Frequently Asked Questions

In the past many students have faced financial hardship as a result of unexpected medical expenses. In addition with this new Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) we’ll be able to offer quality insurance at a much lower cost.

• If you are a full-time undergraduate the University requires you to have health insurance.
• If you are a part-time student, you are not required to purchase insurance or provide proof of alternative coverage. However all students taking 6 or more on campus credit hours, are eligible to enroll in the UAlbany Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

The University at Albany requires all full time domestic undergraduate students to carry some form of health insurance. A full time student is defined as enrolled in 12 or more credits for a given term. (International students are required to enroll in a separate, International student insurance plan.)

• Health insurance guarantees that you will be able to obtain necessary treatment in the event that you develop a serious illness or sustain an injury.
• Health insurance also protects you against potential catastrophic financial losses by limiting the extent of your fiscal responsibility for the cost of medical treatment.

• You may satisfy the insurance requirement through any private health insurance plan or through enrollment in UAlbany SHIP.
• Full time Undergraduate students must submit information about their health insurance coverage each year to avoid enrollment in the UAlbany SHIP. You do this by completing a waiver by the deadline.

You will only be enrolled in SHIP if you have not “waived out” by providing evidence that you are covered by comparable health insurance. In order to waive out of being billed for SHIP, you must first be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the applicable semester and then identify the insurance policy you are carrying by completing a online waiver form. You simply enter your insurance policy number and answer a few questions. If you are covered under your parents’ policy, you can get that information from your insurance card, or simply ask your parents. Full time undergraduate students must submit information about their health insurance coverage each year by completing a waiver form.

Within a few days of registering for 12 or more credit hours for the semester you will be loaded into the waiver system and will be able to complete a waiver. Please plan on at least 2-3 business days.

If you are a full time domestic undergraduate and want to waive or enroll in SHIP, be sure you are registered for 12 or more credits, have waited 2-3 business days after meeting the 12 credit hour minimum and have all of the information about your alternative coverage at hand. Enroll or request a waiver here.

No. In order to ensure that your waiver/enrollment is properly recorded, you must use the on-line system.

No, however any waiver deemed unacceptable will result in the student being notified through their UAlbany email regarding the deficiencies of their waiver application. Waivers that are accepted will result in and email to the UAlbany email address and the removal of the health insurance premium from the next UAlbany invoice.

Students will see a ‘confirmation’ page after they hit the submit button. Students will also receive an email to their UAlbany account telling them either their waiver was accepted or declined.

• The deadline is the mid point date for that semester as noted on the Academic Calendar.
• Failure to provide a waiver by this point will result in automatic enrollment in the UAlbany SHIP and the irreversible insurance charge to your invoice.

Full-time domestic undergraduate students (registered for 12 or more credits) that do not file an accepted waiver by the waiver deadline for the semester will be automatically enrolled in the UAlbany SHIP with the resulting irreversible charge placed on their UAlbany tuition invoice.

Yes, students do need to waive out each year.

The premiums are billed with the fall tuition invoice and again with the spring tuition invoice. If you have not waived out for the fall semester, you will receive a Tuition e-bill which will include a charge for the fall SHIP. If you have not waived out for the spring semester, you will then be billed on the spring tuition e-bill for the spring/summer portion of the SHIP.

If you want any of your excess financial aid to pay for your SHIP coverage, please visit the finances tab on MyUAlbany, and elect to “Authorize the Use of Financial Aid to Pay Other Charges.” If you do not, any excess financial aid will be refunded to you, and you will need to make a payment for your SHIP charge.

You need to enroll directly through the UnitedHealthcare - web site. www.uhcsr.com

After the waiver deadline regardless of your health insurance status, you will be unable to cancel SHIP or receive a refund for that semester. Contact SHIP@albany.edu for any other questions in this regard.

Many medical providers and pharmacies in the Capital Region as well as many providers nationwide participate with UnitedHealthcare. It is crucial that you visit a UnitedHealthcare in-network provider or pharmacy to avoid excessive out of pocket expenses. Also, you MUST obtain a UAlbany Health Center referral BEFORE going to a participating physician or you will be charged excessive out of pocket expenses. Visit the UnitedHealthcare web site www.uhcsr.com for a list of providers and pharmacies and always verify that the medical office or pharmacy you are going to receive care from is a preferred provider with UnitedHealthcare.

Yes. Without a referral from the UAlbany Health center your claim will be denied and you will be responsible for the entire bill. The only exceptions to this are when visiting the UAlbany Health Center first is not possible:

Yes. The ACA set minimum standards for the coverage provided by all insurance carriers with student health plans being no exception. The ACA did allow a special exemption for Student Health Insurance Plans enabling them to exist independently from other health plans by offering coverage to college students only. As a result of this exemption student health plans are significantly less expensive than plans obtained through the individual market or through employee plans.

The carrier is UnitedHealthcare (www.uhcsr.com). Many physicians in the Albany area accept this insurance. However, before you visit a doctor locally, you must get a referral from the University Health Center or you will be expected to pay the entire bill.

Graduate students and part time undergraduates may enroll in SHIP as long as the eligibility requirements are met. Enrollment can be done directly on the United Healthcare web site at www.uhcsr.com.

After August 1 for the fall term and January 1 for Spring term all students who actively enroll will have an insurance card sent out within two business days. Students who fail to waive out by the waiver deadline and are thus automatically enrolled will have an insurance card sent out about three weeks after the deadline.

You may visit the UnitedHealthcare web site to create an account and print a new card. www.uhcsr.com

If you have questions about coverage you may contact UnitedHealthcare at customerservice@uhcsr.com or 1-800-767-0700. For claims contact claims@uhcsr.com. For questions regarding the waiver process, referrals or the health center interaction with UnitedHealthcare email SHIP@albany.edu.

UAlbany has made every attempt to keep the premium cost down while still ensuring adequate coverage for catastrophic medical expenses. Several options exist for low income New York State residents which can be viewed here.

Many students will find that the UAlbany SHIP is less expensive than the state sponsored plans but we encourage all students to explore these options. For further questions regarding these issues please contact SHIP@albany.edu.

No. All health insurance plans have deductibles and co-pays. In designing the UAlbany SHIP an attempt to balance the annual premium and Out of Pocket (OOP) expenses to the best interest of the student was pursued. Approximately 80% of all medical costs are covered by the SHIP, with the patient responsibility being about 20% (these costs are given as approximations to take into account various co-pays which differ from one service to another such as emergency room visit, radiologic studies, lab tests and pharmaceutical copays). Any decrease in co-pays within plan design results in higher annual premiums. To minimize Out of Pocket (OOP) expenses:

*Please note that additional policy exclusions and plan limitations may apply thus resulting in higher out of pocket costs. The above scenario’s are provided as an example and are not specific to policy benefits, exclusions or plan limitations that could have an impact on any given claim.

Many students will find that the UAlbany SHIP is less expensive than the state sponsored plans but we encourage all students to explore these options. For further questions regarding these issues please contact SHIP@albany.edu.