UH Policy for International Students
The University of Hawai'i (UH) requires F-1 and J-1 international students to have adequate health insurance coverage throughout their programs of study. F-1 and J-1 students must either enroll in a UH endorsed student health insurance plan or furnish proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan that provides the required minimum coverage set by the President or the President's designee.
Because of federal regulations, there are differences between requirements for J-1 and F-1 students. The FAQs below will guide you for your visa type.
F-1 Health Insurance Requirements FAQ
Medical treatment can be very confusing and expensive in the U.S. And because it is the responsibility of each person (not the U.S. government’s) to pay for his/her own health care, health insurance is required.
Yes. The University of Hawaii requires that your health insurance plan offers the following minimum levels of coverage:
| Kind of Coverage | Specific Level of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Medical Coverage | At least USD $100,000 per accident or illness |
| Inpatient/Outpatient medical (including mental health) coverage | no less than 75% of usual/customary charge (UCC) |
| Repatriation (of remains) coverage to your home country | At least USD $25,000 |
| Medical evacuation coverage to your home country | At least USD $50,000 |
| Deductible per accident or illness | At most USD $500 |
| Waiting period for pre-existing conditions | No longer than 6 months |
- May include a provision for co-insurance, but, if included, must pay at least 75% of covered medical expenses.
- Premium - an amount to be paid for a health insurance policy.
- Deductible - a specified amount of money that the insured (the student) must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim. Some plans offer deductibles that are applied for each accident or illness, while others offer a deductible for each policy period.
- Coinsurance refers to money that the insured (the student) is required to pay for services, after a deductible has been paid. Coinsurance is often specified by a percentage. For example, the insured pays 25% toward the charges for a service and the employer or insurance company pays 75%.
- Co-payment - A co-pay is commonly confused with co-insurance. The two are similar, but there is one key difference. With a co-pay, the dollar amount that an individual will pay for health care services is fixed. There are absolutely no percentage participation rates with a co-pay.
- Covered expense - an expense that qualifies for reimbursement or coverage under a health insurance plan.
- In network provider - doctors or hospitals that are part of a health plan'snetwork of providers with which it has negotiated a discount.
- Pre-existing condition - anycondition for which the patient has already received medical advice or treatment prior to enrollment in a new medical insurance plan.
It is advisable that you contact a few different insurance providers for premium quotes and to compare coverage. You should feel free to ask the insurance representative any questions and take the time to learn about each plan before making a decision. If you are uncertain or confused, you should not purchase any plan until you fully understand the coverage.
F-1 students must submit documentation of having health insurance that meets required health insurance coverage to the UH Student Health Insurance Office (SHIO), go to https://www.hawaii.edu/shs/
Visit SHIO’s website on health insurance clearance. Go to Forms and Memos for additional information on purchasing other health insurance plans or requesting a waiver of clearance, if enrolled but conducting research outside of the U.S.
Whenever an F-1 student purchases or extends health insurance coverage, he/she must submit the required forms to SHIO. Go to https://www.hawaii.edu/shs/
There are three options to purchase health insurance plans for F-1 students:
- The University of Hawaii Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) - University of Hawaii has a student health insurance plan provided by HMSA, the BlueCross/BlueShield provider in Hawaii. The plan is available for purchase by the semester to all students, who meet eligibility requirements. There are four options offered to students. However, if international students choose to purchase the SHIP, they MUST buy Option 2 or 4 because they both offer medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
- The University of Hawaii “Employee Union Trust Fund” (EUTF) – for graduate assistants only – Employees of the University of Hawaii are eligible to purchase EUTF plans. NOTE: Because EUTF plans do not provide required minimum coverage for repatriation and medical evacuation (RME), you will need to purchase RME insurance in addition to any EUTF plan. Although University of Hawaii does not endorse health insurance plans outside of the student health insurance plan, this option for an RME plan has been accepted.
