This means that some – but not all – students are required to have health insurance coverage that meets minimum standards.

This mandatory requirement applies only to the following students:

• All international students who are holding “F” or “J” visas.
  • Changes in 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.
• Students enrolled in one of the following programs that already require proof of health insurance:
  • 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.

Students who are NOT in one of these categories are NOT REQUIRED to have health insurance. Students who are in one of the above categories will be notified via your MGA student email that your information has been uploaded to the United Healthcare Student Resources database and provided instructions and links to the United Health Care Website. You will need to either verify that you have adequate insurance coverage by submitting the SHIP waiver form, or you will need to officially accept the SHIP plan by completing the Enrollment Form.

As the SHIP fee is automatically added to your student account, you will not need to provide UHC with any additional credit card or payment information.

If you are not an international student, if you have not been officially admitted to the Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, or Occupational Therapy programs, or if you are not enrolled in the course listed above, you are not eligible for a mandatory policy but can still enroll in the same plan voluntarily at www.uhcsr.com. You will need to pay for the coverage cost directly to UHC as it cannot be added to your tuition and other fees through the University.

No, if you are not in one of these mandatory categories, you do not have a health insurance requirement and no action is necessary.

Please note you need to follow the instructions emailed to you very carefully to avoid being charged.

YES, if you are in one of these categories but you have some form of health insurance, you must request a waiver each semester (with the exception of summer semester if enrolled during spring semester).

Once you have been registered for classes and your information uploaded to the UHC Website, you will receive an email from a University official with instructions as to how to submit your waiver.

Acceptable coverage may include a policy held by your parent or spouse, or a company or organization on an approved waiver list.  Individual or association policies will NOT be acceptable forms of insurance coverage. Students are responsible for determining and verifying that their coverage plan meets the minimum criteria. 

Once students have submitted the waiver and answered the questions noted below, they will receive both an onscreen confirmation and an email notification that the waiver has been submitted and is either pending verification or declined.

• Waiver status is determined first by the answers to the questions, and secondly by verification of active coverage.
• If the student answers contrary to the requirements or the plan name selected is an excluded plan, the waiver is declined upon submission.
• If the answers are consistent with the requirements and the plan name selected is not an excluded plan, the waiver is placed in "Pending Verification" status.
• Waivers are processed within 5 business days.
• Students receive an email notifying them of the waiver decision once coverage has been verified.

Students have two opportunities to submit or correct waiver information.

Once a waiver has been approved, the waiver is applied to the student account or if the SHIP fee was already paid before the waiver was approved, the fee will be reimbursed via the Bursar's office.

APPEALING A WAIVER DECISION

Students who believe their waiver was denied in error can contact the Waiver Verification Team at waiververification@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).
• 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.

Students may be asked to submit a copy of their insurance card or insurance policy to United HealthCare for auditing and verification purposes.   Students may also be required to provide a copy of the insurance card or policy to the academic program or division chair, or to their athletic coach.  International students are required to submit a copy of their insurance policy in English when submitting a waiver. 

If it is determined, at any point in the semester, that a student's insurance coverage does not meet the requirements, the SHIP charge may be added to the student's account. In addition to have the SHIP charges added to their accounts, students who falsify documents may also face Student Conduct charges.

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.

WAIVER REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

As of June 2022, the waiver criteria are, as follows:

For nursing and health science students, your plan must:

• Cover essential services with unlimited lifetime maximums
• Include coverage for in-patient and outpatient, mental and nervous disorder benefits
• Provide coverage for all pre-existing conditions with no waiting period
• Include prescription drug coverage
• Be compliant with ACA (Affordable Care Act) guidelines
• Be in effect and valid for the entire semester of enrollment

For international students, your plan must:

• Include repatriation of remains in the amount of at least $25,000
• Include medical evacuation to one's home country in the amount of at least $50,000
• Include a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness, per policy year.
• Include a maximum preferred provider total out-of-pocket expenses not to exceed $8,550 per member ($17,100 per family)
• Provide in-patient and outpatient mental and nervous disorder benefits
• Provide prescription drug coverage
• Provide unlimited maximum benefit for covered medical expenses
• Provide preventive care for no cost-sharing for Preferred Providers
• Provide coverage for pre-existing conditions with no waiting period
• Have an underwriting carrier licensed and based in the United States
• Be in effect for the entire semester of enrollment

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - Beginning fall 2020, all international waiver requests will be reviewed for approval by UHC representatives and you are required to submit a copy of your insurance policy in English when submitting your waiver.  If UHC determines your policy does not meet the waiver requirements, you will need contact your insurance provider to determine what information or documentation they may need to cancel your coverage so that you can enroll in an accepted coverage plan.

The University System of Georgia has provided Frequently Asked Questions for international students related to the recent changes in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and waiver process.

International student waiver standards:

• Coverage is provided under an employer-sponsored group plan that is ACA compliant as described above.  In this case, it is likely that the insured may supplement the Health plan with separate Repatriation and Medical Evacuation coverage.
• A plan provided to sponsor students (for example:  Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, Embassy of Kuwait, Embassy of Oman, Thia Royal Embassy) that is backed by the full faith and credit of the student's home country may be acceptable.  The plans will be reviewed, and a determination made regarding comparability to the USG plan.  If determined to be comparable or better, the plan will be accepted.
• A plan provided by a pre-approved United States Cultural Exchange Program, for example, Fulbright Programs.

Please note that no action (enrollment or waiver request) can be made until

• the enrollment and waiver period opens
• you receive an email notifying you are registered for classes and your information has been entered into the UHC database.

If you are not covered by insurance, or your coverage does not qualify for a SHIP waiver, you will need to officially accept the appropriate UHC coverage plan, per the instructions included in the email sent by a University official, once you have been registered and your information has been entered in the UHC database.

Students who pay for the SHIP fee (with tuition and other fees) must still go into the UHC system and formally accept the plan.

Please note that if you do not follow the instructions provided in the email, you will be asked to pay for the plan via a credit card and you will still have to complete a waiver process.  PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS SENT TO YOUR MGA EMAIL ACCOUNT!

If you follow the instructions in the email, you will not be asked for any additional payment information and the fee will be included on your student account.

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 in the health science programs and international students will have the SHIP fee/individual student premium added automatically to your Tuition and Fees bill. If you have adequate coverage, it is your responsibility to initiate the waiver process described above by the deadline to avoid paying the premium.

Students who would like to add spouse and/or children 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.

Students who voluntarily enroll in the UHC plan have to pay UHC directly.

YES. You will need to successfully secure a waiver or secure coverage from United Healthcare each semester of your enrollment at any University System of Georgia institution. It is also important to note that some programs will also require you to provide proof of insurance in order to work in clinical settings.

You must have secured your waiver or have paid for your coverage from United Healthcare Student Resources by the deadlines posted below in order to remain enrolled in your classes. Students who do not secure the waiver or the coverage will be removed from their courses for non-payment. Any student removed from enrollment in the Nursing or Respiratory Therapy program may need to reapply for admission.

*All open enrollment and waiver periods are subject to change.

No waivers will be processed after the waiver/enrollment period closes.

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 listed under Question 4 above.

The University is only responsible for inputting information into the UHC student database and notifying students about the waiver/enrollment process. Students can email questions or concerns about the enrollment and waiver process to michael.stewart@mga.edu.

For specific questions related to your individual plan/coverage, you must contact UHCSR Customer Service at 1.866.403.8267.