Enrollment and Waiver Criteria
Wake Forest University requires health insurance for all enrolled students*. Students must either enroll in the insurance program or request to waive enrollment if they carry comparable personal health insurance meeting the criteria set by WFU (detailed below).
The enrollment or waiver period starts July 1 and ends September 15. This is an annual process for all students.
*Online-only students, students in the School of Professional Studies, and dependents are not eligible for the plan.
To Enroll for Coverage
- On or after July 1, visit University Health Plans and select Enrollment Form from the menu on the left.
- Follow the prompts on the form.
- If you choose to enroll, the health insurance premium charge will remain on your account. Blue Cross Blue Shield will begin mailing insurance cards to the primary mailing address in Workday in mid-July.
A portion of the cost of the Student Insurance Program is retained by Wake Forest University to pay for student health services supplied by WFU and administrative costs. The State of North Carolina no longer allows “age-banding” of premiums within individual products (i.e., Student Blue, BCBSNC plan). Therefore, there is one charge to all subscribers. All charges for the Student Insurance Program, including reserve funds, are retained by Wake Forest University solely for the purposes of funding plan expenses and/or for the equitable and non-discriminatory benefit of plan participants.
REFUND POLICY: There are no premium refunds except for students entering full-time active duty in any Armed Forces.
To Waive Coverage
- On or after July 1, visit University Health Plans and select Waiver Form from the menu on the left.
- Follow the prompts on the menu.
- For waivers, be sure to have your personal insurance information available, including a copy of your insurance card, front and back. You cannot complete the process without this information.
- Once the waiver form is successfully submitted, a confirmation email will be sent. A credit for the health insurance premium will be posted to the student account within three to five business days. The waiver will remain in effect for the entire policy year.
- Have a lifetime maximum benefit of at least $1,000,000. Plans with per incident, per illness or maximums that are less than the lifetime maximum are not acceptable
- Provide access to health care providers in the Winston-Salem, NC area (Reynolda campus students) or Charlotte, NC area (Charlotte campus students) for emergency and non-emergency conditions, including mental health care. If you have an HMO and Winston-Salem, NC (Reynolda campus students) or Charlotte, NC (Charlotte campus students) is out-of-network, your coverage doesn’t meet our criteria. If your HMO offers guest privileges, you must contact your insurer to receive guest privileges and do so prior to waiving coverage
- Provide prescription drug benefits
- Remain in effect while enrolled at WFU
Wake Forest University requires all students to be enrolled in a health plan that is filed and approved in the U.S. and compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Plans marketed solely to international students are often not filed and approved in the U.S. or compliant with the ACA and do not meet the Wake Forest University insurance requirements. GBG Insurance, HDL Global Specialty, ISO, PGH (United), PSI, Student Medicover, and Tata AIG are examples of companies that do not meet the waiver requirements. Travel and Sickness Plans will not be accepted. Plans that meet the requirements are generally plans offered through US employment or purchased through the local state marketplace.
International students with F or J visas may request a waiver by submitting their insurance plan to University Health Plans for review.