Health Insurance Requirement at Ohio State

Students at all campuses of The Ohio State University are required to have active health insurance for the academic year (autumn, spring, summer semesters) if they are enrolled at least half-time and in a degree program of study.

Non-U.S. based plans, travel insurance plans, defined benefit / indemnity plans, short-term limited duration plans, catastrophic health plans, life insurance plans, dental insurance plans, vision insurance plans, and hospital or provider office assistance plans cannot be used to meet this requirement.

Domestic students enrolled in courses at least half-time and in a degree program of study. Half- time is considered at least six (6) credit hours for undergraduates, at least four (4) credit hours for graduate and professional students and at least three (3) credit hours for post-candidacy doctoral students. Students taking one of the approved exception course numbers representing co-ops, internship, study abroad, and thesis or dissertation research will be automatically enrolled, and the health insurance premium will be included in their fees regardless of credit hours unless the student waives coverage.

International students enrolled in any credit hours are subject to the requirement and are required to purchase the Ohio State Student Health Benefits Plan. 

This criterion also determines which students are eligible to have the Ohio State Student Health Benefits Plan.

Please note the requirement does NOT apply to students enrolled in the following courses or programs and they are not eligible for coverage under the Student Health Benefits Plan:

• Graduate - Non-degree or Visitor 
• Undergraduate - Non-degree, Visitor, Academy
• Law - Non-degree or Casual
• Courses designated as Continuing Education
• Courses taken as Audit
• Online Academic Degree Programs (in the absence of campus based in person credit hours and/or fees)

Student Health Insurance (SHI) is responsible for ensuring students meet the university requirement. 

Students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Benefits Plan when they register for eligible classes in their first semester of each academic year, and the university will post the student health insurance fee to their account. Students can choose to Enroll or Waive this automatic enrollment before that semester’s  deadline. 

Academic year selection (Autumn, Spring, Summer semesters): The policy year follows the academic year. If students enroll in the Student Health Benefits Plan, the coverage and fees will be in effect for all remaining coverage periods of that year for which the student remains eligible. Modifications cannot be made semester-to-semester. Exceptions include if the student experiences a Life Event.

If students waive* the Student Health Benefits Plan in Buckeye Link before the deadline, the fee will be taken off their account within 1-2 business days. The waiver still stays in place for the academic year (Autumn, Spring, Summer semesters), but students can newly enroll in the Student Health Benefits Plan for a subsequent coverage period (semester) if they wish. 

*Waivers are subject to audit to confirm the health insurance you waived with is active for the academic year (Autumn, Spring, Summer semesters).  If an audit determines you are not in compliance, you will be notified and enrolled in the Student Health Benefits Plan and assessed the SHI fee. 

1. Enroll in the plan in the first semester you are enrolled each academic year and do so before the deadline. 
   
   
2. Be enrolled in eligible courses in both autumn and spring, and register for those courses before the coverage period start dates if at all possible (view dates). With few exceptions, you have to be enrolled in courses that meet credit hour and course eligibility if you wish to have student health insurance. 
   
   
3. Look at your Statement of Account and verify that the student health insurance fee appears on the itemized list of fees. If it doesn't appear, you do not have active coverage. 
   
   
4. Pay the student health insurance fee on time. 

1. Waive the plan in the first semester you are enrolled each academic year and do so before the deadline. 
   
   
2. Look at your Statement of Account and verify that the student health insurance fee has been removed from the itemized list of fees. It can take up to two (2) business days for the student health insurance fee to be removed from your Statement of Account.