- Other health insurance plans of your choosing – The University of Hawaii health insurance policy allows international students to purchase other health insurance plans, as long as those plans offer at least the minimum level of coverage required by the University of Hawaii. To do so, a representative of your health insurance plan must complete the F-1 Student Health Insurance Provider Certification Form certifying that your choice of plan meets the University of Hawaii required minimum level of coverage. ISS does not endorse or recommend any specific plan, but below are some examples of health insurance plans that can provide coverage to international students. Students should carefully review each plan to select one that meets both his/her needs as well as any requirements.
- GeoBlue Health Insurance for University of Hawaii at Manoa for F-1 Students
- Please note that dependents are not eligible to enroll in the GeoBlue student health insurance plan offered. They recommend GeoBlue XPLORER Long Term Expatriate Insurance for Dependents. Visit the GeoBlue insurance plan for students or GeoBlue EXPLORER for dependent links above for more information and how to enroll.
- COMPASS Benefits Group: COMPASS Care, Elite, Benchmark, or Benchmark Plus.
- The Harbour Group: International Student & Scholar Medical Insurance Plan or International PLUS Student & Scholar Medical Insurance Plan.
- GeoBlue Health Insurance for University of Hawaii at Manoa for F-1 Students
- Purchase a health insurance plan that will enable you to receive clearance from SHIO (Student Health Insurance Office).
- The insurance company will provide you with an insurance identification card for use as proof of your coverage when you are seeking health care from a hospital or doctor.
- Continue to make payments (premiums) to continue your health insurance coverage each semester of enrollment.
- When you visit a doctor or hospital, the doctor or hospital may:
- file a medical claim to your health insurance plan on your behalf and wait for payment of services, or
- require you to submit your medical claim to your health insurance plan and wait for any reimbursement and pay for the cost of services at the time of your doctor/hospital visit.
- The insurance company will evaluate any claim that is filed, and make the appropriate payment for coverage under your particular policy. In some cases, the insurance company pays the hospital or doctor directly; in other cases, the company reimburses the policy holder (insured F-1 student or F-2 dependent) after he or she has paid the bill.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), often referred to as the “Affordable Care Act” (ACA), is a U.S. federal law intended to provide individuals with increased access to higher quality and lower cost health insurance through subsidies, exchanges, and the establishment of minimum coverage standards. It includes the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision, which requires each person who is subject to the ACA to comply with one of the following: (1) have qualifying health coverage (minimum essential coverage); (2) qualify for a health coverage exemption; or (3) make a shared responsibility payment when filing his/her federal income tax return.
For more information on the ACA, see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Care website.
J-1 Health Insurance Requirements FAQ
Medical treatment can be very confusing and expensive in the U.S. And because it is the responsibility of each person (not the U.S. government’s) to pay for his/her own health care, health insurance is required. Any time you seek medical advice or attention by visiting a doctor or hospital, you will be asked to show health insurance coverage. Furthermore, having adequate health insurance coverage is a requirement to maintain valid J-1 or J-2 visa status.
Yes. The U.S Department of State Exchange Visitor Program requires that your health insurance plan offers the following specific levels of coverage:
| Kind of Coverage | Specific Level of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Medical Benefit | At least USD 100,000 per accident or illness |
| Repatriation of Remains | At least USD 25,000 |
| Medical Evacuation (to home country) | At least USD 50,000 |
| Deductible per accident or illness | At most USD 500 |
- May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable under current industry standards;
- May include a provision for co-insurance, but, if included, must pay at least 75% of covered medical expenses.
- Premium - an amount to be paid for a health insurance policy.
- Deductible - a specified amount of money that the insured (the student) must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim. Some plans offer deductibles that are applied for each accident or illness, while others offer a deductible for each policy period.
- Coinsurance refers to money that the insured (the student) is required to pay for services, after a deductible has been paid. Coinsurance is often specified by a percentage. For example, the insured pays 25% toward the charges for a service and the employer or insurance company pays 75%.
