Insurance Information for International Students
Health Care and Health Insurance:
All enrolled F and J status international students at UNC are required to have full medical insurance in effect. This includes all off campus students. All students meeting these credit requirements will automatically be set up in the UNC sponsored insurance plan. If you have other insurance coverage and do not want the UNC insurance, an on-line waiver through your UNC Global ISSS portal account must be completed by the 10th day of classes every fall semester.
Waiver Information:If you completed the waiver during Fall semester, the insurance will automatically waive the following Spring semester. A new waiver is required each Fall semester. If you did not waive the insurance during Fall semester, and wish to waive the Spring semester only, you will need to do so through your UNC Global ISSS portal account. The Fall 2024/Spring 2025 waiver is now closed. If you completed a waiver for Fall 2024 the insurance premium will automatically be waived Spring 2025. Waivers are always due the 10th class day of the semester. If waivers are not completed and submitted prior to the deadline, they will not be considered for approval, and you will automatically be enrolled in the UNC Student Health Insurance Plan for the current semester. The $1,560 semester premium will be posted to your student bill each semester.
COMPARABILITY OF COVERAGETo be eligible to waive participation in the UNC-sponsored health insurance plan, UNC’s Board of Trustees, generally speaking, allows for U.S.-based equivalent insurance coverage as a basis for waiver. In other words, such plans must be comparable with Gold or Platinum plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and provide coverage for all benefits and services included in the UNC SHIP plan (see UNCO 2023-2024 Insurance Plan Brochure).
-Coverage must begin on or before the first day of the academic term in which the student is enrolled and extend through the entire term (or the duration of the Exchange Visitor program, if longer)-The plan must include both accident and sickness coverage and offer unlimited annual benefit-The plan deductible must be $500 or less per individual, per accident/illness per year-The plan must have maximum out-of-pocket costs $8550 per benefit year-The plan must include medical evacuation coverage of at least $50,000-The plan must include repatriation coverage of at least $25,000-The plan must cover in-network services at 80% or more-The plan must include preventative services with no deductible or co-pay
The plan must provide the following benefits at a minimum:
-Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)-Emergency services-Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)-Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)-Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)-Prescription drugs-Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)-Laboratory services-Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management-Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)-Birth control coverage-Breastfeeding coverageYour insurance coverage should also cover testing and treatment in epidemic and pandemic situations.
In addition, plans for J-1/J-2 Exchange Visitors “must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above. Alternatively, the sponsor may ascertain that the participant's policy is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country (22 CFR 62.14).”
Note: Accident or traveler’s policies do not generally qualify as comparable insurance and cannot be used to waive the university insurance requirements. You must upload your proof of coverage and policy (in English) in this application in the Documents section for this application to be considered complete.
If your plan does not meet the above requirements, you will be enrolled in the UNC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
Please contact the Office of Global Engagement, located in Wilson Hall, for further information regarding the health insurance requirements. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in termination of your study or research program.
