Why Do You Need Health Insurance?
Health care in the United States is very expensive. A simple visit to a doctor can cost hundreds of dollars and staying in the hospital for a couple of days may cost a fortune. Therefore, health insurance is required at IPFW for ALL international students. A health insurance plan offered by IPFW is available to ALL international students, therefore, a foreign health fee will be added to your bill each semester. Your insurance card will be available for you to pick up from the International Student Services Department two weeks after it has been ordered.
Health Insurance Rates
IPFW offers Rust & Associates health insurance to ALL international students. The current insurance rate is $86 per month. You will be billed for the health insurance per semester at the following rates:
Fall semester (coverage from August 1 to December 31): $430
Spring semester (coverage from January 1 to July 31): $602
If your spouse and/or children are accompanying you on F-2 visas, you can list cover them under your rust International insurance policy. The extra cost for spouse coverage is $364 per month. The extra cost for one child is $136 per month. For more than one child, it is $272 per month.
How to waive health insurance fees
Effective for the fall 2011 semester, there will be only three categories under which a student may be considered for a waiver of the insurance coverage.
IPFW requires that all international students purchase the University-sponsored health insurance plan unless they fall into one of the following three categories which qualifies them for a waiver.
Who qualifies for a waiver?
- Category # 1 - Government-sponsored students whose home government purchases insurance for students and does not just supply funds to purchase an insurance plan of their choice.
- Category # 2 - Students employed by a U.S. or Canadian based employer or the dependent of a U.S. or Canadian-based employee with employer-based health insurance.
- Category # 3 - Students who are participants in an official study abroad exchange program (J-1 exchange students).
Note: Individual and private insurance companies will no longer qualify for a waiver.
Please Note: international graduate students with benefit-eligible graduate staff appointments (benefit-eligible TA or RA positions) will have the option to purchase a IPFW University Graduate Staff Health Insurance Plan.
If you are in one of the three categories eligible for a waiver, please note the minimum criteria for granting a waiver are as follows:
1. Coverage must be in effect from the 1st day of classes through the last day of final exams.
2. Medical benefits per accident or illness of at least $200,000. *
3. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000.*
4. Medical evacuation coverage in the amount of $50,000.*
5. An annual deductible per year not to exceed $500* per illness (per person).
6. To qualify, an insurance policy must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above. Alternatively, the participant's policy may be backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country.
*Amounts must be in US dollars($) and are the minimal amounts required at the time a waiver request is reviewed at the University.
There is no monetary profit for the University if a student purchases the University plan. The benefit is ensuring that all international students have an adequate health insurance plan and are protected from huge financial burdens.
Health Insurance Forms [PDF]
You should download, print, and complete the forms listed below in order to apply for a health insurance waiver.
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2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
