SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2026-2027 POLICY YEAR
School of Visual Arts (SVA) is pleased to present you with information about our 2026-2027 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Each year SVA engages in a comprehensive review of the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The primary goal is to provide students with a cost-effective health insurance program with quality benefits. After much review and analysis, the plan will move to a new carrier, Aetna, effective August 25, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
SVA requires all full-time or part-time students to have health insurance that is comparable to the SVA Student Health Plan. To comply, eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the Plan and billed by Student Accounts for the Health Plan Cost unless a waiver form confirming comparable coverage is submitted by the deadline below.
- Students enrolling in the fall will be enrolled for the annual coverage period and billed the insurance premium by Student Accounts. The annual premium will be billed in two semester installments (fall semester and spring semester) based on registration status. Full-time or part-time students enrolling in the fall who are not registered for spring semester classes will be enrolled and charged for the fall coverage period only. New students enrolled for spring semester will be enrolled and billed for the spring coverage period only.
Student Health Insurance Policy Period, Rates and Deadlines:
| Policy Period | *Insurance Fee | Waiver Deadline | |
| Annual | 08/25/26–08/24/27 | $3,590 | 10/07/2026 |
| Fall | 08/25/26–02/23/27 | $1,795 | 10/07/2026 |
| New Spring | 01/01/27–08/24/27 | $2,320 | 02/08/2027 |
*An administrative cost is included.
WAIVER PROCESS
Students covered under a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US and meets SVA’s waiver requirements may submit an online waiver no later than the applicable deadline above. Please note: the insurance fee cannot be removed by speaking with or calling SVA administrative staff. The online waiver form must be completed and can be found in the navigation menu on the left hand side of this page.
International Students: Health insurance plans marketed solely to international students are often not filed and approved in the United States, have limited benefits, provider networks and/or coverage periods that do not comply with the SVA waiver requirements. GBG Insurance, HDL Global Specialty, ISO, PGH (United), PSI, Student Medicover, Bajaj Allianz and Tata AIG are examples of companies (there are others) that do not meet the waiver requirements (these plans are not Affordable Care Act compliant, are not filed in the U.S. and are not eligible for a waiver.) Additionally, state or federal subsidized health insurance plans do not meet the school's requirements for a health insurance waiver for international students.
ENROLLMENT PROCESS
Eligible students who fail to complete the on-line waiver form by the applicable deadline will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan and will be billed accordingly. Waivers will not be accepted after the deadline. Enrolled students will receive an email from Aetna prior to the start of the policy period with instructions to access their member portal and online ID card. When setting up the member account we encourage students to choose "Electronic Only" as the form of communication with Aetna. If you choose to receive hard copy mail, a valid U.S. address must be on file.
Qualifying Events: f you have a life changing event (i.e. involuntary loss of coverage) and need to re-enroll in the insurance plan after submitting a waiver, please contact University Health Plans within 60 days of the qualifying event.
ABOUT THE INSURANCE PLAN
The 2026-2027 Summary of Benefits is pending NY state approval and will be available in the navigation menu on the left hand side of this page under “Benefit Information” in summer 2026. It is your responsibility to understand the nature and scope of benefits and limitations as well as to abide by posted deadlines.
Here are some highlights of the SVA-sponsored student health insurance:
- Access to Aetna's nationwide Open Access PPO Provider Network
- In network (Aetna) & Out-of-Network coverage (subject to policy benefits)
- Prescription drug & mental health coverage
- Inpatient hospitalization coverage
- Travel assistance services
- Coverage for pediatric dental and vision services are limited to members under the age of 19.
Please contact University Health Plans at 1-833-251-1138 or info@univhealthplans.com with any questions regarding the SVA Student Health Insurance Plan.
