Student Health Plan
Information to help you find a plan to meet you where you are.
- Undergraduate/Graduate Students
All Domestic undergraduate and graduate students taking nine (9) or more credit hours (three (3) hours in summer) and domestic graduate students enrolled in their last semester are eligible to enroll in this insurance plan on a voluntary basis. Domestic graduate students completing thesis or dissertation are also eligible to enroll in this insurance plan on a voluntary basis.
Enroll in voluntary coverage at www.uhcsr.com/okstate.
- Graduate Teaching Assistant/Graduate Research Assistant
A Graduate student who meets the requirements listed below is eligible and automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan.
Graduate Teaching Assistants/Research Assistants will automatically be enrolled in this insurance plan if the GTA/GRA position, lasting the full semester, meets one of the following criteria:
- taking 9 credit hours spring/fall (2 summer) at 0.25 FTE, or
- taking 6 credit hours spring/fall (2 summer) at 0.50 FTE, or
- on reduced continuous enrollment of 2 credit hours or more for post-candidacy doctoral GTA/GRAs at 0.25 FTE.
Eligible students who enroll may also insure their dependents. Eligible dependents are the student's legal spouse and dependent children under 26 years of age.
The single person health insurance premium will be subsidized by OSU on your behalf with your qualifying enrollment and assistantship (at least 0.25 FTE). You will be responsible for a $25 monthly charge through your OSU payroll.
Beginning Fall 2024, GTA/GRA coverage may be waived or activated by visiting studentcenter.uhcsr.com/okstate. A full list of waiver steps is available here.
If you have been identified as eligible for coverage on the GTA/GRA policy, you will receive the option to opt-in or waive coverage.
Deadlines to waive GTA/GRA coverage:
Spring: Feb. 1
Summer: July 1
Fall: Sept. 1
Summer declinations are only accepted for those newly eligible beginning with the summer semester. Declinations are due on or before that date, even if it is a weekend.
- International Students
All international and English Language Institute students taking one (1) or more credit hours are required to purchase this insurance plan and the premium for coverage is added to their tuition billing. International J1 Scholars actively participating in course work or research activities are eligible to enroll in this insurance plan.
- Voluntary Coverage Information
Frequently Asked Questions for Graduate Assistants
- What is graduate assistant medical insurance?
As a Graduate Assistant at Oklahoma State University, whether you've assumed the role of a Graduate Teaching Assistant or a Graduate Research Assistant, you may be eligible for health care coverage provided by UnitedHealthcare through the university. Additionally, you may be eligible to participate in voluntary dental and vision coverage through UnitedHealthcare.
- What is the cost of graduate assistant insurance?
The cost of Graduate Assistant (GA) medical insurance at OSU is structured so that GAs are liable for a maximum of $125 per semester billed at a rate of $25 per month. This amount will be deducted from your payroll on a monthly basis.
- What happens if my plan premium is not deducted from my payroll?If you are reviewing your payroll advice for August or January, you may not see that month's plan premium deducted due to payroll deadlines. In this case, the "missed" premium will be paid on the following month's payroll in addition to the standard monthly amount owed. Your coverage will not be impacted by this payment structure. Outside of this scenario, if you believe there is an error in your premium deduction, please contact osu-benefits@okstate.edu.
- Am I eligible for graduate assistant insurance coverage?
Graduate students who meet the criteria outlined below are automatically eligible for and enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Research Assistants (GRAs) will be enrolled in the insurance plan provided their positions fulfill one of the following criteria, which must be met each semester:
1. Enrolled in 9 credit hours during spring/fall (2 summer) at 0.25 FTE.
2. Enrolled in 6 credit hours during spring/fall (2 summer) at 0.50 FTE.
3. On reduced continuous enrollment of 2 credit hours or more for post-candidacy doctoral GTA/GRAs at 0.25 FTE.
Enrolled students can also opt to insure their dependents, including legal spouses and dependent children under 26 years of age. To include dependents in your coverage, it is necessary to communicate directly with UnitedHealthcare. The process involves reaching out to them for enrollment, and any associated payments for dependent coverage will be handled directly through UnitedHealthcare.
- Am I able to decline graduate assistant medical insurance coverage if I do not wish to participate?
As a Graduate Assistant (GA), you are automatically enrolled in the health insurance plan after the waiver deadline for each semester. If you choose not to participate in the insurance, you must visit studentcenter.uhcsr.com/okstate to opt out. However, please note that international students are not permitted to decline coverage.
Ensure you have your identification details, such as your date of birth and Banner ID (CWID), readily available.
If your information is not found as eligible for insurance within the United Health Care portal after entering your details, please contact your department to confirm that your assignment has been fully processed. Additionally, verify that you meet all eligibility criteria, including enrollment in the required number of class hours.
Please be aware that if you do not meet the specified criteria, you will not be included in our eligibility file and will be unable to accept or decline insurance through the United Health Care portal. If you have confirmed all the steps above, please wait until the following week to attempt opting in or out again, and continue to check regularly, as the eligibility file is processed weekly.
- How do I activate my graduate assistant medical insurance coverage?
Visit studentcenter.uhcsr.com/okstate and click the "opt in" button to follow the prompts. Ensure you have your identification details, such as your date of birth and Banner ID (CWID), readily available. While the portal will display your total premium, you are only responsible for a maximum of $125 per semester billed at $25 per month deducted through your payroll, so you may continue through the prompts as it will not request payment. After completing this step, you may access your account here.
If your information is not found as eligible for insurance within the United Health Care portal after entering your details, please contact your department to confirm that your assignment has been fully processed. Additionally, verify that you meet all eligibility criteria, including enrollment in the required number of class hours.
Please be aware that if you do not meet the specified criteria, you will not be included in our eligibility file and will be unable to accept or decline insurance through the United Health Care portal. If you have confirmed all the steps above, please wait until the following week to attempt opting in or out again, and continue to check regularly, as the eligibility file is processed weekly.
- If I decline coverage but find I need it later in the semester, what are my options?
If you decline GA insurance but later need to enroll due to an IRS Qualifying Life Event, please contact us at osu-benefits@okstate.edu. We will provide you with the necessary paperwork for the event, which you will need to return to us along with documentation proving the Qualifying Life Event. When adding a dependent, dependent verification documentation is required. This may include marriage license or first page of tax return for spouse and birth certificate or first page of tax return for dependent child.
Once approved by our Benefits Coordinator, we will return the completed paperwork to you for submission to United Health Care.
Examples of Qualifying Life Events include:
- Marriage, divorce, legal separation, or spouse’s death Birth, adoption, medical child support order, or dependent’s death.
- Change in residence affecting eligibility for your or your dependents' current plan
- Gain or loss of other group coverage, starting or returning from a leave of absence, or change in job status (e.g., from part-time to full-time)
- Change in dependent’s eligibility (e.g., reaching age 26)
Important Links
Preventative Care - What's covered?
United Health Care: 800.767.0700