Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the UNLV Student Health Insurance (SHI) Plan - Aetna Student Health, administered by Academic HealthPlans is $4,350 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Graduate/Law/International rate group: Fall $1,776 (8/16/2026-1/11/2027) + Spring/Summer $2,574 (1/12/2027-8/15/2027) = $4,350. The mandatory Student Health Fee is separate (charged with tuition).
Waiver deadline
Submit your waiver request before the deadline above. Universities rarely accept late waivers — if you miss it, you are auto-enrolled in SHIP and billed the full premium.
Waiver requirements
According to University of Nevada, Las Vegas, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Insurer has offices and operates in the US; ACA compliant
- Primary and emergency care within 40 miles of the UNLV campus
- Pays 70%+ for inpatient care and inpatient/outpatient mental health
- Prescription coverage, unlimited annual maximum, deductible $4,000 or less
- No pay-first-then-claim reimbursement plans
- Medical evacuation of $100,000+ and repatriation of $25,000+
Visit the University of Nevada, Las Vegas health services portal →
Private plans you could submit
These private US student health plans are in our comparison. None is automatically accepted — check the policy maximum, deductible, claims address and the other points above against the plan's terms before you buy:
- ISO Student Health Insurance — from $33/month
- WorldTrips StudentSecure — from $40/month
- Compass Student Insurance — from $43/month
- IMG Patriot Exchange Program
What a waiver can save
Your saving is the University of Nevada, Las Vegas SHIP premium ($4,350 a year) minus the price of a private plan the university accepts. Private plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band; plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more. Compare the real price of the plan you would submit before you decide.
- Premium: unlv.edu
- Waiver deadline: unlv.edu
- Waiver criteria: unlvgin.myahpcare.com