Frequently Asked Questions
About the Student Medical Insurance Office
At the Student Medical Insurance office, we are interested in your well-being and we want you to succeed during your time at Virginia Tech. Our staff members can assist you by:
- Explaining important Virginia Tech health insurance requirements.
- Clarifying the often-confusing language of insurance (e.g. what's a co-pay? an "in network" provider?).
- Talking with you about Virginia Tech’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
We are not an insurance company. We are the customer service office for the Virginia Tech's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
If you are a participant in the SHIP
- We can meet with you to discuss your plan benefits.
- We can help you submit claims.
If you are not a participant in the SHIP
- We will do our best to point you in the right direction to get answers to your questions.
- Every plan works differently, so your own plan's administrator will be the expert to whom you will turn.
We're here to help!
Please e-mail, call or stop by the Student Services Building to confer with our staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students that are considered full time students with their department are eligible to be on the Student Health Insurance.
International students with an F1 or J1 visa and their dependents, andVeterinary Medicine students, and School of Medicine students are required to have health insurance that meet certain requirements at Virginia Tech. Our office does encourage all students to have some type of health insurance coverage.
A qualifying life event is a change in life circumstances that allows you to sign up for a new insurance plan, outside of open enrollment periods. Without a qualifying event, you would need to wait until the next open enrollment period before making any changes.
Examples of a QLE: newborn, marriage, loss of coverage, entering the US, court order.
To enroll, you will need to email our office within 31 days of termination. You will need to provide documentation of your qualifying life event and your Hokie passport number. Once we receive this information, we will be able to provide you with the proper documentation to enroll.
No, the Student Medical Insurance office is not allowed to assist with third party insurance providers. Virginia Tech is contracted through our current insurance provider.
You can submit this statement through your member secure website to be reimbursed. You also have the option to mail directly to Aetna.
Aetna Student Health
P.O. Box 981106
El Paso, TX 79998
Please make sure to include your student ID number and date of birth on the statement you receive from Schiffert Health Center.
No, students are required to pay a health fee, but that does not include health insurance.
Please allow 3-5 business days for processing. You will be able to log into your secure member site and print your Id card. You also have the option to contact Aetna Customer Service and request a plastic card be mailed to you.
Contact the Student Medical Insurance Office.