Waiver Requirements for International Students

US-Based Plans:

  • Coverage must be effective on or before the school published waiver deadline, and extend through the academic year, including breaks and holidays.
  • Coverage must be ACA (Affordable Care Act) comparable (i.e. provide Minimum Essential Coverage) or have coverage that is approved by the Affordable Care Act, such as self-funded plans. Health insurance coverage must be UNLIMITED per accident/illness. These benefits should always include:
    • Coverage for emergency and non-emergency care in University area –
      • The plan must provide medical benefits (preventive/wellness exam, doctor visits, hospital, surgery, maternity, rehabilitative care, laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.) for each accident or illness.
    • Coverage for inpatient and outpatient care in University area –
      • The plan must provide medical coverage for both inpatient (stay at an inpatient facility/hospital) and outpatient (doctor’s office, outpatient department of a hospital or ambulatory surgery center, urgent care, etc.) services.
    • Coverage for pre-existing conditions with no waiting period –
      • The plan cannot exclude coverage for any pre-existing conditions.
    • Coverage for mental health care and substance abuse treatment.
    • Prescription Drug Coverage.
    • Unlimited aggregate maximum benefit per policy year per covered person
  • Repatriation/Medical Evacuation coverage with a combined benefit of $75,000 minimum is required. The plan must provide at least $25k to send the body/remains back to the student’s home country. If the health plan does not include benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation, a separate plan must be purchased.

International Plans:

  • Coverage must be effective on or before the school published waiver deadline, and extend through the academic year, including breaks and holidays.
  • International health insurance coverage must be UNLIMITED per accident/illness and comparable to the Wellfleet Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). It must meet ALL of the following minimum coverage requirements (all amounts are in USD). Travel insurance is not acceptable due to plan limitations.
    • Coverage for emergency and non-emergency care in University area –
      • The plan must provide medical benefits (doctor visits, surgery, laboratory tests, x-rays, etc.) for each accident or illness.
    • Coverage for inpatient and outpatient care in University area –
      • The plan must provide medical coverage for both inpatient (stay at an inpatient facility/hospital) and outpatient (doctor’s office, outpatient department of a hospital or ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, etc.) services.
    • Coverage for immunizations and maternity as mandated by the ACA (Affordable Care Act)
    • Prescription Drug Coverage
    • Coverage for pre-existing conditions with no waiting period
      • The plan cannot exclude coverage for any pre-existing conditions.
    • Coverage for mental health care and substance abuse treatment
    • Unlimited aggregate maximum benefit per policy year per covered person. There should never be inside limits for any plan approved.
    • Repatriation/Medical Evacuation Coverage with a combined benefit of $75,000 minimum.
      • The plan must provide at least $25k to send the body/remains back to the student’s home country.

Not Accepted:

  • Medicaid Plans will not be accepted.
  • Health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) will not be accepted.

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