Health Insurance

Health insurance guarantees that you can obtain necessary treatment if you develop a serious illness or injury. It also guarantees that you can obtain preventative medical services like immunizations and physical exams. The George Washington University (GW) offers a comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Aetna Student Health.

In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, some of the benefits that are offered by the GW SHIP include:

• An unlimited lifetime maximum benefit
• Prescription coverage after $100 deductible
• Preventative services covered at 100% (at preferred providers)
• Contraception covered 100% (at preferred providers)

For more information, please review the 2022-2023 Aetna Benefits Summary (PDF). 

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Health Insurance Waiver

Students who wish to opt out of GW SHIP must have health insurance coverage that meets certain domestic or international coverage requirements. More information is available from University Health Plans. Please note, you must complete a waiver every academic year you remain enrolled at GW. There are several waiver requirements for undergraduate domestic students, international students, and graduate domestic students enrolled at GW:

Undergraduate Domestic Students

My alternative health insurance:

• Must cover treatment for emergency care, medical and surgical treatment, hospitalization, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, specialty consultations, mental health care (including inpatient hospitalization and outpatient care), alcohol/substance rehabilitation, HIV/AIDS, and maternity benefits.  Must have a maximum deductible of $2,500, or a student must have the personal or family means or a health savings account to pay for a higher deductible.
• Must be currently active and a student must maintain coverage during the entire period they are registered.
• Must include coverage for prescriptions (medications prescribed by a physician).

*Please note, students must acknowledge that they are responsible for payment of all fees for medical and mental health treatment not covered by their health insurance plan (including but not limited to deductibles, copays, coinsurance and the expenses above their policy maximums and benefit limits). Students must further understand that some health facilities, including the GW Student Health Center, may require payment at the time treatment is provided.

International Students

My alternative health insurance:

• Must have a medical plan that offers $50,000 benefits on an annual basis. Must have an annual deductible that does not exceed $500.
• Must have a policy that is valid for the entire 2022/2023 academic year.
• Must have a plan that covers pre-existing conditions.
• Must have a plan that covers Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Detoxification Treatment.
• Must have a plan that covers expenses related to self-inflicted injuries (while sane or insane) and suicide.
• Must have a plan that provides at least $7,500 coverage for Repatriation (repatriation provides transportation to your home country in the event of death).
• Must have a plan that includes Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage in the amount of at least $10,000 (medical evacuation is emergency transportation to the nearest, most qualified treatment facility).
• Must have a claims office based in the continental United States and my plan covers Inpatient and Outpatient Care in the George Washington campus area (Emergency coverage only does not satisfy this requirement).

*Please note, students must acknowledge that they are responsible for payment of all fees for medical and mental health treatment not covered by their health insurance plan (including but not limited to deductibles, copays, coinsurance and the expenses above their policy maximums and benefit limits). Students must further understand that some health facilities, including the GW Student Health Center, may require payment at the time treatment is provided.

Graduate Domestic Students (Medical, On Campus Nursing/Health Science)

My alternative health insurance:

• Must have a medical plan that offers $50,000 benefits on an annual basis. Must have an annual deductible that does not exceed $1,500.
• Must have a policy that is valid for the entire 2022/2023 academic year.
• Must have a plan that covers pre-existing conditions.
• Must have a plan that covers Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Detoxification Treatment.
• Must have a plan that covers expenses related to self-inflicted injuries (while sane or insane) and suicide.
• Must have a plan that includes Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage in the amount of at least $10,000 (medical evacuation is emergency transportation to the nearest, most qualified treatment facility).
• Must provide coverage for Inpatient and Outpatient Care in the George Washington campus area (Emergency coverage only does not satisfy this requirement).

*Please note, students must acknowledge that they are responsible for payment of all fees for medical and mental health treatment not covered by their health insurance plan (including but not limited to deductibles, copays, coinsurance and the expenses above their policy maximums and benefit limits). Students must further understand that some health facilities, including the GW Student Health Center, may require payment at the time treatment is provided.

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Graduate fellows, assistants & research assistants

As a GW graduate fellow, graduate assistant, or graduate research assistant, you may elect to participate in the GW Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) with Aetna Student Health at the listed “mandatory” student rate. You are eligible to choose this lower cost insurance option because of your role as a graduate fellow or assistant.

Signing Up for SHIP (Graduate Students)

To sign-up for GW SHIP at the mandatory rate, please follow the enrollment steps below:

Sign in to your Student eBill and click the “Make a Payment” button. On the payment screen, scroll down to the “Additional Items” section, and click the + button to add the GA/GRA health insurance.

 

The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships will issue a special payment per semester enrolled (Fall and Spring) to the student account. Please contact the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships at [email protected] if you have questions about the special payment.

      a. If you would like to pay for the insurance immediately, select the “Pay Now” radio button. (See below for payment options.)

      b. If you are a fully funded student who is eligible for a GW SHIP-related payment and/or you would like to sign up for our GRA/GA payment plan to spread your insurance payment out over the full semester, select the "Pay Later" radio button. 

If you selected “Pay Now”: Select your payment method of choice (credit card, electronic check, or your saved payment method) from the payment screen, enter your payment details as needed, and submit your payment. Once your payment is confirmed, you will see a “Student Health Insurance Chg” line item on your account details for the semester.

If you selected “Pay Later”: Review the Account Payment screen, then click the continue button to confirm your enrollment in the insurance. Once this step is complete, you will see the “Receipt” screen appear, and a “Student Health Insurance Chg” line item will be added to your account details for the semester.

Once you sign up for GW SHIP, you are retroactively covered from January 1 - August 11, 2023. If you incur eligible, out of pocket medical expenses from January 1, 2023 until date of your enrollment, University Health Plans can assist in resubmitting claims with your provider(s). Please contact them at 1-833-251-1721 for assistance.

Fully-Funded Graduate Fellows, Graduate Assistants, and Graduate Research Assistants who have enrolled in GW SHIP (GWSPH and SMHS excluded), are eligible for a subsidy towards the cost of the plan. For the purposes of SHIP, “fully-funded” is defined as funding of at least $10,000 per semester for doctoral students, or at least $8,000 per semester for masters students.

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Voluntary Dental & Vision Insurance

Did you know that there is a Voluntary Dental Plan and Voluntary Vision Plan available to you, even if you do not have the Student Health Insurance Plan? Enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan is NOT REQUIRED for the purchase of any of these voluntary plans.

Delta Dental PPO Plan

Students and dependents who wish to enroll in the Delta Dental PPO Voluntary Dental Plan must submit the online enrollment form and pay the full premium amount online via credit card by 12/15/2022 to be eligible for coverage effective 1/1/2023 – 8/31/2023.

Enroll in Voluntary Dental

VSP Vision Care Plan

Students and dependents who wish to enroll in the VSP Vision Care Voluntary Vision Plan must submit the online enrollment form and pay the full premium amount online via credit card by 12/15/2022 to be eligible for coverage effective 1/1/2023 – 8/31/2023.

Enroll in Voluntary Vision

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Additional Information