International Student Health Insurance                                            UPPS No. 07.09.04
Issue No. 3
Effective Date: 12/5/2003
Review: April 1 E4Y

 

 

01.       POLICY STATEMENTS

 

01.01  We at Texas State are committed to recruiting and retaining a heterogeneous and qualified student body, and providing services that enhance their personal development and contribute to the fulfillment of their goals. The following procedure contributes to the implementation of this policy.

 

01.02 Texas State University-San Marcos recognizes the importance of international students being covered by health insurance while enrolled at the University. It is necessary to ensure that nonresident international students are able to cover medical, evacuation, and repatriation costs in case of serious or catastrophic illness. It is important that the University require adequate health insurance for all international students in order to reduce damaging direct costs to the students and concomitant risks to the institution.

 

01.03 The purpose of this UPPS is to establish a policy that requires all registered Texas State international students on non-immigrant visas to secure accident, sickness, catastrophic illness, evacuation, and repatriation insurance as a condition of enrollment.

 

01.04 Texas State international students are required to obtain coverage under the designated international student health insurance policy or present acceptable proof of other comparable and adequate health insurance coverage to the Student Health Center. International Students must maintain continuous health insurance coverage from the time of enrollment to the time of completion of their degree program at Texas State or until transfer to another institution of higher education.

 

01.05  Texas State international students must maintain continuous health insurance coverage during periods when they have temporarily withdrawn from the University or are not enrolled in classes, but are involved in academic activities such as resolving “incompletes” or participating in required internships or practical training.  The designated international student health insurance provider shall waive the enrollment requirement for such students to allow for continuous coverage.  International students that temporarily withdraw from the University or are not enrolled in classes should contact the International Office.  The International Office will subsequently contact the Student Health Center for assistance in ensuring continuous health insurance coverage for the student.

 

02.       DEFINITION OF AFFECTED POPULATION

 

02.01 The International Office determines which visa categories are required to obtain insurance. The visa code will cause the medical insurance fee to be charged on the student's registration bill.

 

02.02 All international students on non-immigrant visas are subject to the mandatory health insurance requirement. These visa categories include, but are not limited to: B2, F1, F2, H1, H4, J1, J2, L1, L2 (see Attachment I).

 

02.03 International students living in the United States under a visa permitting permanent residence or international students who are permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while they are in this country are exempt from the mandatory health insurance requirement. (The following categories of international students are eligible to establish domicile in the United States and are exempt from the mandatory health insurance requirement: A1, A2, G1, G2, G3, G4, OP1, REF, ADJ, OTHER, PERM, PERMV, ASY) (see Attachment I).

 

02.04 J-1 visa students are required by federal regulation to have insurance for their spouse and/or dependents which meets the criteria specified in Section 04.01 of this policy statement. Insurance coverage for spouses and dependents of international students with other visas is available.

 

02.05 International students who are also employees of Texas State and covered by employee insurance must obtain an insurance rider which provides a minimum coverage of $7,500 for repatriation of remains and $10,000 for expenses associated with medical evacuation to the student's home country.

 

03.       PROCEDURE FOR NOTICE OF INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

 

03.01 The Offices of Admissions and Graduate Studies shall notify prospective international students of this insurance requirement in appropriate university publications and in application materials. These offices are responsible for entering the appropriate visa code into the student record file at the point of application. The International Office shall provide further information about health insurance at orientation programs.

 

03.02 The International Office shall monitor J1 students to ensure their spouses or dependents, classified as J2 visa holders, who reside or will reside in the U.S., have adequate insurance to meet the requirements established in Section 04.01.

 

04.       PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GROUP INSURANCE

 

04.01 The Student Health Center shall be responsible for obtaining a health insurance plan that is competitively priced and adequate to cover the basic health care needs of international students. The health insurance plan must include accident, sickness, catastrophic illness, evacuation, and repatriation coverage. Minimum coverage must include medical benefits of $50,000 per accident or illness, repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500, and medical evacuation to the student's home country in the amount of $10,000. The deductible amount is not to exceed $500 per policy year.

