Eligibility
All International Students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and the premium for coverage is added to their tuition billing unless proof of comparable coverage is furnished. All other degree and non-degree seeking students (excluding Division of Unclassified (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 and will be billed for SHIP underwritten by UnitedHealthcare and administered by Academic Health Plans (AHP), unless they timely complete the online waiver process and are approved for a waiver. Information about the plan is available online at https://vanderbilt.myahpcare.com/. In addition, students may email SHIP@vanderbilt.edu with questions.
Cost
The annual premium, which is approved each year by the Board of Trust, is billed to students through their student account. The premium is a separate charge from tuition.
Coverage Period
Coverage for students begins August 12 and extends through August 11 the following calendar year. If a student withdraws from school within the first 31 days of a coverage period, they will not be covered under SHIP and the full premium will be refunded, less any claims paid. After 31 days, the student will be covered for the remainder of the plan year providing plan premiums are paid, and no refund will be allowed.
Graduating within 31 days of the start of the coverage period shall not be considered a withdrawal from school. Additional information regarding enrollment, waivers, graduation, and refunds is available on the Student Care Network website. Questions regarding student health insurance can be sent to SHIP@vanderbilt.edu.
Coverage Benefits
SHIP provides hospital, surgical, and major medical benefits. A brochure explaining the limits, exclusions, and benefits of the plan is available online at https://vanderbilt.myahpcare.com/ and on the Student Care Network website. Vanderbilt’s Student Health Center (SHC) is the primary care provider (PCP) under SHIP for all undergraduate and graduate & professional students. There is no referral required to been seen outside of the Student Health Center. For best benefit coverage, students should see in-network providers.
Waiver of Insurance Plan
A student who does not wish to subscribe to SHIP must notify the University of comparable coverage under another policy. Comparable criteria coverage for domestic and international students is found at https://www.vanderbilt.edu/studentcarenetwork/waive/. Waiver of the student insurance plan does not affect eligibility for services at SHC. The online waiver process may be found online at https://vanderbilt.myahpcare.com/waiver. The insurance charge will not be waived if the online process is not completed by the applicable deadline outlined in the SHIP waiver policies. The waiver process must be completed each academic year. Additional information about the waiver process may be found on the Student Care Network website.
Family Coverage
An additional premium is charged for family insurance coverage. An eligible student who wishes to provide coverage for his/her/their spouse and/or children, may do so at https://vanderbilt.myahpcare.com/. It is the student’s responsibility to enroll their eligible dependents each year. Dependents are not automatically enrolled.
Qualifying Events for Students and Dependents
Students who initially waive coverage can request to add coverage if they experience a qualifying event. Examples of a qualifying event include a) reaching the age limit of another health insurance plan, b) loss of health insurance through marriage or divorce, c) involuntary loss of coverage from another health insurance plan, and d) entering the United States of America. A qualifying event does not include a student who is seeking enrollment to gain access to a benefit that was exhausted under their private insurance plan.
Coverage will be effective beginning the first day following the loss of coverage, and the charges will be added to the student’s account. Eligible dependents may also be added if the student experiences one of the following qualifying events: (a) marriage, (b) birth of a child, (c) divorce, (d) the dependent entering the country for the first time, or (e) the dependent losing coverage under another insurance plan. Requests to add coverage based on a qualifying event must be received within 31 days of the qualifying event. Forms received more than 31 days after the qualifying event will not be processed.