Opt-Out/Waiver

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

Fall Semester: 07/01/2024 - 09/12/2024

Vanderbilt University automatically enrolls Postdoctoral trainees in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

To decline SHIP coverage, Vanderbilt requires that Postdocs provide evidence of coverage equal to or better than the coverage provided by Vanderbilt’s SHIP. To compare your current plan benefits with those offered by the Vanderbilt student health insurance plan, please click here.

To qualify for a waiver, your alternate health insurance plan must meet the requirements listed below.

Waiver Requirements:

• 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.
• Provides 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.
• Covers 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.
• Has an in-network individual deductible no more than $1,000 per policy year (this will be waived for U.S. employer plans).
• Provides coverage for the period beginning August 12, 2023, with the expectation of continuing coverage through August 11, 2024.

Upon receipt of your waiver request, AHP will audit your alternate insurance plan to confirm that it meets Vanderbilt’s waiver requirements. Notification of acceptance or rejection of waiver requests will be sent to your Vanderbilt email addresses within seven business days.

**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 (unless proof is provided that there are no coverage limits in Nashville)
6. Out-of-State Medicaid Plan
7. UHC – Oxford Insurance Plan
8. Children’s Health Insurance Plans
9. Travel Plans
10. Plans filed outside of the United States of America

If your plan meets the above 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. Once you login, select the WAIVE button under the “I Already Have Insurance.” section.