The mandatory SHIP requirement applies to students in the one of the following programs that already require proof of health insurance and have a clinical component:

• All students admitted to any MGA Nursing program (associate's, bachelor's, or master's)
• All students admitted to the MGA Respiratory Therapy program (associate's and bachelor's).
• All students admitted to the MGA Occupational Therapy Assistant program with the exception of students enrolled in OCTA 1410.
• All students enrolled in HS 4450 and/or HS 4451.

 If you are uncertain whether your current insurance coverage plan meets the following requirements, please contact your insurance carrier and select the appropriate response on the waiver.  Please note that answering "no" to any of these waiver requirements will automatically deny your waiver so please answer carefully.

The University System of Georgia requires all students in a mandatory category to have coverage that is in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. Note: ACA comparable plans do not meet the waiver criteria and will not be accepted. 

The following benefits must be covered and conditions met to be considered for a waiver from the USG mandatory plan:

• Plan must be ACA compliant, meaning that the plan is an individual or group insurance plan meeting the requirements of ACA.
  • Unlimited maximum benefits for covered medical expenses
  • Coverage for essential benefits (with no dollar limits) as defined under the ACA. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • Pharmacy (prescription drug coverage)
    • Mental health services on parity with medical services
    • Maternity benefits
    • Preventive care with no cost-sharing for preferred providers
    • Coverage for pre-existing conditions with no waiting period
    • Pediatric dental and pediatric vision coverage.
• Maximum preferred provide total out-of-pocket expenses cannot exceed $9,450 per member ($18,900 per family).  This amount may be adjusted annually to reflect the then current allowable maximum out-of-pocket.
• Plan is in effect for the entire semester

• Go to http://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/mgc.
• Click on the "Waive Coverage" button.
• Student Validation
  • Enter your birthday (month, day, and year)
  • Enter your MGA Student ID number (which begins with 983).
• A six-digit verification number will be sent to your MGA email account.  Enter that number to continue with the waiver process.
• Enter your gender, mailing address, and personal email (optional). Click "Next".
• Answer all the waiver questions.
  • Click "Read More" to be sure your current coverage meets the standards for a waiver.
    • NOTE:  If you answer "no" to any question, your waiver will be automatically denied.
• Insurance Information - during this step, it will be helpful to have a copy of your insurance card or policy coverage available, as you will be providing the following information:
  • Insurance Member ID or Insurance Policy Number
  • Group Number (if none, type N/A)
  • Policy Holder First Name
  • Policy Holder Last Name
    • If you are under a parent, spouse, or other person's coverage, you will need to enter their name.
  • Policy Holder Date of Birth
  • Policy Holder Relationship to Student
  • Policy Holder Gender
  • Insurance Company Name
    • There is a pull down menu with a long list of insurance companies.  If you do not see yours, select "Other" and answer the next question
  • Other Insurance Company Name
  • Insurance Company Phone
  • Policy Holder Address
  • Policy Holder City
  • Policy Holder State
  • Policy Holder Zip Code
• Digitally Sign and date the waiver and upload a clear picture of the front and back of your ID card or proof of coverage.

You will receive confirmation that your waiver request was received.  You will not receive notification if or when you waiver is approved.

Once approved by UHC, with 2-3 business days, the MGA Bursar's Office will apply the waiver to your student account.  The SHIP fee will remain on your account but an equal credit will also appear once the waiver is approved.

If your waiver is denied or declined, you may appeal the decision as noted below.

This mandatory SHIP requirement applies only to the following all international students holding "F" or "J" visas.  Changes in a student's visa status during any semester will be applied to the following semester.  Any such changes will not be retroactively applied to the current semester of enrollment. 

If you are uncertain whether your current insurance coverage plan meets the following requirements, please contact your insurance carrier and select the appropriate response on the waiver.  Please note that answering "no" to any of these waiver requirements will automatically deny your waiver so please answer carefully.

The University System of Georgia requires all students in a mandatory category to have coverage that is in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. Note: ACA comparable plans do not meet the waiver criteria and will not be accepted. 

The following benefits must be covered and conditions met to be considered for a waiver from the USG mandatory plan:

• Repatriation of remains in the amount of at least $25,000
• Medical Evacuation to one's home country in the amount of at least $50,000
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness, per policy year
• Maximum preferred provide total out-of-pocket expenses cannot exceed $9,450 per member ($18,900 per family)
• In-patient and outpatient, mental and nervous disorder benefits
• Prescription drug coverage
• Unlimited Maximum Benefit for covered medical expenses
• Preventive Care with no cost-sharing for Preferred Providers
• Coverage for pre-existing condition(s) with no waiting period
• Plan is in effect for the entire semester
• Underwriting carrier of your current policy must be licensed and based in the United States

Please note that no action (enrollment or waiver request) can be made until the enrollment and waiver period opens and you receive an email notifying you are registered for classes and your information has been entered into the UHC database.

