In certain special cases, it may be necessary to change health insurance coverage during the middle of the plan year (“mid-year change”). Specific circumstances that may qualify for a change in insurance enrollment in the middle of the plan year include:
- Loss of existing health insurance coverage (i.e., aging off a parent’s plan; parent/spouse terminating a job)
- Addition or loss of health insurance coverage as a result of a change in employment
- Change in coverage as a result of marriage/divorce or change in eligible same-gender domestic partnership status
- Need to add coverage due to the birth/adoption of a child
- Recent immigration of a dependent spouse/eligible same-gender domestic partner or children
Petitions to add or waive* coverage must be made within 31 days of the qualifying life event noted above. Students requesting to waive U-SHIP mid-year due to a qualifying life event must provide proof of alternate insurance that meets the University’s comparable coverage requirements that are set for each academic year.
Your U-SHIP enrollment will become effective the first day of the quarter in which your Petition to Add has been approved by the Student Insurance Office. Students will be responsible for the full premium for the quarter in which the changed coverage takes effect. The premium is not pro-rated.
*Effective 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them.
- Complete a petition to add form.
- Provide appropriate supporting documentation (e.g., proof of termination of alternate insurance, with date noted; new baby's birth certificate; copy of marriage license to add spouse to coverage, etc.)
- Email the above documentation to the Student Insurance Office at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com
Your U-SHIP enrollment will become effective the first day of the quarter in which your Petition to Add has been approved by the Student Insurance Office.
- Complete a petition to waive form.
- Provide appropriate supporting documentation of your qualifying life event (e.g., proof of termination of prior insurance, with date noted; new baby's birth certificate; copy of marriage license to add spouse to coverage, etc.). For more information about qualifying life events see the link above: “When are Mid-Year Changes Applicable?”
- Email the above documentation to the Student Insurance Office at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com.
Please note: Students requesting to waive U-SHIP mid-year due to a qualifying life event must provide proof of alternate insurance that meets the University's comparable coverage requirements. Students who have not experienced a qualifying life event may not waive U-SHIP mid-year.
* Effective for the 2021-22 coverage year, which begins 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them.
Please use this form to update alternate insurance information submitted on your waiver application for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Please return this completed form by email to uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com within 31 days of the new/updated policy taking effect.