Waiving AU Insurance

The Annual/Fall online waiver period is 7/1/25 – 9/30/25. The Spring waiver period will be from 01/01/2026 - 01/31/2026.
Domestic Student Waiver Eligibility
All domestic students enrolled in 1/2 time or more credit hours (on campus) are required to either purchase a Student Health Insurance Policy (SHIP), or enter a *valid insurance waiver in registration central.
Alternate Health Insurance Requirements:
• Active medical coverage that is compliant with the ACA, (Affordable Care Act) as indicated below.

International Student Waiver Eligibility
All international students with an F or J Visa status are required to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
Exceptions are as follows:
• Student is a Canadian citizen.
• Student is sponsored by a foreign government with insurance that is recognized by the United States and meets the minimum requirements as shown below.
• Student is enrolled in an employer-provided group health plan that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

International students are prohibited by federal law from enrolling in Medicaid and cannot legally use Medicaid coverage to exempt themselves from student health insurance requirements. Using Medicaid as an international student may result in visa revocation, and deportation. International students must obtain coverage through the University health plan or qualifying US based group health plan that meets institutional requirements.

Please note that if a student wishes to travel off campus on any field trips or overseas mission trips, a waiver or exemption may not qualify for the type of coverage necessary to be able to go on a trip.  The student health plan is a policy that qualifies for the coverage needed for any field trips. 

Exemptions for remote students will be accomodated by having the academic advisor email stuins@andrews.edu to confirm remote status.

Students requesting an exception should contact the Student Insurance office at stuins@andrews.edu or call: 269-471-3327

*Minimum coverage required to waive the Student Insurance:

In order to waive the Andrews University sponsored health insurance, your plan must have comparable coverage including:
Unlimited maximum benefit for both accident and illness.
If you take a policy with a deductible, this must be less than or equal to $2,500  per individual.
No internal limits on Inpatient or Outpatient benefits.
Co-insurance of 80% in network and 75% out-of-network.  Domestic students can have 60% out-of-network).
Policy should cover the following with no limits or waiting periods:
        Physician office visits         
        Preexisting conditions
        Mental health
        Maternity
        Prescription Drugs (co-pay better than or equal to 50% of charges)
Coverage of any dependents is optional for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Policy to remain in effect for the entire academic year.

For international students (F and J visa holders), there is no option to waive the student health plan unless you are: a Canadian student, a sponsored student who is covered by an employer based health insurance, sponsored by a government that has provided proper documentation of your coverage that meets the minimum requirements.