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Student Health Insurance Requirements

All students attending UT System health-related institutions are required to have and maintain valid health insurance coverage while enrolled. This coverage may be with the AcademicBlue Student Health Plan or from another provider.

Students who provide their own health insurance from another provider should confirm their coverage is sufficient for their needs and meets their expectations. UT Southwestern is not responsible for coverage limitations, so please contact your insurer with any questions. 

Key Facts

  • UT Southwestern students will be automatically enrolled in the AcademicBlue Student Health Plan unless a waiver providing evidence of other health insurance coverage is submitted.
  • Waivers must be submitted each term. Full details on submitting a waiver is below.
  • The AcademicBlue health insurance premium will be billed to your student account.

Please visit the AcademicBlue website for complete details.

Visit AcademicBlue

Submitting a Health Insurance Waiver

  • Do I have to enroll in the UT System sponsored plan?

    No. Students do not have to enroll in AcademicBlue℠ as long as proof of comparable coverage is provided to and verified by AcademicBlue℠.

  • How do I know when it’s time to submit a waiver?

    You will receive an email from the Student Accounting Office with details and timelines for submitting a waiver indicating you have health insurance through another provider.

  • What if I’m covered under my parent’s or spouse’s health insurance, or I have other coverage?

    If you have health insurance coverage from another provider for the full coverage period, you may submit a waiver showing evidence of health insurance coverage at AcademicBlue℠ Waiver. Your alternate insurance plan must be Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant.

  • How do I submit a waiver showing evidence of alternate insurance coverage?

    If you have health insurance coverage from another provider for the full coverage period, you may submit a waiver showing evidence of health insurance coverage at AcademicBlue℠ Waiver.

    To submit a waiver:

    • Log in at AcademicBlue℠
    • For your initial login, you will need your Student ID Number (digits only; do not include the “S”) and your date of birth
    • Select the Waiver tab at the top of the page
    • Once you have completed the waiver form, you must click the submit waiver button at the bottom of the page.

    Domestic students must have a scanned copy of the insurance card (both front and back) to upload to the AcademicBlue℠ website so the preferred insurance can be verified.

    International students will be required to upload to the AcademicBlue℠ website the full policy document showing medical evacuation and repatriation insurance as well as the front and back of the insurance card. Please access the following link to view the requirements for submitting a waiver: AcademicBlue℠ Waiver then click the link below International Medical, and Health Professional Students Only.

    Your alternate insurance plan must be Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant.

    Waivers must be renewed each term.

  • What happens if I cancel my waiver?

    If you request to cancel your waiver (this request has to go through Student Accounting), the waiver status will be changed to Canceled (For example: if your alternate coverage becomes inactive). The waiver system will send an auto-generated Canceled email advising you your waiver is no longer Verified, and you will be enrolled in AcademicBlue℠.

  • What happens if my waiver is denied?

    If the submitted alternate insurance plan is verified as inactive coverage or no coverage exists, AcademicBlue℠ will change the waiver status to Denied. The waiver system will send an auto-generated Denied email advising you that your waiver has been denied and you will be enrolled in AcademicBlue℠.

  • How do I know if UT Southwestern will accept my alternate insurance coverage?

    Visit Insurance Plans

  • Are there other requirements that I must meet for my alternate insurance coverage to be approved?

    Your alternate insurance plan must be Affordable Care Act compliant.

  • Do I have to submit a waiver each semester?

    Yes, waivers must be submitted each term. Waivers do not carry over from one semester to the next even if your insurance remains the same. Please note the student agreement on the waiver site:

    Student Agreement:

    I request a waiver of participation for the University Student Health Insurance Plan. I acknowledge that I am legally responsible for any and all medical expenses during my enrollment at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and that UT Southwestern Medical Center will not be responsible for any medical expenses I may incur. By electronically submitting this form, I attest that the information provided about my health insurance coverage is true and correct.

  • What happens if I do not waive the Student Health Insurance by the first class day of class for the term?

    Students who do not submit a waiver by the first day of classes will be enrolled in AcademicBlue℠ and are responsible for the cost the insurance premium for the term.

  • Can I change my option from automatic enrollment to waive?

    If you are going to submit a waiver, we recommend that you do so at least three weeks before the first day of classes for the term, so the AcademicBlue℠ premium can be removed from your student account once the waiver is verified.

    If you miss that priority deadline, you can still submit a waiver until the first class day and the AcademicBlue℠ premium cost will be removed from your student account.

    Students who do not submit a waiver by the first day of classes will be enrolled in AcademicBlue℠ by UT Southwestern, and are responsible for the cost of the semi-annual AcademicBlue℠ insurance premium.

  • I am a UT Southwestern employee taking classes. Does the student health insurance policy requirement apply to me?

    Yes. The student health insurance policy requirement applies to all students regardless of their employment status. The waive/elect process is based on your student status, not your employee status. We do not have access to employee records and therefore have no way of identifying students who are also employees.

  • I have an international plan from my home country. Will this plan be accepted?

    International plans are usually not accepted. UT Southwestern requires international students to enroll in the AcademicBlue℠ student health insurance plan, unless they have been approved for a waiver. The only non-U.S. plans that may be accepted are those sponsored by an entity that has guaranteed payment of all health expenses, as well as repatriation and evacuation expenses in writing.

Questions?

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