Deadline to Opt-Out of School Health Insurance Program Extended

by Evan Ritscher

The deadline for international, medical nursing, and health services students to opt-out of the mandatory student health plan has been extended. Students will now have until Friday October 12, 2012 to opt-out of the student health insurance plan provided to GW by Aetna.

GW requires that all international students with a J1 or F1 visa, as well as all medical, nursing, and health services students, have health insurance and provides such insurance through Aetna for students.

To opt out, students must prove enrollment in another insurance plan. Although not every plan will be accepted. GW requires that the alternate plan provide at least $50,000 in medical benefits per condition, have an annual deductible at or below $500, be valid throughout the academic year, and cover pre-existing conditions, alcohol, drug abuse and detoxification treatment, and self inflicting injuries. The school requires that insurance last the entire year to ensure there is no disruption in students’ academic progress.

To show alternate enrollment, students can fill out a waiver form on Aetna’s student health website. Once the waiver is approved, the cost of the provided insurance will be removed from students’ tuition.

Students will still have to reapply for insurance year to year.

Prior to the extended deadline, students were to have proved alternate insurance by September 30, 2012.