Medical

Medical History
All new full-time and part-time students are required to complete a health history form. Student Health Service (SHS) requires the original health history form to be mailed but we will accept fax copies until the original arrives at SHS. Students will be unable to register for classes until proof of immunizations are submitted to SHS. The District of Columbia law requires that all full-time and part-time students to have the required immunizations. Student under the age of 26 required different immunizations than if you are 26 years of age or older.

Immunizations requirements under the age of 26:

• 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
• Vaccination against Polio (required under 18 years of age)
• Vaccination against Hepatitis B
• Vaccination for Meningococcal (meningitis)

Immunizations requirements at age 26 and older:

• 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 health insurance fee for the new academic year is determined at time of policy renewal on July 15 prior to the fall semester. (The health insurance fee for the 2008-2009 academic year is $1,698 for coverage from July 15, 2008 through July 15, 2009. Students enrolling 2009 spring semester pay $993.00 for coverage from December 15, 2008 to July 15, 2009.)

Information regarding the University's health plan is available at www.universityhealthplans.com.

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 2008-09 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. Student may waive the health insurance with the $100.00 processing fee from January 20, 2009 through February 2, 2009.

Students will not be allowed to waive, for any reason, the automatic billing of the campus health insurance plan after two weeks of the start of classes. The last day to waive the insurance for Spring 2009 is February 2, 2009. This is a non-negotiable deadline. If students have not waived the insurance by then, 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 to complete the waiver process:

1. Go to your Bison account
2. Select self service
3. Select Student Center
4. The health insurance waiver is under personal information
5. Complete the health insurance waiver and then select submit
6. Fax a copy of your health insurance card (front and back) to 202-651-5743, email an attachment of your health insurance card front and back to SHS@gallaudet.edu, or you can bring a copy of the insurance card 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.

Medical Information Form

Health Insurance Info Form

Contact Information: Kim.Lee-Wilkins@gallaudet.edu