- Co-payment - A co-pay is commonly confused with co-insurance. The two are similar, but there is one key difference. With a co-pay, the dollar amount that an individual will pay for health care services is fixed. There are absolutely no percentage participation rates with a co-pay.
- Covered expense - an expense that qualifies for reimbursement or coverage under a health insurance plan.
- In network provider - doctors or hospitals that are part of a health plan's network of providers with which it has negotiated a discount.
- Pre-existing condition - any condition for which the patient has already received medical advice or treatment prior to enrollment in a new medical insurance plan.
It is advisable that you contact a few different insurance providers for premium quotes and to compare coverage. You should feel free to ask the insurance representative any questions and take the time to learn about each plan before making a decision. If you are uncertain or confused, you should not purchase any plan until you fully understand the coverage.
J-1 students must bring documentation of health insurance that meets minimum requirements of coverage (for the J-1 student and any J-2 dependents) in order to receive clearance to register for classes from the International Student Services Office (ISS), located in the QLCSS Building, Room 206. Please have your provider complete and sign the J-1 Health Insurance Provider Certification form found on the ISS Forms page.
Whenever a J-1 student/J-2 dependent purchases or extends health insurance coverage, they must submit evidence of coverage to ISS via UH File Drop. Listed below are 4 health insurance options.
UH Student Health Insurance Plan, Option 2 or 4:The University of Hawaii has a student health insurance plan provided by HMSA, the BlueCross/Blueshield provider in Hawaii. The plan is available for purchase by the semester to all students who meet the eligibility requirements. International students MUST buy Option 2 or 4 because these options provide medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. What do I need to submit to ISS?No documentation needed. The Student Health Insurance Office will confirm evidence of coverage to the ISS. |
Pre-screened health insurance plans:Another option for J-1 students and J-2 dependents is to purchase a pre-screened health insurance plan. These plans appear to meet US Department of State Exchange Visitor Program (DOS/EVP) health insurance requirements. As ISS does not endorse or recommend any specific plan, the J-1 student and/or J-2 dependent should carefully review each plan to select one that meets both his/her needs as well as the DOS/EVP requirements.
NOTE: Doctor offices or hospitals may or may not file claims on your behalf to your health insurance plan seeking payment for the cost of your medical visit.
What do I need to submit to ISS?An enrollment confirmation email or letter from the insurance company showing the following information:
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UH EUTF (Employee University Trust Fund) health insurance plans (graduate assistants only)Employees of the University of Hawaii are eligible to purchase these plans. NOTE: Because these employee plans do not provide required minimum coverage for repatriation and medical evacuation (RME), you will also need to purchase RME insurance in addition to any EUTF plan. Here are a few supplemental repatriation and medical evacuation plan options:
What do I need to submit to ISS?As UH EUTF health insurance plans do not include required repatriation and medical evacuation coverage, you must provide proof of enrollment in a repatriation and medical evacuation (RME) plan. Documentation must show the following:
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Other health insurance plans:The University of Hawai'i health insurance policy allows international students to purchase other health insurance plans, as long as those plans offer at least the minimum level of coverage required by the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program. What do I need to submit to ISS?A J1 Student Health Insurance Provider Certification form signed by a representative of the health insurance company OR a signed letter from the health insurance company printed on company letterhead that includes the following:
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- Purchase a health insurance plan that will enable you to receive clearance from the ISS office.
- The insurance company will provide you with an insurance identification card for use as proof of your coverage when you are seeking health care from a hospital or doctor.
- Continue to make payments to continue your health insurance coverage. These payments are called premiums.
- When you visit a doctor or hospital, the doctor or hospital may file a medical claim to your health insurance plan on your behalf and wait for payment of services, or may require you to submit your medical claim to your health insurance plan and pay for the cost of services at the time of your doctor/hospital visit.
- The insurance company will evaluate any claim that is filed, and make the appropriate payment for coverage under your particular policy. In some cases, the insurance company pays the hospital or doctor directly; in others, the company reimburses the policy holder (insured J-1 student or J-2 dependent) after he or she has paid the bill.