Dear International Student:

Many of you have or will have questions about the health insurance requirement. These webpages should provide most of the information and forms you need. If you have further questions after reading the information provided by this website, please contact our insurance coordinator at issinsurance@ku.edu or at (785) 864-9013.

Beginning with the Fall 2008 semester, the charge for F1 and J1 international student insurance will be added to your student account. Insurance will now appear as a required campus fee along with tuition and other campus fees. This will simplify the insurance process for you and solve many problems. You will no longer have to make a separate payment for insurance.

Please read the following points carefully regarding the new health insurance process.

(1) Next year's insurance cost will increase only 3.4%. This is great news...usually insurance increases 10% or more each year. You will automatically be billed each semester that you enroll. Fall coverage will cost $409; Spring coverage will cost $409; Summer coverage will cost $180. A charge of $409 will appear on your Fall 2008 tuition bill. Payment for insurance will be part of the total amount you pay for tuition and fees. Please be sure to pay in full your total due by the due date on your bill (probably August 15) to avoid a late payment fee.

(2) If you wish to use the alternative health insurance waiver, you will need to submit a completed waiver request http://www2.ku.edu/~issfacts/insurance/waiver.shtml to the ISSS office no later than September 1st. If your waiver request is submitted and approved before July 15th, the insurance charge will be removed from your bill before it is printed. If your waiver request is submitted and approved between July 15th and September 1st, you must still pay the full amount on your bill by the due date (probably August 15), and then you will receive a credit on your student account.

(3) If you will have at least a 50% GTA and/or GRA appointment for a minimum of eight consecutive work weeks during the fall semester, you will still be eligible for the 75% university contribution towards the premium. However, you will no longer need to submit a GTA/GRA health insurance application form to the Staff Benefits office in Carruth-O'Leary Hall. You will automatically be enrolled in the GTA/GRA plan. To avoid late fees on your university billing, you should pay the full amount due for tuition and fees, which will include the health insurance premium of $409, by the billing due date. Your student account will then be credited, probably in mid-September, for $306. You would still be responsible for any late fees.

(4) The new process does not apply to Summer 2008. Therefore, if you are enrolling for summer, you will still need to go to the United Health Care website https://www.uhcsr.com/selfservicesupport/students/collegeStudents.aspx to pay for coverage, or you may submit a waiver request http://www2.ku.edu/~issfacts/current/health/waiver.shtml. The deadline to pay for summer coverage or submit an approved waiver is Friday, June 13. The new process of billing for insurance with tuition and fees will begin with the Fall 2008 semester.

(5) Rates for dependent coverage may be found on the United Health Care website at https://www.uhcsr.com/selfservicesupport/students/collegeStudents.aspx .

The UnitedHealthcare StudentResources (UHCSR) plan is designed specially for international students at KU. The plan is competitively priced, and pays 100% of most charges at KU's Watkins Health Center. Please read the plan brochure carefully. Printed copies are available in the ISSS office and or at the UHCSR website. Please note that although coverage for family members (dependents) is not required, it is strongly recommended whether purchased through UHCSR or another company.

If you already have insurance coverage, please read the minimum coverage requirements carefully to see if your insurance is adequate. Waivers will have to be renewed every fall and spring.


Dr. Joe Potts, Director
International Student & Scholar Services