Insurance FAQS

UVA implemented the health insurance verification program for these important reasons:

• To reduce the health risk of its student population by ensuring reliable access to health care services
• To insulate students from devastating medical charges
• To ensure compliance with University policy

Because unforeseen medical situations can and do arise over the course of an academic career, UVA requires students charged the full comprehensive fees with their tuition to also carry adequate health insurance.

Under the health insurance verification program, UVA requires students charged for the comprehensive fees with their tuition to:

1. carry health insurance that meets specific coverage requirements (i.e., comparable coverage); and
2. provide proof of this insurance on an annual basis.

If proof of comparable coverage is not submitted (whether a student fails to submit any documentation or because a student’s health plan is determined not to provide adequate comparable coverage), the student will be responsible for the full cost for single coverage under the University-endorsed Aetna Student Health Plan.

UVA requires students charged for the comprehensive fees with their tuition to also carry adequate health insurance. If this is the case for a student, a "to-do" item, Insurance Verification, will be added in SIS. Here is an example:

In order to be considered comparable coverage, both domestic and international student’s health plan must meet the following five specific requirements for 2021-2022:

• The plan provides in-patient care and outpatient care (including visits for behavioral health care) within a 75-mile radius of the Charlottesville area. Coverage for emergency-only care (out of state medicaid) does NOT satisfy this requirement.
• The plan provides unlimited-medical benefits per sickness or injury. Insurance that fails to cover or limits coverage for pre-existing conditions is NOT acceptable.
• The plan is provided by a company licensed to do business in the U.S. with (a) a U.S. claims office, (b) a U.S. phone number, (c) plan literature available in English, and (d) benefits provided in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The following programs do NOT qualify as comparable coverage: Travel insurance & Reimbursement programs of any kind.
• The plan provides in-patient treatment and outpatient treatment for substance abuse (both alcohol and drug abuse) within a 75-mile radius of the Charlottesville area. Coverage for emergency only care (out of state medicaid) does not satisfy this requirement.
• My coverage will remain in effect for all semesters in which I am enrolled for the 2021-2022 academic year.
• I will be held financially responsible for payment of all charges not covered by my health insurance plan.

This page details deadlines and what happens if you fail to enroll or submit proof of health insurance. 

Any student who fails to demonstrate comparable coverage by the deadline above will be automatically enrolled into the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan after a review process. UVA will post the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan premium in the SIS accounts of students who have not submitted comparable health insurance verification. If the premium payment is not made by the due date, a hold will be placed on the student’s SIS account and they will be unable to register for the next semester of classes. Once a student is enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan, the coverage cannot be cancelled.

We strongly encourage students to determine if their current health insurance has comparable coverage and make a decision on insurance as soon as possible. UVA will make every effort to enroll students in the Aetna Student Health Plan as quickly as possible, but it typically takes 2-3 weeks from the appeal deadline before Aetna Student Health will receive an enrollment file from UVA. This processing time may necessitate students paying for prescriptions or medical services (such as immunizations, x-rays, and laboratory services) out-of-pocket until the enrollment in the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan has been completed. Once the enrollment in Aetna Student Health is complete, coverage will be retroactive to the coverage start date.

UVA will post the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan premium in the SIS accounts of students who have not enrolled or submitted comparable health insurance coverage. If the premium payment is not made by the due date, a hold will be placed on the student’s SIS account and they will be unable to register for the next semester of classes. Once a student is enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan, the coverage cannot be cancelled except for reasons provided in the Aetna plan design and benefit summary.

We strongly encourage students to determine if their current health insurance has comparable coverage and make a decision on insurance as soon as possible. UVA will make every effort to enroll students in the Aetna Student Health Plan as quickly as possible, but it typically takes 2-3 weeks from the appeal deadline before Aetna Student Health will receive an enrollment file from UVA. This processing time may necessitate students paying for prescriptions or medical services (such as immunizations, x-rays, and laboratory services) out-of-pocket until the enrollment in the Aetna Student Health Insurance plan has been completed. Once the enrollment in Aetna Student Health is complete, coverage will be retroactive to the coverage start date.

A student may appeal a denied insurance verification decision by contacting Student Health at sth-ins@virginia.edu on or before the appeal deadline. This deadline will be strictly enforced. If a student obtains new alternate health insurance coverage and wishes to submit new health insurance documentation, they must contact Student Health at sth-ins@virginia.edu to receive further instructions.

Yes - If you are a student charged the full comprehensive fees with tuition, you need to either submit proof of health insurance or enroll in the Aetna Student Health Plan. Spring enrollment deadlines and guidelines can be found on our health insurance verification deadlines page.

Please visit the Aetna Student Health Plan information page on our website, or visit Aetna's dedicated UVA Student Health plan information website.

Graduating students cannot extend coverage beyond the plan year end date. An end of coverage letter may be obtained from Aetna student health by calling (800) 466-3027. Please view this PDF for helpful information to graduating students.

Please view this PDF for more details on receiving care in the community and using your health insurance. This information is for subscribers of any health insurance plan, Aetna or otherwise.

Please email sth-ins@virginia.edu or call Student Health Insurance at 434-243-2702.