• Go to http://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/mgc.
• Click on the "Waive Coverage" button.
• Student Validation
  • Enter your birthday (month, day, and year)
  • Enter your MGA Student ID number (which begins with 983).
• A six-digit verification number will be sent to your MGA email account.  Enter that number to continue with the waiver process.
• Enter your gender, mailing address, and personal email (optional). Click "Next".
• Answer all the waiver questions.
  • Click "Read More" to be sure your current coverage meets the standards for a waiver.
    • NOTE:  If you answer "no" to any question, your waiver will be automatically denied.
• Insurance Information - during this step, it will be helpful to have a copy of your insurance card or policy coverage available, as you will be providing the following information:
  • Insurance Member ID or Insurance Policy Number
  • Group Number (if none, type N/A)
  • Policy Holder First Name
  • Policy Holder Last Name
    • If you are under a parent, spouse, or other person's coverage, you will need to enter their name.
  • Policy Holder Date of Birth
  • Policy Holder Relationship to Student
  • Policy Holder Gender
  • Insurance Company Name
    • There is a pull down menu with a long list of insurance companies.  If you do not see yours, select "Other" and answer the next question
  • Other Insurance Company Name
  • Insurance Company Phone
  • Policy Holder Address
  • Policy Holder City
  • Policy Holder State
  • Policy Holder Zip Code
• Digitally Sign and date the waiver and upload a clear picture of the front and back of your ID card or proof of coverage in English.

You will receive confirmation that your waiver request was received.  You will not receive notification if or when you waiver is approved.

Once approved by UHC, with 2-3 business days, the MGA Bursar's Office will apply the waiver to your student account.  The SHIP fee will remain on your account but an equal credit will also appear once the waiver is approved.

If your waiver is denied or declined, you may appeal the decision as noted below. 

If you are a Health Science student or international student who is required to have health insurance coverage, and you wish to accept the UHC coverage associated with the SHIP fee, to officially accept, please follow the steps below.  As long as you follow these steps, you will not be asked to pay for the plan with credit card: 

• Go to http://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/mgc.
• Click on the "Opt-In" button.
• Enter your birthday and MGA student ID Number (beginning with 983). Click "Next".
• Select Policy Term which is typically the semester in which you are enrolled. Click "Next".
• Confirm the personal information listed is correct. Click "Next".
• Digitally Sign, date, and submit.

Even if you have paid tuition and all fees, until you take these steps you are not officially enrolled in the coverage plan and will continue to receive email reminders.

Students who believe their waiver was denied in error or wishing to appeal the decision can contact the Waiver Verification Team at wverification@uhcsr.com or follow the instructions in the confirmation messages.

• Students should include their full name, name of the University, and their MGA student ID number (which begins with 983), along with additional information explaining why you believe your waiver was denied in error and/or provide any additional information UHC has requested (i.e. proof of coverage).
• The Waiver Verification Team will review the request and will notify the student of the appeal decision.
• If the student disagrees with the appeal decision, it is sent to an independent 3rd party for review.
• The 3rd party auditor will evaluate the plan and make a final determination.
• If overturned, UHCSR will update the waiver status to "Approved Verification" and a notification will be sent via email to the student.

The decision of United HealthCare and the independent 3rd party is final.   Middle Georgia State University officials cannot and will not overturn this decision.

The University System of Georgia developed the student health insurance program in order to provide quality health insurance to students in the mandated categories at the lowest possible cost. 

Vision and dental plans can be added.   Information about these plans can be found at www.uhcsr.com/mgc.  Premiums for these plans are paid directly to UHC.

Students who would like to add spouse and/or children, or add vision or dental coverage must create or log onto their UHC account and add those premiums, in addition to paying UHC directly for the cost of the additional premiums and coverage.

Students must have secured a waiver or accepted the UHC coverage plan by the deadlines posted below.  Paying the SHIP fee does not indicate that you have accepted the coverage plan.

NOTE:  Beginning Spring Semester 2025, SHIP deadlines will correspond to the last day to drop/add classes.

*All open enrollment and waiver periods are subject to change.  Deadlines may be extended but will never be shortened.

The voluntary enrollment period for each semester closes on the same deadlines noted above.

Students who are not required to have health insurance coverage may still enroll in the UHC coverage plan.  Because these students are voluntarily choosing to enroll in the coverage, the cost of the plan cannot be added to your tuition and student fees; you must pay United HealthCare the total amount when you sign up. 

To voluntarily enroll in the UHC coverage:

• Go to http://uhcsr.com and enter "Middle Georgia State University" in the search.
• Choose the 2024-2025 policy year.
• Click on"Explore Policy" under "Medical - Domestic Voluntary" Policy #2024-1225-11
• Review the summary brochure and when you are ready, click "Get Started".
• Enter your zip code and determine if you are adding a spouse and/or children to the coverage plan. Click "Next".
• Complete the additional questions asked and submit your payment.
• You will receive a confirmation of purchase and email notification with instructions on how to create an account and access your coverage plan details.

Middle Georgia State University staff and faculty cannot answer specific questions about a student's health insurance plan and whether or not it meets the waiver requirements.   If you are unsure if your current insurance coverage meets the waiver requirements, contact your insurance provider and refer to the waiver requirements noted above that apply to you

The University is only responsible for inputting information into the UHC student database and notifying students about the waiver/enrollment process. The University does not review and approve waivers or appeals.

Students can email questions or concerns about the enrollment and waiver process to shipquestions@mga.edu.  Please include your MGA ID number and your student status (health sciences major or international).

For specific questions related to your individual UHC plan/coverage, you must contact UHCSR Customer Service at 1.866.403.8267 or review the following 2024-2025 brochures:

• Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan (for Health Science Majors)
• International Student Health Insurance Plan 
• Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan (for those voluntarily choosing to enroll)