Aetna Student Health administers the University of Virginia student health insurance plan. Aetna Student Health has more than 30 years of experience in student health insurance. It employs more than 300 individuals focused on all aspects of student health insurance. Aetna Student Health partners with over 200 colleges and universities on a fully-insured basis and is the largest student health administrator in the country. It proudly points to the fact that they retain a majority of their college clients and enrolled students each academic year and that it insures more than 500,000 students and dependents nationwide. Aetna Student Health members are provided access to preferred providers through the nationwide Aetna network.
In 2001-2002, Aetna Student Health, then known as The Chickering Group, was first selected to administer the University’s student health plan following an open and competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The selection committee consisted of University faculty, students, and administrators. Aetna Student Health was awarded a three-year contract, which expired on August 24, 2005. The contract included an option that permitted two one-year renewal periods. The University exercised both options for renewal, causing the original contract to expire in August 2007.
In 2006, the University conducted another open and competitive RFP for the student health plan. The selection committee, which again consisted of University faculty, students, and administrators, awarded Aetna Student Health the contract for the 2007-2008 plan year with annual options for renewal over the next 14 years. Following comprehensive review of the plan and negotiations to ensure a competitive rate, the University exercised its options for renewal by executing a contract with Aetna Student Health for the last nine plan years. Following the same process, the University exercised its eleventh option for renewal for the 2021-2022 plan year.