UofSC-Columbia Students Must Have Health Insurance
*Proof of Health Insurance applies to: Undergraduates taking six hours or more and paying the student health fee, graduate students taking six hours or more, graduate students with assistantships, UofSC School of Medicine students enrolled in 1 or more hours and all international students.
- Student Health Insurance Plan is the ONLY in-network plan at Student Health Services. If you waived the plan, some services may incur out-of-network costs.
- Most individuals and families need to waive Student Health Insurance Plan once per academic year
- Additional department requirements may apply
The Waiver Process
For Spring 2023, the waiver system will open for enrollment on November 1, 2022. Please have your health insurance information available and go to: sc.myahpcare.com and enter your information. Be sure to complete all sections of the waiver.
You will receive an email confirming your waiver once your health insurance information has been verified. You may also receive an email requesting more information. The waiver system will close February 3, 2023. Waivers cannot be accepted after the deadline.
Please note that your payment for your tuition bill is due in full by the payment deadline. To avoid paying for your health insurance and waiting for reimbursement, please submit your waiver 10 days before the tuition payment date.
Students that do not have comparable health insurance or show proof of health insurance will automatically be enrolled in and charged for the Student Health Plan.
University Insurance Requirements
To waive out of the Student Health Insurance Plan, your health insurance coverage must be comparable to the following:
- Be effective as of August 1 for the fall term or January 1 for the spring term and have continuous coverage.
- Allow you to receive health care services in South Carolina.
- Provide unlimited aggregate maximum benefit per policy year per covered person.
- Does not have a pre-existing condition limitation.
- Out-of-pocket limit per policy year that does not exceed $7500 per individual and $15,000 per family.
- Travel policies will not be accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes. UofSC-Columbia students who are enrolled in a degree- seeking program for 6 or more credit hours are eligible to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan.
Yes, the Student Health Insurance Plan is a Blue Cross Blue Shield product and is accepted across the U.S. It has excellent in-network and out-of-network benefits.
No. The Student Health Fee covers many aspects of campus health, including the university’s public health planning and response to issues like COVID-19. There are a number of services available to students who pay the Student Health Fee whether or not they are fully online, including telemedicine, teletherapy, telepsychiatry, online resources, and prevention and education programs.
If you unexpectedly lose your health insurance, you are eligible to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan at any time as a qualifying event.
Health Insurance Plan Benefit Requirements:
- Ambulatory Patient Services
- Chronic Disease Management
- Emergency Services
- Hospitalization
- Laboratory Services
- Maternity and Newborn Care
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatments (including behavioral health treatment)
- Prescription Drugs
- Preventive and Wellness services
- Rehabilitative and Habilitative Services and Devices
Plan Benefits must also include:
- A minimum benefit of $50,000 for medical evacuation and $25,000 for repatriation of remains.
- Coverage must allow the insured student to receive services in South Carolina, cover the student while in school in the U.S. or on USC-related educational travel and all minimum benefits listed above.
J-1 Exchange Students and J-2 Dependents
Plan Benefits must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Part of a group benefits program offered to enrolled students by a designated sponsor.
- A health maintenance organization (HMO) that is federally qualified as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration (HFCA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- A Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration (HFCA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Underwritten by an insurance company that has an AM Best Company rating, a Insurance Solvency International LTD (ISI) rating, or a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of A- or above.
- Underwritten by an insurance company that has a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.