Opt-Out/Waiver

If you do not want the Student Health Insurance Plan, you must decline or opt-out of coverage by submitting a waiver. You may only opt-out of coverage during the following Waiver Periods:

Fall Semester: 06/17/2024 - 08/01/2024

*For School of Medicine MD students, this waiver period also applies to you*

Spring Semester: 12/02/2024 - 01/04/2025

Summer Semester: 04/18/2025 - 06/01/2025

The Fall 24-25 waiver deadline ended 08/01/2024. The online waiver system can no longer accept new waiver requests.

If your plan meets the below criteria and you want to waive enrollment from the Student Health Insurance Plan, please acquire an electronic copy of the front and back of your insurance ID card and then select the link below to submit your waiver request. Please note: You will receive a submission confirmation email shortly after you submit your waiver. Once you login, select the WAIVE button under the "I Already Have Insurance" section.

Click Here to Submit the Student Waiver Request

Waiver Requirements

Degree and non-degree seeking students (excluding DUS and Consortium students) enrolled in 4+ credit hours, a 0-credit research/dissertation course, or any other course that is considered to equate to full-time enrollment are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (“SHIP”). SHIP enrolled students are eligible to waive if they meet the criteria outlined below: 

To be eligible for a waiver, Vanderbilt requires students to provide evidence of health insurance coverage equal to or better than the coverage provided by SHIP.

To qualify for a waiver, your health insurance plan must:

• Be fully compliant with the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and all state and federal mandates. Click here to confirm if your plan is ACA compliant;
• Be underwritten by an insurance company based in the United States with a U.S. telephone number and address for submission of claims;
• Provide unlimited access to doctors, specialists, hospitals and other healthcare providers within 25 miles of campus – unless the student is fully online in a distance learning program;
• Cover a minimum of 80% with no lifetime maximum (i.e., unlimited benefit) per accident or sickness OR the co-insurance must not exceed 20%.  This requirement can be waived if:
  • It is a U.S. employer plan OR
  • It is an individual plan with an individual deductible of no more than $1,000 AND an individual out-of-pocket maximum of no more than $5,000;
• Have an in-network individual deductible no more than $1,000 per policy year (this will be waived for U.S. employer plans);
• Provide coverage for the period beginning August 12, 2024 with the expectation of continuing coverage through August 11, 2025.

**Please note, the following types of plans are not acceptable for a waiver. ** 

1. Short-Term Limited Duration Plans
2. Medical Cost-Sharing Plans
3. Healthcare Sharing Ministry Plans
4. Medisave Plans
5. Out-of-State HMO plans for students in on campus programs (unless proof is provided that there are no coverage limits in Nashville)
6. Out-of-State Medicaid Plan
7. Children’s Health Insurance Plans
8. Travel Plans
9. Plans filed outside of the United States of America
10. Individual/Marketplace Plans (international students only)
11. Home-country employer plans (international students only)

Waiver applications will be reviewed and verified as active with the insurance carrier.

Notice of Acceptance or Rejection of waiver applications will be sent to the student’s Vanderbilt email address within seven (7) business days.