know if my waiver request to opt-out is approved?
After selecting the ‘Submit Waiver’ button, the student will receive an on-screen confirmation. Additionally, an auto-generated email will advise the student that they have completed the waiver submission and to allow a reasonable timeframe for the verification process.

Please allow seven business days for Auburn University to receive this information from BCBS of AL, process this waiver, and reverse the charge on the student’s e-bill for the GSHIP premiums.

How do I request a waiver to opt out of the GSHIP?

• Go to https://auburn.mycare26.com and enter your full Auburn University email address.
• Then select “Log in using my Auburn Account.”
• After logging in to your Auburn Account, students will see the Care26 dashboard.
• Click on “I want to waive” and confirm that you meet the criteria for insurance while attending Auburn University (equal or greater coverage).
• Students will answer qualifying questions about the alternate health insurance. Students will need to answer “YES” to all the qualifying questions to be able to submit their waiver. Students who answer “NO” to any of the qualifying questions will have their waiver request denied. A student may resubmit their waiver request through the end of the waiver period, but they will need to answer “YES” to all of the qualifying questions in order for the waiver to go the next step.
• Students will enter their insurance information and attach the required insurance documentation to demonstrate equal or greater coverage.
• After selecting the ‘Submit Waiver’ button, the student will receive an on-screen confirmation. Additionally, an auto-generated email will advise the student that they have completed the waiver submission and to allow a reasonable timeframe for the verification process.

Please contact the Graduate Student Health Insurance Office at 334-844-4506 or via email at insurance@auburn.edu if you need any help with the waiver/opting out.

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