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Health Insurance


Frequently Asked Questions

Please take a moment to read through the following questions and answers. These are the most common questions made by students regarding the mandatory insurance:

  1. I am an international student at KU. Do I need to have a health insurance?
  2. I am a permanent resident/US citizen, and not an international student. Do I need to have a health insurance?
  3. Do I need to purchase the United Healthcare plan offered by the ISSS office?
  4. How do I enroll in the United Healthcare plan? Can I add my spouse and child(ren)?
  5. I already have an insurance with a different insurance company. How do I get waived from the insurance requirements?
  6. I am a sponsored student and my sponsor pays for my insurance. How do I get waived from the insurance requirements?
  7. I am currently on a work visa (H, TN, L). How do I get waived from the insurance requirements?
  8. I applied for an insurance waiver, but there is still a charge of $20 from ISSS on my account. Why?
  9. I already paid the insurance premium. When will I receive my ID card?
  10. I lost/never received my ID card. How do I get a new one?
  11. When will my insurance expire?
  12. I am not taking classes this semester. Do I need to have insurance?
  13. I am not taking classes this summer. Do I need to have insurance?
  14. I am not taking classes this summer. Can I buy the United Healthcare international insurance plan?
  15. I have just purchased the SAS insurance plan. How do I learn about the coverage?
  16. I went to see a doctor outside Watkins Health Center and received a bill. What should I do?
  17. How do I know if I am eligible to receive reimbursement for KU Center for Research (KUCR) funded GRA's?
  18. I have read the entire web site, and I still don't have answers for my questions. What should I do?

 

1.
I am an international student at KU. Do I need to have health insurance?
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YES. Health insurance is mandatory for all international students in F-1 and J-1 status enrolled at KU. There are no exceptions.


2. I am a permanent resident/US citizen, and not an international student. Do I need to have health insurance?
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No. Although you are advised to have health insurance, ISSS does not enforce this requirement on permanent residents. If you are a permanent resident or U.S. citizen but your account is flagged with an insurance indicator (ISI), your visa type/citizenship information will need to be updated in SAKU, academic database.


3. Do I need to purchase the United Healthcare plan offered by the ISSS office?
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No. You are free to purchase any insurance as long as it meets the minimum requirements. Waivers will not be granted if the policy does not met all the requirements, no exceptions!
4. How do I enroll in the United Healthcare insurance plan? Can I add my spouse and child(ren)?
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In order to purchase the United Healthcare insurance, you must be an international student currently enrolled at KU. During open enrollment (see brochure for dates) you may purchase it online (through the company's secure website) or at the Bursar's office during certain times of the year (cashier's window in Strong Hall Room 21). Once open enrollment has passed, you must make an appointment with the insurance coordinator so eligibility can be verified.

Adding dependent(s) to your isurance plan is possible ONLY during open enrollment or IMMEDIATELY after arrival in the country. Enrollment of dependent(s) can only be done in ISSS office, Room 2 Strong Hall.


5. I already have an insurance with a different insurance company. How do I get waived from the insurance requirements?
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Just click here and follow the instructions on how to apply for an insurance waiver.
6. I am a sponsored student and my sponsor pays for my insurance. How do I get waived from the insurance requirements?
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Just click here and follow the instructions on how to apply for an insurance waiver.
7. I am currently holding a work visa (i.e. H, TN, L). How do I get waived from the insurance requirements?
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Just click here and follow the instructions on how to apply for an insurance waiver.
8. I applied for an insurance waiver, but there is still a charge of $20 from ISSS on my account. Why?
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The $20 ISSS fee is not related to the mandatory insurance requirement. Questions regarding the $20 fee should be directed to our Office Manager, Mary Acher (864-3617 or macher@ku.edu).
9. I already paid the insurance premium. When will I receive my ID card?
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A temporary card will be available if insurance is purchased online; a permanent card should arrive within two weeks after payment. If insurance is paid at the Bursar's office, then no temporary card will be issued; it may take 3-4 weeks for the card to arrive. Cards are printed only once a year, so you will only receive a card in Spring if you did not have United Healthcare during Fall.
10. I lost or never received my ID card. How do I get a new one?
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Use your login (or create a new login) on the United Healthcare website and request a new ID card through the members options. If you need to utilize services before your receive it, please ask ISSS to call Student Assurance Services to verify coverage.

 
11. When will my insurance expire?
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Expiration dates are December 31 (for Fall semester), May 31 (for Spring) or July 31 (Summer semester).
12. I am not taking classes this Fall or Spring semester. Do I have to have insurance?
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If you are an international student, and you are in the US, you are required to be enrolled in a full course of study each fall/spring semester to stay legal in the country; therefore, health insurance is required. If you are currently on OPT or CPT, please discuss this matter with the insurance coordinator to determine if insurance is required.
13. I am not taking classes this Summer. Do I have to have insurance?
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No, but we strongly recommend that you have insurance all year around, to avoid issues caused by break in coverage, such as accidents or pre-existing conditions. While not enrolled in classes, you still have the option of purchasing the United Healthcare insurance.
14. I am just taking classes over the summer. Do I still need insurance?
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Yes. For any semester (Fall, Spring or Summer) in which you are enrolled at the University of Kansas, you are required to have insurance. This may be an insurance of your choice that is approved by the insurance coordinator, or the United Healthcare plan.
15.  I have just purchased the United Healthcare insurance plan. How do I learn about the coverage?
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You can browse our website for more information, download the current United Healthcare Insurance Plan brochure, or you may contact our insurance coordinator at 864-3617 or by email at issinsurance@ku.edu.
16.  I went to see a doctor outside Watkins Health Center and received a bill. What should I do?
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Most doctors and hospitals will send the bill directly to the insurance company. Please ask them if they can complete a claim form for you. Please contact our insurance coordinator if you need help with this process.
17.  How do I know if I am eligible to receive the reimbursement for KU Center for Research (KUCR) funded GRA's?
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If you are not sure if your GRA funding is coming from KUCR, click here for more information.
18. I have read the entire web site, and I still don't have answers for my questions. What should I do?
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Please contact our insurance coordinator at 864-3617, or by email at issinsurance@ku.edu.