Waiving Coverage

Waiving the Columbia University Student Health Insurance

All full-time domestic students and all international students are enrolled by default in the Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan, also referred to as The Columbia Plan. 

You must have comparable insurance in order to waive the Columbia University Student Health Insurance. Student Health is unable to review any insurance policies. If you would like to compare your coverage you may review the Insurance Waiver Checklist.

Domestic Students Waiver Criteria

1. The plan must meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, including coverage for routine, urgent, and emergent care for all of the act’s Essential Health Benefits in New York State. For a description of the act’s Essential Health Benefits, review the Insurance Waiver Checklist.
2. The plan must be based in and licensed to do business in the United States.
3. The plan must be effective and remain in force for the duration of the schedule noted below.
4. No yearly or lifetime coverage maximums for essential health benefits.  

** CUIMC Clinical students must also ensure any plans submitted for waiver requests provide coverage for occupational exposures, as Student Health on Haven does not offer any reimbursement of these costs.  Students with approved waivers assume full responsibility for medical costs not covered by their health insurance plan.

International Students Waiver Criteria

J-Visa Holders

U.S. government regulations mandate that all J-1 visa holders and their J-2 dependents have health and accident insurance during the entire length of their stay.  As a result, J-visa holders are not eligible for insurance waivers.  

F-Visa Holders

Please review your alternate coverage to determine whether it meets all of the following criteria.  Note that items 1-5 must be provided under a single health insurance plan.  

1.  The plan must meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, including coverage for routine, urgent, and emergent care for all of the act’s Essential Health Benefits in New York State. For a description of the act’s Essential Health Benefits, review Compare Your Coverage.

2.  The plan must provide routine coverage throughout the United States.  

3.  The plan must be based in and licensed to do business in the United States.

4.  The plan must be effective and remain in force for the duration of the schedule noted below.

5.  No yearly or lifetime coverage maximums for essential health benefits.  

6.  The plan must include medical evacuation (minimum of $50,000) and repatriation coverage (minimum of $25,000).  This requirement may be met via a secondary coverage plan for evacuation and repatriation only.  

Submitting a Waiver 

1. Log-in to your Student Health on Haven Portal

2. Click on “Insurance Waivers” on the left sidebar

3. Read the waiver criteria and select the checkboxes to affirm you have understood the conditions for waiving. Click Proceed.

4. Enter the requested subscriber and insurance information. Also, upload your insurance card. Click Proceed.

5. Review the information you have entered. If all the information is correct, click Submit.

Once a Waiver is Submitted

1. Once your waiver is submitted, you will be redirected to the page with the information you have already submitted, confirming you have successfully submitted a waiver request.

2. On the insurance waiver landing page, you will see your status change from “Not waived” to “Pending”

3. Review & Processing can take up to 7-14 business days.

Enrollment Schedule