Insurance

International Student Health Insurance

Medical insurance is required for international students at The University of Texas at Austin. Enrollment in the mandatory UT Health Insurance Plan is automatic at the time of registration, and the cost of the policy is included in students’ tuition bill.  The fall insurance premium appears on the fall semester bill; the premiums for spring and summer coverage are combined on the spring semester bill.
Health coverage is provided through the UHC Student Resources division. In addition to health insurance, the UT student insurance policy covers medical evacuation and repatriation. The complete insurance benefits are outlined in the insurance brochure, available on-line at the Student Resources website.

Effective August 1, 2008 – Insurance waiver guidelines have changed.  For Fall 2008 only, all waivers (for new and continuing students) must be received by the 11th class day - Thursday, September 11th).  Future deadlines are listed in the table below.

Q&A About Health Insurance Requirements

• Am I Required to have health insurance?
  Yes. UT Austin requires international students, who are not pending immigrants, to be covered by health insurance, which meets the requirements set by Board of Regents policy.
  
  
• How do I enroll in an insurance plan?
  You are automatically enrolled in UT Austin’s contracted student health insurance plan each semester.  The cost of the insurance is automatically billed to your tuition bill. 
  
  
• Am I required to have health insurance for my family members?
  
  
  1. Students who are on a J-1 visa are required to have insurance coverage for all family members who are in the United States, per U.S. Department of State requirements. 

  
  
  2. Students who are not on a J-1 visa (for example: F-1, H-4, etc..) are not required to have health insurance coverage for family members.  However, it is highly recommended, due to high medical costs in the United States, that all family members have health insurance coverage. 
     Family members are not eligible to use University Health Services.  Therefore, family members who need medical attention will need to be seen by doctors in the Austin community.   To purchase insurance for dependents through the UT Student Health Insurance plan, register through the Student Healthcare Resources website.
     
  
  
• Can I use an alternate insurance plan to satisfy the UT Austin health insurance requirements?
  Yes.  If you have health insurance that meets or exceeds the UT Austin health insurance requirements, you may be eligible to waive the UT Austin health insurance plan.  Information about waiver eligibility is outlined in the below table.


• How do I know if I am eligible for a waiver?
  
  

  Waiver Eligibility	Process	Deadline to apply for waiver
  UT graduate students with an academic appointment with insurance benefits (Ex: TA, GRA, AI).	Apply for waiver on-line	11th class day of each long semester (Fall/Spring) for all students.
  Dependents (spouses and children) of UT employees who have UT Select insurance.	Submit proof of insurance to ISSS.  Proof can be obtained by the UT employee through the HRS Insurance Website.  Please print this page for proof of insurance.	11th class day of each long semester (Fall/Spring) for all students
  Insurance through a U.S. employer (excludes students on CPT)	Submit proof of insurance to ISSS: Proof can be established by providing insurance card and attestation of dates of coverage. To be eligible for waiver, insurance must be valid for the full academic year (August 25 – August 24)	Fall: July 15th for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students. Spring: December 1st of previous year for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students.
  Sponsored Students	Submit proof of insurance to Sponsored Student Advisor.  Proof can be established by providing insurance card and attestation of dates of coverage. Coverage must span the dates of the academic semester.	Fall: July 15th for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students. Spring: December 1st of previous year for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students.
  Reciprocal Exchange Students	Submit insurance waiver form to Exchange Student Coordinator.	Fall: July 15th for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students. Spring: December 1st of previous year for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students.
  ESL Students	Submit insurance waiver form to ESL Services. Deadline: Friday of Registration period
  Private Insurance Policy	Submit insurance waiver form to ISSS.  To be eligible for waiver, insurance must be valid for the full academic year (August 25 – August 24) and meet medical benefits and evacuation/repatriation benefits.	Fall: July 15th for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students. Spring: December 1st of previous year for new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students.
  Students graduating in May (for waiver of summer insurance only)	Submit proof of graduation, on UT letterhead, from academic department, that you will graduate in May.	December 1st of previous year,
  Graduate students (who are not on a J-1 visa) enrolled in research/ISR/ thesis/dissertation but residing outside of the United States for a full semester.	Submit proof on UT letterhead, from academic department, that you will be outside the U.S. for the full semester.	Fall: July 15th Spring: December 1st of previous year

• I plan to purchase an alternate insurance plan. How do I waive out of the UT Austin health insurance?
  To apply for a waiver, the Health Insurance Waiver form must be completed and verified by the insurance company.  The private insurance must be valid for the full academic year (August 25 – August 24) and meet medical benefits and evacuation/repatriation benefits.  Download a waiver form (pdf) (word) to begin the process.


• What is the deadline to apply for a waiver based on a private insurance policy?
  
  
  1. Fall: July 15th for continuing students and new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students.
  
  
  2. Spring: December 1st for new students who wish to waive pre-arrival insurance, 11th class day for new students.