How Do I Waive?

When should I submit a waiver?

I am eligible to waive and I am a...

New student starting Summer or Fall 2024:	Submit your waiver request between 6/1/24 and 7/31/24.
Returning student with a current waiver in Spring 2023:	Your previously coverage submitted insurance information will be reverified for the Fall 2024 term. If contacted by Gallagher Student Health, you must provide updated information by 7/31/24.
Returning student who terminated 23-24 enrollment in SHP due to other health insurance coverage:	Your previously coverage submitted insurance information will be reverified for the Fall 2024 term. If contacted by Gallagher Student Health, you must provide updated information by 7/31/24.
Returning student who had SHP during Spring 2024, but now wants to waive:	Submit your waiver request between 6/1/24 and 7/31/24.
Returning student who was on approved leave prior to the Spring 2024 term:	Submit your waiver request between 6/1/24 and 7/31/24 or contact our office for assistance.
New or returning student who was registered for the fall after the usual waiver deadline had passed:	Submit your waiver within 30 days of your registration. Please contact our office for assistance.

How do I submit a waiver?

Students enrolled in a degree-seeking program (and certain eligible part-time students) are required to confirm enrollment in SHP or submit a waiver at Gallagher Student Health. Students that do not take action to confirm enrollment or receive an approved waiver will be auto-enrolled in SHP.

Before submitting a waiver application, please confirm:

You are eligible to waive,
Your existing health insurance coverage is active, and
Your plan meets Cornell’s requirements.

To submit a waiver, log in to Gallagher Student Health and follow the prompts provided.

Submission of a waiver does not guarantee approval. Once your waiver is submitted, you must log in to Gallagher Student Health to monitor your waiver status.

Communications regarding your waiver are sent by Gallagher Student Health via Constant Contact. Check your spam or junk folder for communications if you have not received any from Gallagher after submitting your waiver. It is your responsibility to monitor your waiver status.

Only approved waivers will result in a bursar credit for SHP. If your waiver or appeal application is still being processed or is listed as "pending," you are technically still enrolled in SHP. Be sure to review the most recent information you've received about your waiver status and take any action requested.

Waiver Status Descriptions and Required Actions

The University reserves the right to audit approved waivers, and the approval may be rescinded if upon review it is determined the coverage does not meet the University requirements or the student was not eligible to waive.

Waiver Status Descriptions and Required Actions
Waiver Status	Description	Action Needed
Submitted	You have submitted a waiver. The waiver will be run through an electronic adjudication system to determine if the coverage meets the University's requirements.	Monitor your email for responses from Gallagher Student Health.
Pending Information	Your waiver could not be evaluated by the electronic system and additional documentation is required to process your waiver.	Monitor your email and log in to Gallagher Student Health to determine what information is needed. Upload the requested information.
Pending Review	Your additional submitted information is being manually reviewed by Gallagher Student Health.	Monitor your email and log in to Gallagher Student Health to determine if any additional information is needed. Deadlines apply; see top of page.
Approved	Your waiver has been approved. If you were billed for SHP, a credit will be issued in approximately 5-7 days.	Monitor your bursar bill for SHP billing and credit activity.
Denied	The coverage did not meet the University's requirements.	(See "Appealing your waiver denial" below if you believe your application was denied erroneously.)

Your Responsibility After Your Waiver Is Approved

Gallagher Student Health will email you if your waiver application is approved. If your waiver is approved and your bursar account has already been billed for the SHP premium, a credit will be issued to your bursar account.

Each semester your insurance information will be verified for active coverage. If requested, updated insurance information must be provided by the deadline. Verification of coverage letters from the fall waiver period will not be accepted as documentation for the spring.

If your insurance has changed, you will need to update your waiver with the new insurance information.

You must log in to Gallagher Student Health to monitor your waiver status and take action if your waiver is not approved.

Important: Failure to upload requested documentation or new insurance information by the deadline will result in enrollment in the Cornell University Student Health Plan, and your bursar account will be billed.

Semester Active Coverage Check
	Fall	Spring
Insurance information verified	All prior year approved waivers All prior year approved termination of coverage for other insurance	Fall approved waivers Fall approved termination of coverage for other insurance
Active Coverage Check Date	July 1	January 5
Deadline to Update waiver	July 31st	January 31st
Verification of coverage documentation (if required)	Dated between June 30th and July 31st	Dated between December 1st and January 31st
SHP Coverage start date if waiver is not approved	July 1	January 1

NOTE: If you use any of your SHP benefits before your waiver application is approved, SHP will not be able to issue you a premium refund for the months your plan was in use.

What do I do if my waiver is denied?

If your application is denied, you will be enrolled in SHP and will be responsible for paying the premium.

If you believe your plan meets Cornell's requirements and your waiver application was denied in error, check the following fields in your waiver submission for data entry errors:

Subscriber ID: This is the member identification number on your insurance card
Subscriber date of birth: This is the date of birth of the subscriber. (Primary policy holder if you are a dependent on the insurance policy)

Cornell University Student Health Plan and Gallagher Student Health are not responsible for data entry errors that result in a waiver denial. It is your responsibility to provide accurate insurance information and to monitor your waiver status in Gallagher Student Health.

For more information regarding the reasons for your denial, please email Quincy.BSD.enrollmentteam@ajg.com. To appeal a denial, please contact studentbenefits@cornell.edu.

What Do I Do if I Missed the Waiver Deadline?

Once the waiver period has ended, students who are eligible to waive can submit a request to terminate coverage. Approved terminations requests are effective at the end of the month in which they are submitted. Students will be responsible for the prorated SHP premium from the start of the plan year through the termination date. In addition, there is a $110.00 termination fee.

No refunds will be provided for termination requests made after April 30th.

Questions?

Please email Gallagher Student Health or call 844-691-4005.