Personal health insurance verification

Providing proof of personal insurance

Heath insurance coverage is required before you can enroll at University of Idaho. If your personal insurance meets the standards set by the Affordable Care Act, you can submit proof to opt out of the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP). This ensures you have access to essential medical care while focusing on your education.  

Learn more about personal insurance requirements and the submission process below.

Personal health insurance guidelines

All personal health insurance plans must adhere to the Affordable Care Act’s regulations. Proof of comparable coverage or the minimum coverage guidelines for domestic and international students that can be used to be eligible to “opt out” of the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) are as follows:

• Your plan does not have any limitations or exclusions on pre-existing conditions.
• Your plan covers hospital stays for medical/surgical care and (inpatient) mental health conditions.
• Your plan covers doctors’ office visits for medical and (outpatient) mental health conditions.
• Your plan covers prescriptions written by a doctor. (Prescription benefits through a third-party vendor — CVS Caremark, etc. — are acceptable.)
• Access to provider network within the Moscow/Pullman area. Coverage MUST be available for routine, diagnostic, urgent and hospital care. (Coverage for ONLY telehealth, urgent and emergency is NOT acceptable)
• Your plan covers services related to injury from participation in all types of recreational sports, including intercollegiate athletics.
• Your plan covers maternity care, including prenatal care and delivery with no pre-existing condition limitations.
• Your plan provides coverage for diagnostic services, including laboratory tests.
• Your plan does not impose any limitations of exclusions on payments for covered services.

Note: Travel Plans, County Medical Service Plans (Medicaid) outside the state of Idaho or Washington, Fixed Indemnity Plans, Short-Term Plans and Supplemental or Reimbursement Plans are not accepted as comparable coverage. 

Personal health insurance compliance standards

To maintain compliance standards for the use of personal health insurance, all plans must be:

• Effective on or before the first day of the semester with no break in coverage.
• Effective on the first day of the calendar month following the first day of the semester.
• Effective on or before the first day of the calendar month following an involuntary loss of previous coverage.

To maintain compliance standards for the use of personal health insurance, all plans must NOT:

• Have gaps in coverage of no more than seven (7) days.
  • If longer than seven (7) days, must be able to provide proof of COBRA coverage.

Personal health insurance verification process

The personal health insurance information provided by students is forwarded to an auditor each semester for verification of compliance with University of Idaho Health Insurance Requirement.

To request a copy of the audit notes for your insurance record, send an email to studentinsurance@uidaho.edu. The email must be sent from your official Vandal email account and include your full, legal name and Vandal number.

Please note that audit details will not be given verbally to anyone other than you. A written request is required for a copy of the auditor's notes.

Common causes of insurance verification failure

Verification failure may occur for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Policy was not effective on or before the first day of the semester OR on or before the first day of the calendar month following the first day of the semester.
2. Policy is no longer in effect (coverage terminated).
3. Coverage does not include benefits for emergency AND non-emergency services in the Moscow/Pullman area; OR area of program.
4. Coverage does not include benefits for mental health AND prescription services.
5. Auditor was unable to verify coverage due to incorrect or missing policy information.
6. Coverage does not include benefits for injuries while participating in intramural, club or NCAA intercollegiate sports programs (if participating).

SHIP enrollment due to verification failure

If you receive a notification of SHIP enrollment due to a verification failure:

• You must provide updated policy information or proof of coverage meeting the minimum requirements to cancel SHIP enrollment.
  • The online Health Insurance Information Form in MyUI is not available after SHIP enrollment due to a verification failure.
  • Download the printable Health Insurance Information Form.
• A Health Insurance Information Form with updated policy information must be completed within 10 days to request a re-audit for the current semester. You may also attach documentation of coverage from the insurer confirming coverage is active and meets the minimum requirements.
• Forms and documents can be sent to studentinsurance@uidaho.edu from the student's official Vandal email address or dropped off at the Student Health Building Room 101. Please include your full name and Vandal number in your email.
• SHIP cancellation and a credit for medical insurance to the student account will be processed IF the new policy passes a re-audit or documentation of coverage meeting the minimum requirements is provided.

Uninsured/inadequate insurance policy

If you are discovered to be uninsured or have insurance that does not meet the minimum requirements, you will be enrolled in U of I's Student Health Insurance Program and a semester charge will be placed on the your account. The Student Accounts Office coordinates charges and billing for student accounts subject to University of Idaho financial terms and conditions.

Additional information can be found at Student Accounts.