Haris Ashley
Students at the University of Florida (UF) are required to have health insurance. Students who are uninsured or whose insurance does not offer adequate benefits in the Gainesville area or their home campus must purchase an alternative plan or be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Students can opt out of SHIP by submitting a health insurance waiver each year before the fee payment deadline, which proves they have comparable coverage. However, students with Medicaid and employer-sponsored commercial plans are now out-of-network at UF Health locations statewide, and there has been a dispute between UF Health and United Healthcare, which may have impacted students with United insurance.
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What You'll Learn
UF Health billing and insurance FAQ
UF Health is responsible for submitting bills to your insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite your claim. It is your responsibility to provide any requested information to your insurance company (accident information, claim forms). If information is not supplied to your insurance company, the charges for services may be billed to you directly.
Upon admission, if you have medical insurance, you may be asked to pay a deductible or copay depending on your insurance plan. If you do not have healthcare coverage, you will be asked to pay the full amount of your estimated charges at the time of service. If you cannot afford to make the payment in full, you will be asked to speak with one of UF Health's Financial Counselors to establish payment arrangements.
After your insurance claim has been processed, you will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance company explaining how your claim was handled. The EOB will show the amount of payment, patient responsibility, and/or denials. If there is patient responsibility due, UF Health will send you a statement with your remaining balance, which is required to be paid in full. Statements are mailed out on a monthly basis.
UF Health offers several payment options: through your MyUFHealth account, via online bill pay, or by cash, check, or money order. UF Health Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, to answer any questions about bill and payment-related concerns.
If you do not have health insurance coverage, you may be eligible for insurance through the Health Insurance Exchanges or Florida Medicaid. We also encourage you to apply for financial assistance or contact UF Health's Customer Service department to make payment in full or set up payment arrangements.
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UF health insurance waivers
At the University of Florida (UF), all students are required to have health insurance. Students who are uninsured or whose insurance does not offer adequate benefits in the Gainesville area or their home campus are required to either purchase an alternative plan from the health insurance market or be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). SHIP is a fully funded major medical policy available to UF students and is administered by the health insurance carrier.
Students who wish to opt out of SHIP can do so by submitting a health insurance waiver. The waiver is an online form that serves as proof of health insurance and confirms Comparable Coverage. This must be done each year before the Fee Payment Deadline. Students will receive email reminders and notifications on their One.UF account when it is time to renew their waiver. The waiver is valid for one year or three semesters from the time of submission.
To submit a health insurance waiver, students will need their current health insurance card and their GatorLink credentials to access the secure portal. If students have previously uploaded pictures of their health insurance card, they do not need to do so again unless they need to update the pictures. Submission of a waiver does not guarantee that it will be accepted, and students must allow at least 3-5 business days for a transaction to process on their account. Students who do not submit a waiver by the deadline will be automatically enrolled in the UF-sponsored plan for every semester in which they are enrolled at least half-time and will be financially responsible for the related charges.
It is important to note that if a student is enrolled in a study abroad program, they do not need to complete an insurance waiver. Study Abroad Services will enrol them in Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) coverage for the duration of their time abroad.
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UF health insurance dispute
In August 2024, a contract dispute between the University of Florida Health (UF Health) and UnitedHealthcare (United) threatened to leave thousands of patients across Florida uninsured. The dispute centred around United's allegation that UF Health was demanding a more than 25% price hike in the first year of its commercial contract, while also refusing to finalize agreed-upon terms for Medicaid users.
The contract dispute had the potential to impact students at the university, as well as patients with Medicaid and employer-sponsored commercial plans. However, UF Health maintained that students would not be affected, as its contract with UF Student Services is separate from its contract with United. The university requires all degree-seeking students to purchase a United student insurance plan unless they can prove they have comparable coverage. Despite the dispute, the 5,000 to 7,000 students covered under the Student Resources plan would continue to receive care without disruption.
Students who had United insurance through their parents, rather than the university, would be out-of-network for all UF Health locations except the on-campus Student Health Care Center. These students would need to apply for a waiver to opt out of the default Student Health Insurance Plan, providing proof of comparable coverage.
