Request a Waiver

Last reviewed: 12/13/2024

Most Columbia students are required to have health insurance while they’re enrolled. To support this University requirement, Columbia Health offers the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan (the Columbia Plan). All full-time students are automatically enrolled. Part-time students who are not U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents are automatically enrolled in this plan.

If you have coverage that meets all University requirements via another plan and wish to remain on that plan you will need to request a waiver.

The Student Health Insurance Office considers all requests. Approval is not guaranteed and is contingent upon meeting the University requirements. Waivers must be submitted each academic year—being approved in the past does not mean your current waiver will be approved as criteria may change. Review the waiver eligibility checklist before submitting a request, even if your request was approved in previous years.  

All requests must be submitted through the Patient Portal. Read the step-by-step instructions to learn what information is needed and how to submit.

Waiver Eligibility Criteria and FAQ

Almost all students are required to have health insurance coverage that meets the University requirements for an alternative health plan. 

Waiver Eligibility

All J-Visa Holders

U.S. government regulations mandate that all J-visa holders have health and accident insurance during the entire length of their stay.  As a result, the University requires that all J-visa holders be enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan at Columbia. 

Review the Waiver Eligibility Checklist for more detailed criteria. The cost of the insurance plan is not reason to submit a waiver request.

New and Continuing Students

Please review your alternate coverage to determine whether it meets all of the following University requirements:

  1. The plan must meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, including coverage for routine, urgent, and emergent care for all of the Act’s Essential Health Benefits in New York State. 
  2. The plan must be based in and licensed by The State Insurance Office to do business in the United States.
  3. The plan must be effective and remain in force for the duration of the term.
  4. No yearly or lifetime coverage maximums for essential health benefits.

Visa Holders (any student other than a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident)

In addition to the University requirements listed above:

  1. The plan must provide routine coverage throughout the United States.
  2. The plan must include medical evacuation (minimum of $50,000) and repatriation coverage (minimum of $25,000). This requirement may be met via a secondary coverage plan for evacuation and repatriation only. Coverage is required to be active from August 15, 2024 through August 14, 2025.

Important notice: 
Proof of medical evacuation and repatriation must be uploaded on Medical Clearances / Insurance Enrollment under International Waiver Docs (Update). Coverage is required to be active from August 15, 2024 through August 14, 2025.

Review the Waiver Eligibility Checklist to see if your plan meets the requirements. Waiver requests cannot be reviewed unless all required documentation is provided and incomplete submissions will be denied.

For more details about health insurance coverage, please review the Health Care for International Students page.

Please note NYS Essential Plans for visa holders do not typically meet the University requirements.

Columbia University reserves the right to verify, at any time, the health insurance information you have provided. If your plan does not meet the University requirements described above, you will be enrolled in Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan and charged the associated premium for the full period.

The criteria for a waiver may differ from year to year and most plans are renewed, and potentially updated, on an annual basis. A yearly waiver request ensures that your plan continues to meet the minimum requirements for a waiver.

If your request is denied, you will be told the reason for the denial in your Patient Portal. You may submit a request for reconsideration only if you have new information that directly addresses the reason for the denial. If you do not have new information, your denial will remain, and you will be required to enroll in the Columbia Plan.

All full-time students and those not U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents will be automatically enrolled in the Columbia Plan. Those who do not receive approval of a submitted waiver meeting the University requirements will remain enrolled in the Plan and are responsible for the insurance charges on their student account.   

If your waiver request is approved, health insurance charges will be removed from your student account in 7 to 10 business days.

Students with active New York State Medicaid coverage may request a waiver.

If your Medicaid coverage is from outside New York, waiver requests are typically denied while living in New York. Medicaid plans from other states usually do not provide coverage outside of their state of residence, and students would not be covered for routine care in New York.

When you’re trying to decide, you may want to consider: 

  • Does the alternate plan meet the University criteria? 
  • Do you have coverage in New York City, across the country, and internationally? 
  • What are the out-of-pocket costs? 
  • If you’re below the age of 26 and on your parent or guardian’s insurance, will you age out during the plan year?

You can use our Compare your Coverage tool to help you make an informed decision. You are also welcome to visit our office during our drop-in hours to ask questions or discuss options with a staff member. 

Whether you enroll in the Columbia Plan or a different one, students accept the responsibility of paying for all medical costs that are not covered by their health insurance.