Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the WashU Student Health Insurance Plan (UnitedHealthcare Student Resources) is $2,923 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
WashU publishes a single 2026-27 SHIP premium; no per-semester split is shown.
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 Washington University in St. Louis, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Insurer licensed in the US with US claims office and US phone number
- Maximum 40% coinsurance (plan pays at least 60%)
- Unlimited annual and lifetime benefits
- Covers inpatient, emergency, specialty, prescriptions and outpatient mental health
- No HMO without away-from-home rider, Medicaid/Medicare, catastrophic or cost-sharing plans
- F-1/J-1: only a US-based employer plan through a US insurer
Visit the Washington University in St. Louis 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 Washington University in St. Louis SHIP premium ($2,923 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: studenthealthcenter.washu.edu
- Waiver deadline: studenthealthcenter.washu.edu
- Waiver criteria: studenthealthcenter.washu.edu