How to Activate or Waive Your UIUC Student Health Insurance

Students who are already covered under a comparable private plan, such as a parent's policy or employer-sponsored insurance, must submit a waiver to opt out of the university plan and avoid paying the additional mandatory health insurance fee.

Consequently, this requirement applies to all enrolled UIUC undergraduate, graduate, and international students meeting credit hour thresholds, ensuring everyone is medically protected while preventing unnecessary double payment for those who already hold sufficient coverage.

Overview & Automatic Enrollment

Students registered at the University of Illinois who are assessed the UIUC Student Insurance (medical) fee for the current semester are automatically enrolled in the university-sponsored health insurance plan managed by UnitedHealthcare Student Resources (UHCSR).

• Automatic Enrollment: Enrollment occurs automatically after the official Enrollment/Waiver Period closes for the term, provided the student has not submitted an approved waiver.
• Academic Year Continuity: If you successfully submit a waiver and opt out during the Fall Enrollment Period, that waiver remains valid for the entire current academic year. You do not need to resubmit a waiver for the subsequent Spring/Summer terms within that same academic year.

How to Submit a Waiver Request

To opt out of the university health insurance plan, you must submit proof of comparable coverage online through the UHCSR portal during the designated open period.

https://si.illinois.edu/forms/waiveropting-out-form 

Campus Waiver Links

• Urbana-Champaign Campus: Access the Urbana Waiver Portal via UHCSR. https://si.illinois.edu/important-dates 
• Springfield Campus: Access the Springfield Waiver Portal via UHCSR. https://si.illinois.edu/important-dates 

Important Note: Waiver portals are only accessible during the active Enrollment/Waiver period for each semester. Late submissions are not accepted.

Mandatory Follow-Up

After submitting a request, monitor your official student email address continuously. UHCSR will send confirmation emails, status updates, or requests for additional documentation (such as insurance cards or policy summary documents) to your university inbox.
 

Comparable Coverage Requirements

To qualify for a waiver, your alternative health insurance policy must meet strict institutional standards to ensure adequate protection.

General & Administrative Criteria

• US-Based Plan: The policy must be issued by a US-based insurance provider with a functional US customer service phone number.
• Coverage Effective Dates: Coverage must begin on or before the Saturday prior to the first day of classes for the given semester and extend uninterrupted through the remainder of the academic year.
• Approved Plan Types: Government-sponsored plans or Expat/Global Employment plans may be approved, provided the university can verify in writing that the plan's claims administrator offers proper financial security for claim payouts.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliance

Your plan must fully comply with the regulations set by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Key requirements include:

• Unlimited Lifetime Benefits: No cap on maximum lifetime coverage amounts.
• No Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions: Immediate coverage for pre-existing medical conditions without waiting periods or exclusions.
• Mental Health Coverage: Comprehensive benefits for mental health and substance abuse services equal to medical care benefits.

Regional Health Center Access Criteria

Your alternative insurance plan must provide comprehensive in-network coverage (both emergent and non-emergent care) within the geographic area of your attending campus. This care must encompass emergency care, urgent care, specialty care, and primary care for both routine and non-routine diagnoses.

Required Urbana-Champaign Area Facilities

Your plan must include in-network coverage at one or more of the following regional health centers:

• Carle Foundation Hospital – Urbana, IL
• OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center – Urbana, IL
• Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services – Gibson City, IL
• Danville Illiana Healthcare Systems (VA) – Danville, IL
• OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center – Danville, IL
• Saint Mary's Hospital – Decatur, IL
• Decatur Memorial Hospital – Decatur, IL
• Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center – Mattoon, IL
• OSF Saint Joseph Medical Center – Bloomington, IL
• Carle BroMenn Medical Center – Normal, IL

Required Springfield Area Facilities

For students attending the Springfield campus, your plan must cover in-network care at one or more of the following:

• HSHS St. John's Hospital – Springfield, IL
• Springfield Memorial Hospital – Springfield, IL
• Decatur Memorial Hospital – Decatur, IL
• Jacksonville Memorial Hospital – Jacksonville, IL

Waiver Status, Credits, and Appeals

1) Annual Re-application Requirement

Approved waivers are valid only for the specific Academic Year in which they were submitted. Students wishing to remain opted out must re-apply for a waiver at the start of each new academic year (every Fall semester).

2) Processing Time & Fee Refunds

Once your waiver is formally approved by UHCSR, please allow 7 to 10 business days for the health insurance fee credit to process and reflect on your university billing statement.

3) Appeals for Denied Waivers

If your waiver request is denied and you believe the decision was made in error or your plan meets all criteria, you must contact UnitedHealthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) directly to appeal the decision and provide supplementary proof of coverage.

I applied for a waiver last year. Do I need to apply again this year?

Yes, you must reapply this year. Generally, a university's student health insurance waiver approval applies only to that specific academic year.

• Validity of Previous Approval: If your waiver was successfully approved in the fall semester of last year, it remains valid only for that entire academic year (Fall through Spring/Summer).
• Submission Required for This Academic Year: Since waiver approvals do not automatically renew when a new academic year begins, you must submit a new waiver application following the same process during this academic year's enrollment/waiver period.

Important Note: If you do not reapply for the waiver by the deadline, you will be automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan and billed for the premium.