Dylan Merrell, a recent Long Island University graduate and former football player, says LIU is withholding his physical diploma and transcripts over a $6,824 medical hold tied to school health insurance. Merrell maintains he uploaded private insurance info and waived the school plan; LIU says the waiver process wasn’t completed and the school plan was applied. The hold has stalled job applications, though the university says it will verify degrees and provide transcripts to employers on request.
Graduate’s Diploma Held Over $6,824 Health-Insurance Charge After Waiver Dispute
Georgia student’s diploma withheld over health insurance charge
Dylan Merrell, a Georgia native and former Long Island University (LIU) football player, says the university is withholding his physical diploma and official transcripts because a $6,824 medical hold was placed on his student account after graduation.
What Happened
Merrell says he uploaded his Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance information into LIU’s athletics portal and completed the required steps to waive the university’s health plan. LIU, which requires student-athletes to carry primary health insurance to participate in practices and sport activities, says Merrell did not complete the school’s formal waiver process. As a result, the university reports that its insurance was automatically applied to his account, creating the charge.
“I found out that I had a medical hold on my record for insurance reasons, which completely blindsided me and caught me off guard,” Merrell told CBS Atlanta. “I was told that my diploma was being withheld from me if those fees weren't cleared.”
Impact
Because transcripts and the physical diploma are withheld, Merrell says he has been unable to supply documents to prospective employers and estimates about 15 job applications have been stalled. His mother described the situation as an added and demoralizing hurdle at the start of his career.
Dylan Merrell, a graduate of Long Island University in New York, says the school is withholding his transcripts and diploma due to a more than $6,000 medical hold he claims is being charged to him in error (CBS News Atlanta)
University Response and Context
LIU told CBS Atlanta it has sent reminder emails about the waiver policy since last August. The university also stated it will verify degrees and provide transcripts to graduate programs or employers that request confirmation, even if an account has outstanding balances or holds.
Reginald Shareef of The EDGE Foundation — an organization that helps students navigate campus issues — told CBS Atlanta that colleges increasingly bundle student health insurance with tuition, and students must file a waiver every term to avoid automatic enrollment and charges. He called unexpected insurance charges and unclear communication a common reason students owe balances to universities.
Clarification
Editors amended the original headline to clarify that LIU withheld Merrell’s physical diploma and transcripts, not the academic degree itself; Merrell completed the coursework required to earn his degree.
Practical Takeaways
Students should keep confirmation receipts/screenshots when they complete waivers, track university emails about enrollment and insurance, and contact their registrar or athletics compliance office immediately if they discover unexpected charges. Employers may be able to verify degrees directly with institutions even when documents are temporarily withheld.
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