To resolve the dispute, United focused on helping impacted individuals transition to other providers or apply for continuity of care, which would allow them to remain temporarily in-network if they required specific health services. Meanwhile, UF Health decided to continue seeing some Medicaid patients despite being out-of-network, risking not getting reimbursed by United.
As of May 2025, UnitedHealthcare and the University of Florida Health have finalized a new multi-year contract, restoring network access to the health system.
If you are a UF Health patient and have questions about billing and insurance, you can contact the UF Health Customer Service Department at (352) 265-7906 or toll-free at (888) 766-8154. They can assist with billing inquiries, insurance waivers, and payment arrangements.
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UF health insurance customer service
UF Health Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, to answer your questions about bill and payment-related concerns. You can reach them at (352)265-7906 or Toll Free at: (888) 766-8154. Jacksonville patients can call (904) 244-4015.
UF Health is responsible for submitting bills to your insurance company and will do everything possible to expedite your claim. However, it is your responsibility to provide any requested information to your insurance company, such as accident information and claim forms. If information is not supplied to your insurance company, the charges for services may be billed to you directly.
If you do not have health insurance coverage, you may be eligible for insurance through the Health Insurance Exchanges or Florida Medicaid. You can also apply for financial assistance or contact the UF Health Customer Service department to make payment in full or set up payment arrangements.
UF Health participates in most Commercial/Managed care plans. If you have questions about whether your plan is included, you should check with your insurer.
If you are a student at the University of Florida, you are required to have health insurance. The University of Florida offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which is a fully funded major medical policy available to students. Students who are uninsured or who have a policy that does not offer adequate benefits in the Gainesville area or their home campus are required to purchase an alternative plan from the health insurance market or be enrolled in SHIP.
Students can opt out of SHIP by submitting a waiver, which is proof of health insurance that confirms Comparable Coverage. This must be done before the Fee Payment Deadline, which is the deadline set by the University for students to pay tuition. Students will be notified via email of pending health insurance fees and detailed waiver instructions prior to the deadline.
To submit a waiver, students must log into the secure portal using their GatorLink credentials and enter their insurance details. They will need to upload a picture of the front and back of their health insurance card. It may take up to an hour for the insurance status to update, and students should check their status after submission.
If a student misses the waiver deadline, they must complete the form for the next available term and then contact the Health Compliance Office to review the waiver and assess their eligibility for a refund.
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UF health insurance payment options
UF Health offers a range of payment options for patients with health insurance. Upon admission, patients with medical insurance may be required to pay a deductible or copay, depending on their insurance plan. The insurance company will then be billed and will typically pay or deny the claim within 30-45 days. Once the claim has been processed, the patient will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) outlining the amount of payment, patient responsibility, and/or denials. If there is an outstanding balance, the patient will receive a statement and must pay this in full or contact UF Health Customer Service.
UF Health accepts payment through the MyUFHealth account, online bill pay, or by cash, check, or money order. Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, to answer any questions related to billing and payments.
For those without health insurance coverage, UF Health offers alternative options. Patients may be eligible for insurance through the Health Insurance Exchanges or Florida Medicaid. Additionally, UF Health encourages individuals to apply for financial assistance and set up payment arrangements through their Customer Service Department. Financial counselors are available to help determine the agreed-upon payment amount that is due upon admission.
For students at the University of Florida, health insurance is mandatory. The university offers the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which is a fully funded major medical policy available to all students. Students who are uninsured or have inadequate coverage are required to purchase an alternative plan or enrol in SHIP. The university manages this through a restrictive waiver process, where proof of health insurance is reviewed to confirm it meets coverage requirements. Students can opt out of SHIP by supplying proof of comparable coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Students who are uninsured or whose insurance does not offer adequate benefits can purchase an alternative plan from the health insurance market. Students can also opt out of the default Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) by submitting a health insurance waiver each year before the Fee Payment Deadline.
SHIP is a fully funded major medical policy available to UF students. It is administered by the health insurance carrier, detailed on the UF Health Compliance Office’s Student Health Plan Information page.
If you miss the waiver deadline, you must complete the form for the next available term and then contact the Health Compliance Office to review the waiver and assess your eligibility for a refund.
