Mandatory health insurance for graduate students
All degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in six or more graduate credits (regardless of the course level) in a semester will be automatically enrolled and billed for the University-sponsored health insurance for each term they are eligible (fall & spring/summer).
If a student has other existing, and comparable, coverage and would like to waive out of the student health insurance, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the University online waiver form prior to the deadline (see below). A health insurance waiver is good for the current academic year only if approved. A new waiver must be submitted each academic year.
International students should contact the Office of International Students and Scholars for information regarding health insurance. In general, international students are not eligible for a health insurance waiver.
Insurance Plans
View the plan highlight flyer and brochure for additional information about the health insurance provided.
Graduate student insurance links
- University of Nevada, Reno Grad Insurance
- University of Nevada, Reno Academic Health Plan
- Aetna Student Health
- Enrolling dependents in your health plan
- Enrolling in dental benefits (add-on, optional)
Contact information
- The Graduate School – gradinsurance@unr.edu, (775) 784-6869
- AHP toll-free number – (855) 370-7214
- Aetna Student Health Customer Service – (866) 725-4433
Rates and enrollment deadlines
Mandatory student health insurance
Domestic student health insurance costs
- Fall 2025: $1,929.00 (8/15/25 through 1/14/26)
- Spring/Summer 2026: $2,672.00 (1/15/26 through 8/14/26)
- Annual: $4,601.00 (8/15/25 through 8/14/26)
- See full health insurance details and link to enroll
International student health insurance costs (mandatory)
- Fall 2025: $1,431.00 (8/15/25 through 1/14/26)
- Spring and Summer 2026: $1,984.00 (1/15/26 through 8/14/26)
- Annual: $3,415.00 (8/15/25 through 8/14/26)
- See full health insurance details and link to enroll
Health insurance waiver deadlines
In order to cancel your auto-enrollment, you will need to complete the health insurance waiver before the deadline. The request to waive health insurance cannot be made until the fee has been applied to your account.
- Fall 2025: 9/9/2025*
- Spring/Summer 2026: 2/8/2026*
- Form to request health insurance waiver
*Please note these are firm dates and no exceptions will be made after the deadline of each term.
Please note, a waiver cannot be submitted until the following conditions are met:
- You must register for at least six (6) eligible graduate-level credits (e.g. Grad Special, certificates, online and Nursing program students are NOT eligible for the Graduate Health Insurance and therefore do not need to submit a waiver).
- The Grad Health Insurance charge must appear in your MyNevada account.
- You must wait 3-4 working days after the charges appears to allow your name to be transmitted to the insurance company, otherwise you will not be recognized in the waiver portal.
Optional student health insurance
Dental open enrollment dates
- Fall 2025: Enroll between 7/1/25 and 9/9/25
- Spring/Summer 2026: Enroll between 11/04/25 and 02/08/26
- See full dental insurance details and link to enroll
Vision open enrollment dates
- Enroll any time! Students may continue this coverage after graduation or cancel at any time.
- See full vision insurance details and link to enroll
Health insurance policy FAQ
Student health insurance is a competitively priced health insurance plan tailored to the health care needs of University of Nevada, Reno students. It features year-round, world-wide coverage using the United Healthcare network. This means students can receive convenient, high quality care when they are sick or injured without having to be concerned about cost or availability of the care they need. The student health insurance plan provides optimal coverage for services on campus and in the University of Nevada, Reno community in addition to peace of mind for both parents and students.
An added benefit to having the student health insurance plan is that staff at the University Student Health Center, including the on-site University Health Insurance Coordinator, can offer students assistance with claims issues, insurance education and provide referrals to specialists if they need additional care that the University Student Health Center cannot provide.
In spring 2014, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) passed a motion to recommend that all degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in six or more credit hours per semester must have health insurance coverage either through the University of Nevada, Reno’s sponsored student health insurance plan or their comparable health insurance plan. In June 2014, the NSHE Board of Regents supported and approved this initiative. As a result, effective fall 2014, the graduate programs became Hard Waiver Mandatory for all traditional degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in six or more credits.
