Student Health Insurance Policy for Non-Clinical Students
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Administered by: Office of Student Health Insurance
1. Purpose
St. George’s University (SGU) is committed to ensuring that all students have access to comprehensive health care coverage. This policy establishes mandatory health insurance requirements for non-clinical students to promote student well-being, continuity of care, and compliance with institutional standards.
This policy does not apply to:
- Grenadian Citizens who are studying on campus
- Online Master’s/PhD programs with no campus activities
2. Applicability
This policy applies to all non-clinical students enrolled at SGU, including those studying in Grenada and Newcastle.
3. Insurance Requirement
SGU has implemented a Hard Waiver Health Insurance Policy. All non-clinical students must:
- Enroll in the SGU Student Health Insurance Plan (Cigna)
- Submit a waiver demonstrating qualifying alternative health insurance coverage that meets all SGU requirements.
OR
Students who do not satisfy this requirement will have a Health Insurance (IN) hold placed on their account.
4. Enrollment, Waiver, and Deadlines
Students could submit two official waivers in specific points in time:
- July 31st – this would be for August – December
- December 31st – this would be for January - July
Required Action Deadline
By this date, students must:
- Complete enrollment in the SGU Student Health Plan, or
- Submit a waiver with all required documentation and receive approval
5. Check-In and Registration Impact
- Insurance holds will not be lifted unless the requirement is fully satisfied.
- Students who do not check in by the start of classes will incur a daily late fee.
- Students who do not check in by the end of the check-in period will be administratively withdrawn from the University.
6. Minimum Waiver Coverage Requirements
To qualify for a waiver, alternative insurance coverage must meet all of the following criteria:
- Coverage in your home country and place of study
- Coverage for emergency and non-emergency care
- Full preventive care
- Full coverage of pre-existing conditions
- Prescription drug coverage
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Inpatient and outpatient services, including Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT)
- No annual or lifetime maximums
- Coverage valid for the term(s)
- January 1 – July 31
- August 1 – December 31
- Full year coverage – August 1 – July 31
7. Non-Approved Insurance Plans
The following plans cannot be approved under the SGU Hard Waiver Policy:
- HMO plans
- Medicaid
- Medi-Cal
- NJ FamilyCare
- State-restricted insurance plans
- International emergency-only insurance plans
These plans do not meet SGU’s requirement for nationwide, non-emergency coverage.
8. Plan Review Assistance
Students may upload their Summary of Benefits and related documents to the Cigna OGSE portal for pre-purchase review.
- Enrollment/Waiver Portal: https://cghb-ogse.com/sgu
- For portal access issues, students should email a screenshot of the error message to Cigna OGSE Support: OGSEquestions@cignahealthcare.com
Note:
The University is not an insurance broker and cannot advise on plan selection. Students may explore plans through major national carriers or HealthCare.gov, provided all waiver criteria are met.
9. Enrollment and Waiver Submission
Students must complete one of the following via the official portal:
- Enroll in the SGU Student Health Insurance Plan
- Submit a Health Insurance Waiver with all required documentation
Enrollment/Waiver Portal:
https://cghb-ogse.com/sgu
10. Accommodation-Based Exception
Students with an approved accommodation from/through Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services that require remaining in a specific geographic location due to a chronic medical condition may request an individualized review.
- Requests must be submitted via the Accommodation Insurance Exception Request Form
- Review time: 5–7 business days
11. Cancellation Policy
Once a student is enrolled in the SGU Student Health Plan and the final deadline to waive has passed:
- The policy premium becomes non-refundable, and SGU does not provide a prorated refunded for early cancelation
Cancellation Policy
Students may be cancelled from the policy due to withdrawal, or non-attendance in accordance with the eligibility guidelines defined below:
Leave of Absence (LOA) Eligibility Policy
Students who are on a leave of absence or on bridge time are required to have active student health insurance. Students who take a Leave of Absence, and are enrolled into the Student Health Plan, will remain active on the plan for the policy duration of their enrollment.
Withdrawal Eligibility Policy
Students who are withdrawn from classes within 31 days after the policy effective date will be considered ineligible for the Student Health Plan. Your coverage will be canceled to its inception date and any premiums collected will be refunded in full.
Please note that Students are responsible for any and all use of the Student Health Plan if canceled back to inception.
If the withdrawal occurs more than 31 days after the policy effective date, your coverage will remain in force until the policy end date and no premiums will be refunded.
12. Policy Enforcement
Failure to comply with this policy may result in:
- Registration holds
- Inability to check in
- Late fees
- Administrative withdrawal from the University
If the University determines that a student does not maintain approved student health insurance coverage including circumstances involving the cancellation of an existing policy or failure to provide proof of an approved policy, the matter will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs as a potential breach of the Student Code of Conduct. Upon referral, the Office of Student Health Insurance will request that the Office of Student Affairs conduct a formal investigation, which may result in the matter being presented to a judicial panel. Additionally, any student found to be noncompliant will be immediately removed from classes and/or clinical rotations pending an investigation.
13. Contact Information
For questions or assistance understanding insurance requirements or waiver criteria:
Office of Student Health Insurance
Email: medins@sgu.edu
Response time: 3–5 business days
Scheduling a virtual meeting: Click here