Ringling College of Art and Design
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

2024-2025 Policy Year

Ringling requires all degree-seeking students to be covered by a health insurance plan that provides comprehensive coverage in the Sarasota area. All degree-seeking students are automatically enrolled and billed for the Ringling Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Domestic students are required to confirm enrollment or submit a waiver form to opt-out of the SHIP.

United Healthcare Student Resources insure the SHIP, including United’s National Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Ringling has partnered with University Health Plans to help with waiver, enrollment, eligibility, and general benefit questions. You can contact United Healthcare Student Resources for specific benefit or claims questions.

If you are enrolling in the SHIP, then you must actively attend classes for at least the first 31 days after the effective date of the SHIP.

International Students

International students are automatically enrolled in the SHIP and do not have access to the online enrollment and waiver forms. In August, international students will receive an email from United Healthcare Student Resources advising them to create an online account and download a copy of their Insurance ID card. International students with a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US may contact University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com to request a paper waiver form. Generally, only plans acquired through US employment or purchased from a state marketplace will meet the waiver requirements.

Domestic Students

Domestic students must waive or confirm enrollment in the SHIP by the deadline. A confirmation number will be provided when the enrollment or waiver form is successfully submitted. If a waiver form is not submitted, then the student will be automatically enrolled in the SHIP and responsible for the cost of the insurance.

Before waiving the SHIP, students should note the following:

• Not all plans provide comprehensive coverage in Sarasota, such as out-of-state Medicaid plans and certain HMOs and managed care plans. Be sure to check with your insurance company before waiving. Emergency-only coverage in the Sarasota area does not meet the waiver requirements.
  • Sarasota Memorial Hospital and its network of outpatient and urgent care centers, as well as First Physicians Group of Sarasota Memorial, do not participate in the Cigna, Humana, PHCS, Multiplan, or Medicaid Network. Blue Cross Florida plans are also out of network for lab services. You can continue to waive the SHIP with these plans; by doing so, you acknowledge that you will be responsible for finding local providers in the area covered by your plan or that you have adequate financial resources to pay for your out-of-pocket costs at the Sarasota Memorial Hospital network of providers.

Qualifying Event Enrollment

Students who waive the SHIP may not voluntarily enroll until the next policy year. However, students may qualify for special enrollment rights if they incur an involuntary loss of other coverage. To request an enrollment form and premium quote, contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1145 or info@univhealthplans.com. You must submit all qualifying event enrollment paperwork and documentation within 30 days of the qualifying event.