Fall 2019 Waiver Deadline: Friday, September 13, 2019
PLEASE NOTE:
For the 2019-2020 process, all submitted waiver decision forms will be subject to a new waiver verification. The intent of the waiver verification process is to assess whether or not your insurance plan meets the requirements of USD and the Affordable Care Act by providing access to health care providers and comprehensive benefits when you are at the University.
The verification process checks the insurance company information entered on your form to determine access to care and to confirm your coverage is currently active and comparable to the plan offered by USD. Most waivers will be verified within 24-72 hours of submission. You will be notified via email to the email address submitted on your form of the acceptance or denial of your waiver. If your waiver was denied, you will be provided with steps to appeal the denial should you believe the denial was made in error.
Students who choose to waive the USD health insurance requirement must do so at the start of each academic year (or their first semester at USD if starting in the spring or upon arrival if a visiting scholar). Without submitting the online health insurance waiver each year, USD cannot waive the health insurance fee. Therefore, students who fail to submit the waiver by the posted deadline will be automatically enrolled and billed via their USD student account.
Students and visiting scholars may choose to waive the USD health insurance requirement with a comparable insurance plan only if this plan includes ALL of the following features:
- Effective throughout the semester/academic year
- Maximum dollar coverage of at least $100,000 per illness or injury (not the same as $100,000 maximum benefit)
- Include outpatient care (doctor visits, outpatient surgery, etc.)
- Include hospitalization
- Repatriation for at least $25,000
- Medical evacuation for at least $50,000
- Cost of deductible, if any, does not exceed $500 per accident or illness
Services should also include, but aren’t limited to:
- Preventive and non-urgent care
- Emergency care
- Surgical care
- Inpatient and outpatient hospitalization
- Lab work
- Diagnostic x-rays
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Prescription drugs
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment
Non-comparable health plans include:
- Those that only provide emergency services
- International plans (includes plans not filed in the US)
- Travel insurance plans
- Health care sharing plans
- Plans from insurance companies not located within the United States
- Prescription discount plans
Unsure if your health insurance meets these requirements? Use the comparison worksheet for assistance.
For in-depth information please refer to the Student Health Insurance Plan FAQ.
Note for Athletes: Student athletes participating in club or NCAA sports are NOT eligible to waive the USD health insurance requirement and therefore must enroll in the USD International Health Insurance Plan, which includes special provisions for athletes.
Note for Students with Embassy-Sponsored Plans: Students with embassy/cultural mission-sponsored health insurance plans are not required to complete the online waiver but must provide the OISS a copy of a financial guarantee or embassy insurance card at the time of immigration check-in.
Online Waiver Instructions
Students who have been issued and I-20 or DS-2019 can waive the USD International Health Insurance plan now.
To access the online waiver, please follow the instructions below:
- Gather all insurance documents - this information is required to fill out the online waiver
- Visit the Gallagher website to create an account (Note: a USD Student ID number is required to create an account)
- Click on "Student Waiver” on the left side panel and fill out personal information to create an account
- Click the “I want to Enroll/Waive” button.
- Follow the instructions to complete the form.
- Save a copy of your refernce number. This number only confirms submission, not approval of your form. Your waiver will be reviewed within 24 to 48 hours.
- Student accounts are automatically billed for the USD International Health Insurance plan each semester. However, once the online waiver is complete and has been approved, the USD International Center receives a report documenting this information, the insurance charges on the account will be reversed. Please note that this process may take up to 2 weeks.
