Rider University
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

2026-2027 Academic Year

Insurance Requirement

Undergraduate Students taking 12 or more credits, Graduate Students taking 9 or more credits, and all International Students must have health insurance. Online courses do not meet the plan's eligibility. 

Students required to have health insurance will be enrolled in and charged for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), and students may opt out of the SHIP by submitting a waiver form documenting proof of comparable coverage. Domestic students intending to purchase in the SHIP should submit an enrollment. Students who take no action will be enrolled after the deadline and responsible for the premium charged to the tuition statement. International students are automatically enrolled and cannot access the enrollment form. 

Insurance Cost & Coverage Periods

Plan Highlights

Rider has partnered with University Health Plans to administer the plan and help with eligibility, waiver, enrollment, and general benefit-related questions. University Health Plans can be reached at 833-251-1146 or info@univhealthplans.com. For specific benefit or claim-related questions, please contact Aetna at  866-381‐1529.   

Waiver Process

Students covered by a comprehensive health insurance plan in the area surrounding the Rider University campus can opt out of the SHIP by completing the waiver form. Before waiving, compare the cost, coverage, and benefits of the SHIP to your existing plan. If you do not submit a waiver form by the deadline above, you will be enrolled in the SHIP and responsible for the cost of the insurance plan. 

Enrollment Process

Although domestic students are automatically charged for the SHIP, domestic students who do not complete an enrollment form are not enrolled with Aetna until the deadline. Domestic students planning to use the student health insurance plan can avoid the delay by completing the enrollment form. International students are automatically enrolled in the plan at registration; no additional action is required. Please allow 5 business days after you submit an enrollment form for your enrollment to be activated in the insurance company's database.

Eligibility

The student must actively attend classes for at least the first 31 days after the date for which coverage is purchased. Home study, correspondence, and online courses do not fulfill the student's eligibility requirements to actively attend classes. The insurance company maintains its right to investigate eligibility, student status, and attendance records to verify that the Policy eligibility requirements have been met. If and whenever the insurance company discovers that the Policy eligibility requirements have not been met, its only obligation is to refund premium contribution amounts. 

Qualifying Event Enrollment

Students who waived the SHIP may qualify for special enrollment rights if they incur an involuntary loss of other coverage. Qualifying Event Enrollment forms are available on the left side of this page. For specific regarding QE enrollment and requirements, please contact university health plans at 833-251-1146 or info@univhealthplans.com. You must submit all qualifying event enrollment paperwork and documentation within 30 days of the qualifying event.