USC Health Insurance Waiver 2026-2027: Deadline, Requirements & Step-by-Step Guide
USC Health Insurance Waiver 2026-2027: Deadline, Requirements & Step-by-Step Guide
Quick Answer
USC 2026-2027 Health Insurance Waiver Deadline & Requirements
Fall 2026 deadline: September 11, 2026 (third Friday of Fall semester; coverage period: August 17, 2026 – January 10, 2027). Spring 2027 deadline is January 29, 2027 (third Friday of Spring semester; coverage period: January 11, 2027 – August 16, 2027).
Start here: Go to the USC / AHP Student Health Insurance Waiver Portal to submit your waiver application.
What you waive: Enrolled students registered for 6+ units and international students with qualifying alternative coverage may waive the mandatory USC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP by Aetna). The USC Student Health Fee remains mandatory for all students for Engemann/Eric Cohen Health Centers access.
What you need: USC student credentials, insurance card (front and back), Member ID, Policy/Group Number, insurance carrier name (e.g. Spectrum Life Ltd.), US claims address/phone, and Summary of Benefits (SBC) PDF.
Charge removal: Upon AHP verification and approval, the USC Student Health Insurance charge is credited or removed from your USC student financial account (USCe.pay / OASIS) within 5–10 business days.
Mandatory USC waiver criteria checklist
- Maintain qualifying alternative coverage active for the full academic term/year.
- Insurance carrier must be licensed in the United States with a US claims payment office and US customer service phone number.
- Comprehensive in-network coverage in Southern California / Los Angeles area for inpatient/outpatient hospital, emergency, mental health, and prescription drugs.
- Annual individual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum complying with ACA standards.
- International students (F-1 and J-1 visa holders) are eligible to waive if their alternative plan satisfies USC institutional criteria.
Official sources: USC Student Health Waiver Page · AHP USC Waiver Portal
Last verified: August 24, 2026. See the University of Southern California School Page for the deadline, requirements, and plan comparison →
USC waiver FAQ
1. What is the regular USC waiver deadline for Fall 2026?
The Fall 2026 waiver deadline is September 11, 2026 (third Friday of Fall semester; coverage period: August 17, 2026 – January 10, 2027). The Spring 2027 waiver deadline is January 29, 2027.
2. What is the difference between the Student Health Fee and USC SHIP?
The Student Health Fee is mandatory for all students and covers primary and preventive care at the USC Student Health Centers (Engemann/Eric Cohen). The USC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP by Aetna) covers external hospitalization, specialty care, and emergencies; this is the plan you opt out of by waiving.
3. Can international students (F-1 / J-1) waive USC student health insurance?
Yes. International students holding F-1 or J-1 visas can waive USC SHIP by submitting an alternative US-licensed policy meeting USC institutional waiver standards.
4. What documents and information should I prepare before submitting?
You will need your USC 10-digit Student ID, USC NetID, insurance ID card (front and back), Member ID, Policy/Group ID, insurance company name (e.g. Spectrum Life Ltd.), US claims address/phone, and Summary of Benefits (SBC) PDF.
5. How long does USC / AHP take to review a waiver and remove the SHIP charge?
AHP verifies submitted policy details within 5 to 10 business days. Once approved, the USC Health Insurance charge is credited or removed from your USC student financial account (USCe.pay / OASIS).
6. Do I need to submit a waiver every academic year?
Yes. An approved Fall waiver covers the entire academic year. If you start in Spring, you must submit a Spring waiver. A new waiver must be submitted every academic year before the Fall deadline.
7. What happens if my waiver is denied?
Review the denial reason on the AHP portal, provide requested missing documents, or submit an appeal. If your waiver is formally denied by USC and you purchased a DIANins plan, DIANins provides a 100% full refund upon official proof of school denial (subject to no claims filed).
Return to the University of Southern California School Page →
Prepare before you start
- Keep the Confirmation PDF received after enrollment.
- Prepare your personal Policy Number or Member ID, Group Number, Subscriber name, date of birth, address, and other insurance-card details.
- Prepare clear front and back images of your insurance card.
- The source guide shows a USC waiver deadline of 09/11/2026. Submit early and save the confirmation screenshot.
If the dropdown options or field names differ from the screenshots, follow the current USC system.
01 - Open the official USC waiver page
Open USC MySHR. You can also open the USC SHIP page and select Insurance Waiver. After signing in to MySHR, select Insurance Waiver/Enrollment on the left. Confirm that the current application is 2026-2027 Waiver, check the displayed deadline, and click Proceed.
02 - Review and confirm the Primary Waiver Rules
Every confirmation item marked with ** must be checked. Read each statement carefully before continuing. The source screenshot includes a final Proceed action; after submission, the form may not be editable.
03 - Enter the coverage plan information
In Insurance Plan, search for WellAway or USC World Elite if that matches your purchased plan. If your plan is not listed, check My insurance plan is not listed / I have other insurance and complete the fields manually.
- Policy Number: enter the personal Member ID shown on your insurance card.
- Group Number: copy it from your insurance card.
- Start Date and End Date: confirm that the dates match your purchased coverage.
Do not copy a Plan ID from the first page of a PDF when the form asks for your personal Policy Number or Group Number. Use the values on your own insurance card. The screenshot shows a World Elite 450 / 250 / Plus example with coverage through August 14, 2027; treat it as an example only.
04 - Enter the Subscriber information
If the student is the policyholder, select Self / Student. Enter the name, date of birth, sex, email, and address exactly as shown on the insurance card or account. If the coverage belongs to a parent or spouse, select the actual relationship and use the correct subscriber information.
- Use the English spelling of the last name and first name from the insurance card or passport.
- Leave Middle Name and Name Suffix blank when they do not apply.
- Enter the date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format.
- Use your current U.S. address and leave Address Line 2 blank if there is no apartment or unit.
05 - Upload the front and back of the insurance card
Upload the Front Image and Back Image. Each image should be clear, show all four corners, and make the name, Policy Number or Member ID, and customer service phone readable. After both sides are uploaded, click Proceed.
06 - Review and submit
Return to the final confirmation page and recheck every selected option, field value, date, and uploaded file. When everything is correct, click Proceed / submit the final content of the form. The source guide notes that the form normally cannot be changed directly after submission, so save the successful submission page.
After submission
Save the submission success page or confirmation email. If USC later requests additional documents or corrections, respond promptly through the system instructions.
Need help checking your USC waiver?
If you are unsure how to enter the insurance company fields or are concerned about rejection, organize your insurance card, PDF, and waiver screenshot before checking each field.
Scan to ask about: USC waiver, insurance documents, and submission fields.
Try to submit 3-5 days before the deadline to allow time for additional materials.
This is an operating guide. Actual requirements are controlled by USC and the current waiver system.