Waiving the Otis Health Insurance Plan

Per Otis College policy, all degree seeking students enrolled in BFA and MFA programs are required to have health insurance. All currently enrolled students are automatically enrolled in Otis College's Student Health Insurance Plan, unless a waiver is completed. Students with health insurance coverage that meets the College's requirements may waive out of the plan by completing an online waiver. Please see below for online waiver instructions. 

2024-2025 Academic Year Waiver Deadlines:

Program Deadline
(BFA/MFA) 8/1/2024
(Incoming Spring 2025 Students) TBD

IMPORTANT: Unless you waive out of the Student Health Insurance Plan by the deadline, you will remain enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan, and the premium (cost) will be applied to your student account. Once enrolled onto the Student Health Insurance Plan, you will be enrolled on the plan for the remaining academic year. 

Please note, you only need to waive ONCE per academic year.

Once you have waived, your waiver will carry through into the following semester should you continue at the college. 

NEW INCOMING BFA/MFA STUDENTS FOR FALL 2024, the waiver period will open May 8, 2024. Your submitted waiver in Fall 2024 will be valid from the Fall 2024 semester through the following Spring/Summer 2025.

Waiver Instructions

  1. Have an electronic copy of your current insurance card and your Otis College student ID.
  2. Go to: https://otis.myahpcare.com/waiver
  3. Select the Domestic BFA/MFA student or International BFA/MFA student link.
  4. Log in to the system by using the following:
    • Login – X number (Ex:X12345678)
    • Password – Date of Birth in MMDDYYYY format, unless previously changed. (Ex: 01011990)
  5. Select the ‘Sign In” button.
  6. On the home page, select “WAIVE” button from the “I Already Have Insurance” section.
  7. Enter your insurance information and attach your required documentation.
  8. Select the ‘Submit Waiver’ button at the bottom of the waiver form.

You will received an email confirming your SUBMISSION of the waiver. You will then receive an email stating your waiver was APPROVED/DENIED. (Submitting a waiver does not guarantee approval until an approval email is received.)

*Please allow 7-10 business days from waiver approval for the Health Insurance Fee to be removed from your student account 

Waiver Requirements

  • Your current insurance plan must give you access to in-network/contracted doctors, specialists and facilities located in Los Angeles. Regional HMOs and state funded insurance plans outside of CA may not meet this requirement. Please confirm with your insurance company if you are unsure.
  • Your plan must have a US phone number and address
  • If you have an international insurance plan, your plan must meet the US Government J1 Visa minimum requirements - 1) Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness 2) Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000 3) Medical Evacuation benefit in the amount of $50,000 or more 4) Deductible must be $500 or less for each accident or illness

*It is your responsibility to ensure that your health insurance plan meets the above requirements. If you are unsure, please confirm with your health insurance carrier.

SCENARIO: If you waived the school's insurance, then lost your outside coverage. If this applies to you, you are still obligated to have health insurance coverage while at Otis College. This most commonly occurs in the following scenarios:

  • Students turn 26 and loses coverage under their parents
  • Covered CA or Medi-Cal coverage is not renewed
  • Parent loses coverage through work so student no longer under their plan

If you lose health insurance coverage part way through the plan year, you have the option to enroll onto the school's health insurance plan for the rest of the plan year. Your coverage will be pro-rated so that you only pay for the months that you receive coverage. If you would like to get onto the school's insurance mid-year, or have questions about this policy, please contact the Student Health and Wellness Center at studenthealth@otis.edu or by phone at 310-846-5738

Questions? Contact:

Student Health and Wellness Center
studenthealth@otis.edu
310-846-5738