How to Enroll or Waive

How to Enroll

All registered, degree-seeking students are required to maintain health insurance coverage while enrolled at Rice University. Therefore, all *students are REQUIRED to either enroll in the Rice Student Health Insurance Plan, administered by Aetna Student Health or request a waiver of the Student Health Insurance plan by demonstrating comparable insurance coverage.

Automatic Enrollment

Students who do not enroll or waive coverage by the deadline will be AUTO-ENROLLED into the plan and will be responsible for the associated premium fees.

To enroll for the medical plan, click here.

Enrolling Dependents

Students who enroll in the Rice Student Health Insurance Plan also have the option to extend coverage to their spouses and/or dependents.

To enroll for the medical plan, click here.

Enrolling in SHIP Outside Open Enrollment

Students may enroll in the Rice Student Health Insurance Plan only if they have a qualifying life event.

**Please Note: Qualifying life events can not be used to terminate coverage. Once enrolled, participants are required to remain on the plan for the full duration of the plan term.

Fulbright Students

Interested in Health Insurance? Let us know by filling out this form.

*If you do not take action during open enrollment, you will be auto-enrolled into the Aetna Student Health Plan.

Note: If you are a returning student, you must be enrolled in courses before you can access the enrollment and waiver application. Students enrolled in traditional online programs or enrolled in the Liberal Studies programs (excluding the MAT program for new teachers) are not eligible for Student Health Insurance and do not need to take action.

How to Waive SHIP

Overview

The Aetna Waiver Portal will open on July 1, 2026.

All registered, degree-seeking students are required to maintain health insurance coverage while enrolled at Rice University. Therefore, all *students are REQUIRED to either enroll in the Rice Student Health Insurance Plan, administered by Aetna Student Health or request a waiver of the Student Health Insurance plan by demonstrating comparable insurance coverage.

Waiver applications will be reviewed and verified as active with the insurance carrier.

Notice of Acceptance or Rejection of waiver applications will be sent by Aetna to the student’s Rice email address within 1-3 business days.

Waiver Deadlines
AY 2026-2027

Fall 2025 Waiver Deadline: August 31, 2026

Spring 2026 Waiver Deadline: January 15, 2027

Missing the original waiver deadline is not a basis for further review. See the "Waiver Denials and Missed Deadlines" section below for more information.

Who can Waive?
Domestic Students

Domestic undergraduates and graduates enrolled in the Aetna Student plan can request a waiver if they have comparable coverage in the Houston area during the academic year. Please carefully read the Waiver Requirements below.

*Students enrolled in The Glasscock School are not eligible for insurance.

International Students

International undergraduates and graduates without an F-1 or J-1 visa enrolled can request a waiver if they have comparable coverage in the Houston area during the academic year.

Waiver Requirements

You are considered Exempt if you are currently a Domestic student OR an International student without an F1 or J1 Visa.

  • The plan provides prescription coverage.
  • The plan has an individual deductible of $5,000* or less.
  • The plan provides coverage for both emergency and non-emergency inpatient and outpatient medical and mental health care in Houston, Texas.
  • The plan provides unlimited annual and lifetime benefits (i.e., no policy maximum).
  • The insurance coverage is not through a medical cost-sharing or co-op-type program.
  • The plan has a U.S.-based claim administrator, a U.S. telephone number and address for submission of claims, and the policy is issued in the U.S.
  • The plan is currently active, and I agree to maintain health insurance throughout the policy year. If I lose coverage, I will notify Rice immediately.

*If your plan's deductible is more than $5000, you must have a Health Savings Account; contact studentinsurance@rice.edu.

Waiver Denials and Missed Deadlines

Students who submitted an online waiver form and received a denial will have the opportunity to submit additional documentation in support of further review.

It is important to note the following about the Rice further review process:

  • Missed deadlines will not be a sufficient basis for further review. Student Insurance communicates deadline information via email with students.
  • Missed email communications from Student Insurance will not be a sufficient basis for further review.
  • Health cost-sharing plans are not considered comparable coverage as all plans must be fully compliant with the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and provide access to local primary care providers in the Rice University area.
  • The assumption of the Health Data Form as a waiver will not be a sufficient basis for further review. Please see the next section below for more information.

Students with questions on the further review process should contact studentinsurance@rice.edu.

Health Data Form

All new undergraduates and graduate students are required to submit a properly completed Health Data Form at the beginning of their enrollment at Rice.

This form is NOT a waiver. It is very important to note that the information provided on this form is not sent over to the Student Insurance Department. Students who miss the deadline to submit a waiver under the assumption that this form was a waiver will not be a sufficient basis for further review.

All waivers are submitted directly through the Aetna system, found here.