Waive Out

Enrollment and waiver requirements have changed for the 2025-2026 year! Check here to confirm your requirement!

Graduate students at USC Columbia enrolled in 9 or more credit hours, graduate students with graduate assistantships, students in the School of Medicine enrolled in 1 or more hours, and all International students will are required to be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan, or show proof of health insurance as a condition of enrollment. Students must either enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan or waive the plan by showing proof of their own health insurance.

In order to be approved for a waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet the requirements listed below and be submitted with proof documentation prior to the deadline.

Please review the requirements below prior to submitting your waiver request.

Domestic Graduate and School of Medicine Students who are required to have health coverage must be enrolled in a health plan that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA):

1. Provide the Essential Minimum Benefits required by the PPACA with no annual limits. A list of the benefits can be found here: https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/essential-health-benefits/ .
2. Contain no exclusions (or waiting periods) for pre-existing conditions.
3. Covers 100% of Preventive Care as defined by the PPACA. A list of these preventive services can be found here: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/preventive-care-benefits/.

**Special Note:  Students submitting Medicaid plans, please include a recently dated coverage letter with your waiver request.**

NOTE: The following plan(s) will NOT be acceptable for waiver approval:

• Short-term coverage plans are not accepted.
• Financial Assistance plans are not accepted.
• Travel plans or plans that require you to pay for treatment yourself and then apply for reimbursement are not accepted

If you do not want the Student Health Insurance Plan, you must decline or opt-out of coverage by submitting a waiver. You may only opt-out of coverage during the following Waiver Periods:

Fall - 06/09/2025 - 09/08/2025

Spring/Summer - 11/03/2025 - 02/02/2026

International Students must be enrolled in a health plan that meets the following minimum requirements:

1. Medical coverage must have an unlimited maximum benefit per policy year per covered person.
2. Contains no exclusions (or waiting periods) for pre-existing conditions.
3. And provide the following coverage benefits:
   • Ambulatory (i.e. Outpatient) patient services
   • Emergency Services
   • Hospitalization
   • Maternity and newborn care
   • Mental health and substance use disorder services
   • Prescriptions drugs
   • Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
   • Laboratory services
   • Chronic disease management

4. Out-of-pocket expenses must not exceed $9,450 (individual) and $18,900 (family).
5. Plan must provide coverage in the South Carolina area.
6. Repatriation expenses in the amount of no less than $25,000.
7. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the insured to the insured’s home country of no less than $50,000.

If the health plan does not include medical evacuation and repatriation, a rider must be purchased providing coverage at equal limits.

NOTE: The following plan(s) will NOT be acceptable for waiver approval:

• Short-term coverage plans are not accepted.
• Financial Assistance plans are not accepted.
• Travel plans or plans that require you to pay for treatment yourself and then apply for reimbursement are not accepted.