Frequently Asked Questions
*To view specific dates for current term please visit www.gustavus.edu/healthservice/studenthealthinsurance
Who is automatically enrolled in the Gustavus Student Health Insurance Plan?
All international students and all full-time students (3 or more credits) are automatically enrolled in the Gustavus sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan. Students must complete the waiver to decline the coverage. Any student who has not submitted a waiver by the end of July will see a charge to their student account. Students have until mid September (registration deadline) to waive the insurance and receive a full credit to their student account. International students are automatically enrolled and do not have access to waive their coverage. If an international student has a US based health insurance plan please email Heather Dale at hdale@gustavus.edu .
Why is there a charge on my student account?
Charges are placed on student accounts at the end of July. You have until the current term deadline (same date as the registration deadline) to waive the insurance and receive a full credit to your student account. Credits can take up to 5 business days to process.
Who do I contact with questions about my student account?
The Student Accounts Office is located in the Campus Center, or can be reached by phone at 507-933-6244.
I was automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan, but I already have insurance. How do I waive it after the term deadline?
Unfortunately, once the waiver site closes there is no way to get reimbursed for the insurance. The College sends numerous emails as well as postcard reminders to try to insurance this does not happen. This year you will have double health insurance coverage, so we encourage you to learn about your benefits.
I keep trying to get into the system to waive or enroll but it won’t allow me, what should I do?
Are you an international student?
Yes - ALL international students are automatically enrolled. The only exceptions are for international students who have US based health insurance plans. If you think you would meet this exception please email Heather Dale at hdale@gustavus.edu.
No - You must register for classes in order to be active in the system.
I have registered for classes but I still can’t get into the system. What should I do?
Call the Registrar’s Office at 507-933-7495 and verify your Gustavus ID, date of birth (on file with the College) and that your registration for classes is complete.
If you continue to have problems, please contact Health Service directly at 507-933-7630.
I completed the waiver, when will I see a credit to my student account?
If your waiver was accepted, a full credit will be issued to your student account. This can take up to 5 business days to process. If you do not see a credit after 5 business days, please contact the Student Accounts Office at 507-933-6244 to get more information.
If I am covered by my parents insurance plan or have other coverage, why would I need the Gustavus plan?
If you are covered by your parents’ plan you might not need the Gustavus plan. But, before you waive, you might want to review the specifics of your current policy and compare them with the Gustavus plan.
Some of the basic information you might want to compare is:
- Annual cost - is the Gustavus plan less expensive for the amount of benefits offered than your current plan?
- Deductible amount - how much you will pay out of pocket before your insurance pays?
- In network and out of network benefits – does your insurance consider specialists in the St. Peter, MN area in-network or out-of-network?
- Prescription drug benefit - does your plan include coverage for prescription drugs?
- Coverage abroad - does your plan include coverage when you travel abroad?
- Finally, students with the Gustavus sponsored health insurance will have all co-pays and deductibles waived for any visits to the Health Service (a full service medical clinic) on campus.
If I waived student health insurance last year, do I need to do it again?
Yes. You must waive the Gustavus sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan at the beginning of each academic year.
I have compared plans and I wish to remain on my current health insurance plan, what do I do?
Simply complete the online health insurance waiver before the designated term waiver deadline.
How do I get my Gustavus Student Health Insurance card?
After you have created your account and have logged in, you will be able to view/print your insurance card. You can also access it by going to https://www.firststudent.com/school_detail/need-an-id-card-gustavus-adolphus-college/
Be sure to present your insurance card each time you receive medical services so your provider knows how to bill for services. All services in the Gustavus Health Service are covered at 100%.
Where can I learn more about the Gustavus Student Health benefits?
To learn more about the plan you can visit https://gustavus.edu/healthservice/studenthealthinsurance/ and use the Summary Flyer or Complete Brochure links on the top right of the webpage.
Why do colleges require health insurance?
Access to medical care promotes student retention and success. Many students come to school with medical insurance, but for those who do not the incurred expense of an unexpected injury or illness may affect their ability to remain in school and progress towards graduation. In addition, students with inadequate insurance coverage may forgo treatment and experience extended illness.
In some cases a Student Insurance Plan is more comprehensive and more affordable than other options. The insurance requirement allows the Office of Financial Aid to consider the Student Insurance premium when calculating financial awards thus helping students whose parents are unemployed or cannot afford coverage.