2025-2026 Cancel and Waive: Student Health Benefit Plan

Overview

Eligible students and graduate assistants are automatically enrolled in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) each academic year unless they use the online Health Coverage Declaration to waive (opt-out of) SHBP coverage and/or submit a Graduate Assistant Health Plan (GAHP) enrollment form.

You may waive enrollment from the SHBP plan if you have other active health insurance for the entirety of the semester. If you do not appropriately waive the SHBP by the established deadline, you will be enrolled and billed the associated premium for the entire semester. 
Approved waivers for domestic students are valid for one academic year. If you wish to waive the SHBP each academic year, you will need to complete the Health Coverage Declaration each year you’re eligible.

Learning abroad students who were enrolled in the SHBP the previous semester are automatically re-enrolled for the following semester. To request a waiver from the SHBP as a learning abroad student, you must submit a Waiver Request Form (pdf) to the Office of Student Health Benefits along with verifiable proof of other health plan coverage (e.g. a copy of the front and back of their health plan card).

CISI insurance for Education Abroad is not eligible for a waiver. You are only eligible for a waiver if your insurance situation has changed since last semester and you are now enrolled in other comparable coverage.

Waiver Information

It is your responsibility to review your Student Account at the beginning of each semester to ensure that it reflects the appropriate level of SHBP coverage regardless of your college's or a University program's involvement in your registration process or who is paying your bill.
For eligible students, the fee for the SHBP will appear on the University billing statement at the beginning of each semester along with other University fees.

It's important to waive the University plan correctly. Providing deceptive information on the health plan registration screen is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and could result in student judicial action in addition to the denial of a waiver from the SHBP. Students who are automatically enrolled in the plan will be charged the full, non-refundable fee for the SHBP at the start of each semester.

To waive the Student Health Benefit Plan, you will need:

• The name of your insurance company
• Your member ID number
• Your group number

This information can be provided online through the deadline in the MyU Student Center.

Completing the University's Health Insurance Requirement

To complete the Health Coverage Declaration:

1. Sign into the MyU Portal
2. Click “Key Links” in the upper left corner
3. Click “Student Center” from the drop down menu
4. Fill out the Health Coverage Declaration
5. Make sure to click “Confirm” on the choice confirm page

If the Health Coverage Declaration does not appear in the Student Center, click on “Communication Center” from the right-hand column and then “Health Coverage Declaration” under pending messages. You can review your choice anytime in the Communication Center.

If you requested to waive the Student Health Benefit Plan, the Communication Center will show the Health Coverage Declaration choice as "declined." If you have not yet completed the declaration, it will show as "pending."

You cannot complete the Health Coverage Declaration via parent or guest access.

If you have any questions about what the waiver is or how the waiver process works, contact the Office of Student Health Benefits.

International students on an F-1 visa are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP).

If you meet the following criteria, you may choose to waive (opt-out of) the University-sponsored SHBP:

• Enrolled in a United States-based employer-sponsored group health plan; or
• Enrolled in the University-sponsored Graduate Assistant Health Plan (GAHP); or
• Residing in your home country

All other international students are required to enroll in the SHBP and are not eligible to waive it.

Waiver Process

In order to waive the University-sponsored SHBP, submit the following to the Office of Student Health Benefits in person, by mail, email or fax:

• A completed waiver form
  • International students waiver form (pdf)
  • International scholar waiver form (pdf)
• Proof of coverage such as a copy of the front and back of your insurance identification card; or
• A certificate of credible coverage obtained from your insurance company; or
• Proof of residence in your home country – If you are currently in the USA, or have previously resided in the USA while enrolled at the UMN, you must also submit evidence of physical presence in your home country. Students that have not traveled to the US on a UMN visa are not required to submit additional documentation with their waiver form. 

Acceptable methods to show proof of residence in your home country:

• A recently requested copy of your travel history from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 website, Preferred method; or
• Copy of your flight ticket/itinerary showing your departure from the United States within the last 3 months; or
• A copy of your passport showing a stamped entry date into your home country

Alternative documentation may be discussed with a representative of the Office of Student Health Benefits should any of the above be unattainable.

Approved waivers for international students are valid for one semester. If you wish to waive the SHBP each semester, you will need to complete the waiver process each semester you’re enrolled at the University.

To cancel your enrollment in the Graduate Assistant Health Plan (GAHP), complete a Cancellation Form.

Review how to enroll in the Graduate Assistant Health Plan.