SA-4405 Health and Disability Insurance

1.0        Purpose

VTCSOM requires all medical students to have adequate valid medical insurance to cover emergencies and common medical problems that might occur during their educational training period.  

2.0        Guideline

Health Insurance

Acceptable medical insurance is mandatory for all students and must be documented at matriculation and then annually with the Office of Enrollment Management. If a student already has a health insurance plan in effect through their family’s major medical policy or private insurance agency, they will be able to keep it. When determining the acceptability of coverage, the AAMC recommendation for minimal coverage is used as a guide. It is recommended that students get annual benefit coverage of at least $100,000.00.  

Coverage must include the entire academic year, including breaks, regardless of the student’s terms of enrollment. The policy must provide continuous coverage for the entire period the insured is enrolled as an eligible student.  

Insurance Requirements

• The policy must have at least $500,000 each in coverage for medical, prescription, mental health, and substance abuse coverage benefits with no exclusion for club, intramural, or extramural sports.
• The policy's annual deductible must be $2,500 or less. 
• Medical expenses for pregnancy, childbirth, and complications of pregnancy must be treated as any other illness under the policy, regardless of gender. 
• The policy must cover pre-existing conditions for the entire policy term with no waiting period.
• The policy must be valid from the student's first day of classes or mandatory program participation (varies by program) with coverage through July 31 the following year or, if graduating, the last day of the month of the student’s graduation.  

All students are eligible to participate in the Virginia Tech Aetna Student Health Plan.  

The Aetna Student Health Insurance plan covers most services of standard medical insurance policies, including prescription drugs, emergency room expenses, laboratory testing, and dental care (for an additional annual fee.) with a deductible and co-pay. The annual coverage period for the Virginia Tech Aetna Student Health plan is from August 1 to July 31. The plan is underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna). The exact provisions governing this insurance, including definitions, are contained in the Certificate of Coverage issued to Virginia Tech. If any discrepancy exists between this Benefit Summary and the Certificate, the Certificate of Coverage will govern and control the payment of benefits. 

Students are notified as to when Aetna’s annual open enrollment begins. Students are notified to enroll online or obtain an enrollment application for voluntary coverage. Students need to log on to www.aetnastudenthealth.com and search for VTCSOM, then click Enroll to download the appropriate form. 

Students enrolled with the Virginia Tech Student Medical Insurance Plan will be billed through the Bursar’s Office.  

This means that students can enroll in the plan with no money due at the time of enrollment. Instead, insurance charges will be posted to the overall student bill, creating a more unified billing experience for students.  

Students are able to pay for the insurance charge through the university’s payment plans, if they meet eligibility requirements. All payments will align with the existing Bursar’s Office procedures.    

Waivers can be submitted between July 1 and August 31 for the fall.  

Students who do not meet the insurance requirement by the end of open enrollment (either by having a waiver request accepted or by enrolling in the VT plan) will be added to the VT plan.  

Reach out to the Student Medical Insurance Office at smi@vt.edu or by going to this website, Student Medical Insurance | Risk Management and Insurance.  

Disability Insurance

VTCSOM students receive disability insurance as part of their tuition and fees. Students will be enrolled in a disability insurance plan to cover disability issues during their education. Med Plus Advantage, sponsored by the American Medical Association, or Standard Insurance Company provides a disability insurance package to cover all enrolled medical students. 

3.0        References

• Aetna Student Health Insurance plan
• Student Medical Insurance | Risk Management and Insurance
• Office of Enrollment Management

4.0        Approval and Revisions

Revisions: 06/14/2022; 03/22/2024; 07/18/2025

Reviewed and approved by Enrollment Management