 

05.       PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INSURANCE WAIVER

 

05.01 International students required by this policy to have health insurance as a condition of enrollment may apply for an insurance waiver at the Student Health Center if they can show proof of coverage with an insurance plan providing at least the minimum coverage specified in Section 04.01. The insurance must be underwritten by an insurer with an established record of claims payment in the United States. The Student Health Center shall make the determination as to the acceptability of the insurance plan. International students seeking to obtain an insurance waiver should provide the appropriate documentation to the Student Health Center prior to completing payment of tuition and fees or prior to the due date shown on the registration bill, whichever comes first.

 

06.       PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GROUP INSURANCE PREMIUMS

 

06.01 In the absence of a valid insurance waiver (see Section 05.01), the insurance premium required to obtain insurance coverage for a semester shall be assessed as part of the international student's registration bill for that semester. International students enrolling for a spring semester shall be required to pay for health insurance coverage through both the spring and summer semesters to ensure continuous coverage.  International students enrolling for a summer session shall be required to pay for health insurance coverage through the end of the summer semester to ensure continuous coverage.  The insurance premium is not deferrable, and must be paid in full, together with other non-deferrable fees, according to the payment instructions published in the Schedule of Classes. To avoid the cancellation of classes and/or delinquent payment penalties, international students required to have health insurance must either obtain a valid insurance waiver prior to completing payment of tuition and fees or must pay the minimum amount due by the due date shown on the registration bill.

 

06.02 International students who want to obtain insurance coverage for a spouse and/or dependents may contact the Student Health Center to arrange for this additional coverage. Payment for this additional insurance coverage will be made through the Student Health Center.

 

06.03 J1 visa students are required by federal regulation to obtain insurance coverage for their spouse and/or dependents. J1 visa students must obtain a valid insurance waiver or make payment through International Office for this additional coverage by the due date shown on the registration bill.

 

06.04 International students who purchase the annual policy at the time they register for the fall semester will be exempt from having to request an insurance waiver each semester. Full payment for the annual insurance policy must be made through the Student Health Center by the due date shown on the registration bill. The Student Health Center will then process override codes to prevent additional insurance premiums from being assessed for the spring and summer semesters.

 

06.05  Graduating international students may extend their health insurance coverage for the remainder of a policy year and/or an additional policy year by requesting a continuation plan and submitting the required insurance premium at least thirty-one (31) days prior to the expiration of the student’s current insurance coverage.  International students interested in a continuation plan should contact the insurance provider or the Student Health Center for eligibility and premium information.

 

06.06  The Student Health Center and General Accounting Office will be responsible for reconciling the insurance billings, fee assessments and collections associated with the International Student Health Insurance requirement.

 

07.       INSURANCE PREMIUM REFUNDS PROCEDURE

 

07.01 International students who provide proof of comparable insurance to the Student Health Center within the first twelve (12) class days of the semester may obtain an insurance premium refund. The Student Health Center will assist in obtaining the refund from the insurance company.

 

07.02 International students who withdraw from the University may be eligible for a refund of a portion of their insurance premium. Students must contact the Student Health Center for assistance in obtaining a refund.

 

08.       EMERGENCY TUITION LOAN PROGRAM

 

08.01 Emergency Tuition Loan Program funds may not be used for the payment of international student health insurance premiums.

 

09.       REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

 

09.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

 

Position                                                                      Date

 

Dr. Emilio Carranco                                                  April 1 E4Y

Director, Student Health Center

 

Dr. Robert Seese                                                      April 1 E4Y                            

Director, International Office                                                                                                                                                                                              

Ms. Christi Kangas                                                   April 1 E4Y

Director, Admissions

 

Ms. Valerie Morrison                                                April 1 E4Y

Director, Accounting

 

Ms. Mariko Gomez                                                   April 1 E4Y

Director, Financial Aid

 

10.       CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

 

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

 

Dr. Emilio Carranco, Director of Student Health Center; senior reviewer of this UPPS

 

Dr. James D. Studer, Vice President for Student Affairs

 

Dr. Denise M. Trauth, President