All domestic degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in six or more credits (regardless of the course level) in a semester will be automatically enrolled and billed for the University sponsored health insurance for each term they are eligible (fall & spring/summer).
If a student has other comparable coverage and would like to waive out of the student health insurance, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the online waiver form prior to the deadline. If approved, a health insurance waiver is good for the current academic year only. A new waiver must be submitted each academic year.
All domestic degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in six or more credits (regardless of the course level) in a semester will be automatically enrolled and billed for the University sponsored health insurance for each term they are eligible (fall & spring/summer). If a student has other comparable coverage and would like to waive out of the student health insurance, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the online waiver form prior to the deadline. A health insurance waiver is good for the current academic year only if approved. A new waiver must be submitted each academic year.
Note that a health insurance waiver can only be approved if a student demonstrates that their existing health insurance provides benefits that are equivalent to the ones offered by the insurance offered through the University of Nevada, Reno. Health Care Discount Plans do not qualify.
Students who would like to have their University graduate health insurance fees considered as part of their educational expenses may complete a Budget Revision Request with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office. Some students may be considered for additional federal student loans to help pay their health insurance costs. The contact information for the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office, as well as additional information regarding the cost of the attendance appeal process, can be found at the Financial Aid site.
In terms of financial aid disbursements, for full-time graduate students and GAs who have the health insurance fee on their student account, this could impact any financial aid refund you may be expecting to receive. However, if you submit a waiver and are approved, the health insurance fee will be removed from your account and a refund for the difference would be returned to the student from Financial Aid.
Additional questions about the impact of this health insurance policy on your student aid? Please contact the University Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
After the health insurance fee appears on your student account, it will take up to three business days for your information to appear in the online waiver system, then allow you to log on and submit your health insurance fee waiver. This allows sufficient time for your information to be sent to our health insurance administrator.
Once your information has been received and processed, you will be able to log into the online waiver system and submit your insurance information using your 10-digit NSHE ID number and your date of birth. If you attempt to submit a waiver before the three full business day timeline, you will not be recognized by the online waiver system and will not be able to submit your waiver at that time. If the system does not recognize your student id and date of birth, and it has been longer than three business days since you registered for classes, please email gradinsurance@unr.edu.
- Name of your insurance company
- Phone number of your insurance company
- Group and medical ID number of your insurance plan
- Does your plan provide primary care and emergency care services within 125 miles of the University?
- How much does your plan pay for inpatient hospitalization?
- What is your plan’s annual deductible per person?
- Does your plan provide prescription medication coverage?
REMEMBER! You can only submit the waiver ONE time. Once the waiver has been submitted you’ll receive a “Waiver Accepted” or “Waiver Denied” message based on the answers provided on the waiver form. You will NOT be able to access the waiver system again to make any corrections, so it is important that you have all the correct information in advance of submitting your waiver.
If your waiver is approved, the Cashier’s office will remove the health insurance charged from the student’s account within 7–10 days. If your waiver is denied, you may appeal the denial by submitting an online waiver appeal. An appeal box will be displayed on the denial notification for you to complete. If you exit the page and fail to submit your appeal you can also submit an appeal to the University grad insurance inbox (gradinsurance@unr.edu). Students will be notified of the appeal decision in writing via email within 7-10 days. The appeal decision is final.
Once you have fully completed the form, processing time may take up to 10 business days to receive approval. Once your waiver has been approved, your name will be submitted to the Cashier's Office to remove the Grad Health Insurance fee from your outstanding balance. Please keep in mind that fees are due on the Friday before the first day of classes of the Fall/Spring semester. Please complete this form in a timely manner to avoid paying late fees.
You do not have to enroll your dependents. If you want to enroll your dependents, please contact the insurance provider, Academic Health Plans, directly at (855) AHP-CARE.
Yes. If you obtain other coverage for the spring semester you will need to contact the University at gradinsurance@unr.edu.
This mandatory health insurance information is for domestic graduate students only. All international graduate students are required to carry student health insurance, and the cost will be automatically added to your student account. Any international graduate students with insurance questions must directly contact the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).
Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS)