Medical

Form  Site Index

Medical History
All new full-time students are required to complete a health history form which will be sent in the mail and to submit proof of required immunizations. Students will be unable to register for classes until proof of immunizations is submitted to Student Health Service (SHS). The District of Columbia law requires that all full-time students under the age of 26 enrolled at a school within the District provide proof of the following immunizations/test/procedure:

• Two vaccinations against measles, mumps, and rubella, given after the age of one and at least 30 days apart.

• One tetanus/diphtheria booster given within the preceding ten years

• Vaccination against varicella (chickenpox) or documented history of having varicella. If you do not have a history of varicella, then two vaccinations are required at age 12 or older.

• Tuberculosis (TB) test within the past 12 months. If the results are positive, a chest x-ray will be required.

All full-time students over the age of 26 are required to have the following:

• Tuberculosis (TB) test within the past 12 months

• Tetanus inoculation within the past 10 years

Health Service Fee
The University charges a mandatory health service fee of $50 per semester for all full-time students. The health service fee is not for insurance. The fee allows the student to be seen at SHS for an unlimited number of office visits.

Health Insurance
Health insurance is required of all full-time students. If you are covered by your own private insurance or you are under your parent's plan and the insurance covers you in the District of Columbia metropolitan area, you do not need to purchase student health insurance available through Gallaudet University. However, if you decide not to purchase Gallaudet University's insurance, you must complete a waiver form on your Bison account and fax a copy of your health insurance coverage. (See below for more information and instructions about the waiver.)

Students who have Medicaid insurance from the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia may waive the Gallaudet insurance. However, if you have Medicaid insurance from any other state other than the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia you must purchase the Gallaudet insurance or obtain other insurance that will cover your medical needs in the District of Columbia metropolitan area.

The Gallaudet University student health insurance plan is underwritten by Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company. Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company provides students with nationwide coverage. The deductible per policy year is $100 for both in network and out of network. The insurance provides 100 percent in-network coverage and 60 percent out-of-network coverage for covered medical benefits. In addition, there is an outpatient prescription drug benefit. After a co-payment of $5 for generic or $10 for brand name, the cost of the prescription is paid in full, up to a maximum of $1,000 for the policy year. A brochure on the University's health insurance plan is available here.

The health insurance fee for the 2007-2008 academic year will be determined on July 15, 2007 at time of policy renewal. (The health insurance fee for the 2006-2007 academic year is $1,698 for coverage from July 15, 2006 through July 15, 2007. Students enrolling 2007 spring semester pay $993.00 for coverage from December 15, 2006 to July 15, 2007.)

Health Insurance Waiver

The waiver must be renewed annually, even though your health insurance may not have changed.  If you do not complete a waiver form and submit a copy (front and back) of your insurance card, you will automatically be billed a one-year non-refundable health insurance fee which will be charged to your student account. Information on the exact annual fee will be mailed during the summer at time of policy renewal.

Waiver of Gallaudet University's health insurance for Fall 2007 must be completed by the first day of classes. Because the waiver process may take some time, you are advised to provide waiver information at least a month before the start of classes.

On the first day of classes, your student account will automatically be billed for Gallaudet University's health insurance plan. A waiver submitted after this date, thus reversing the health insurance charge on your student account, will involve a $100.00 processing fee to be charged to your student account.  

Students will not be allowed to waive, for any reason, the automatic billing of the campus health insurance plan after October 31, 2007. This is a non-negotiable deadline. If students have not waived the insurance by October 31, 2007 the health insurance charge for that year will remain on their student account and duplicate insurance coverage may exist.

Waiver Process
Waiving the health insurance is a two-step process that must be completed before your insurance is waived. First, you must waive the insurance online through your Bison account and secondly, you must submit a copy of your insurance card (front and back) to SHS. Your health insurance has not been waived unless you complete both steps of the insurance waiver process.

Follow these steps ito complete the waiver process:
1.  Go to your Bison account.
2.  Select Portfolio.
3.  Select Health Insurance Waiver.
4.  Complete the online form.
5.  Fax a copy of your health insurance card (front and back) to
     202-651-5743 or bring a copy of the insurance card (front and back)
     to SHS.

SHS will determine if your health insurance qualifies to waive the school insurance. Once you have submitted your information online, SHS will acknowledge your insurance information within three business days. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail SHS@gallaudet.edu.

Updated 3/20/07