Waive

Before waiving, students are encouraged to review their current insurance to understand how it works when accessing care on or near campus, including care from Student Health Services at the Wilce Student Health Center. Things to consider include:

• Access to in-network providers on or near campus  - including medical and mental health.
• Access to in-network pharmacies on or near campus for prescription drugs.
• Out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
• Is the coverage active for the entire academic year?

Use the interactive Comparison Worksheet to help decide which plan works best for you.

To waive the Student Health Benefits Plan, you must: 

• Complete the Waive process in Buckeye Link prior to the deadline.
• Be enrolled in coverage that meets the criteria in our Guidelines for Adequate Health Insurance.  
• Be enrolled in coverage that is active on or before the fee due date of the first semester of enrollment each academic year.
• Maintain active coverage for each term of the academic year in which you are enrolled as a student at the university.

Students will be required to submit valid insurance information in Buckeye Link during the Waive process. It is helpful to have a copy of the insurance card handy while completing the Waive process.

Waive requests are subject to audit to confirm the health insurance submitted meets the criteria for Adequate Health Insurance AND 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 fee. 

Tip: Have your insurance card or policy materials available before you begin!  Be ready to enter the policy group number, policyholder’s name and ID number, and insurance contact information. 

1. Log into Buckeye Link
2. Click the My Buckeye Link Student login tile, then enter your name.# login credentials.
3. On the left side of the page, locate the Student Health Insurance title bar in the Finances area.
4. Click the Enroll/Waive Coverage link. 
5. Click the button next to Waive the Student Health Benefits Plan (I verify I have other active health insurance for the academic year).
6. Select the Academic Term (AU, SP, SU) from the drop-down menu and click Next.
7. Click the magnifying glass icon to select the name of your insurance company from an alphabetized list of common insurance companies that appear.  
8. If your insurance company does not appear in the drop-down listing, select “Other” from the list, and type your insurance's name into the “Insurance Company Other” dialog box. 
9. Continue by entering all required information and click Next.
10. Review the WAIVER Acknowledgement and select I AGREE to proceed to the confirmation page. Choose I DISAGREE to terminate the process.

Review and keep the Confirmation page for your records.   A confirmation number means you have successfully completed the waive submission process.  You may access it at any point in your My Buckeye Link via the "View Insurance Information" link.

It can take up to two (2) business days for the student health insurance fee to be removed from your Statement of Account. 

Check your Statement of Account each semester to ensure if reflects the intended health insurance enrollement to waiver, regardless of who is paying your bill and/or your academic program's involvement in your registration.

If you missed the deadline to WAIVE in Buckeye Link, you may submit a Waive Request  for consideration during the current policy year.

Waive Requests are NOT ACCEPTED for a policy year that has already ended. 

To waive the Student Health Benefits Plan, you must: 

• Be enrolled in coverage that meets the criteria in our Guidelines for Adequate Health Insurance.  
• Be enrolled in coverage that is active on or before the fee due date of the first semester of enrollment each academic year.
• Maintain active coverage for each term of the academic year in which you are enrolled as a student at the university.
• Benefits must not have been used.

Students submitting a Waive Request will be required to submit valid insurance information.  It is helpful to have a copy of the insurance card handy during the submission process.

Check your Statement of Account each semester to ensure if reflects the intended health insurance enrollement to waiver, regardless of who is paying your bill and/or your academic program's involvement in your registration.

International students may qualify for an exemption from the Student Health Benefits Plan if one of the following criteria is met: 

1. The student is covered under a government sponsored plan that has been approved by the University.  Note: SHI requires written confirmation from the government that the government will take full financial responsibility for all medical expenses not covered by insurance.   
2. The student is covered under a U.S. based health insurance policy as a U.S. based employee, or as a dependent of a U.S. based employee. 
3.  The student has permanent residency status (a green card) and is enroll in other health insurance that meets our Guidelines for Adequate Coverage.

If you believe you qualify for an exemption, you must submit a Waive Request. The Student Health Insurance office will respond to your university email with our approval or denial decision.  

International students residing in their home country and taking only Distance Learning credits may not be subject to the Health Insurance Requirement and may request to have the Student Health Benefits Plan fee be removed from their Statement of Account. 

You will need to verify your current residency in your homeland by providing your I-94 documentation (Most Recent I-94 page and Travel History page).  You can access your I-94 information online. 

Please email shi_info@osu.edu for more information or to make this request.