As an international student in the US, it is important to have a health insurance plan to cover any medical expenses. You can get health insurance through your university or independently.
Most universities offer their own health insurance; some even make it mandatory. If health insurance is mandatory at your university, you may not be able to register for your classes without it.
How to Get Health Insurance as an International Student in the US?
Here’s how you can get health insurance as an international student, depending on your school’s requirements:
If Your School Offers Health Insurance
Most US universities offer their own health insurance and will enroll you automatically, which means that the cost of health insurance is already billed with your tuition. Here’s what you need to know about university-offered health insurance.
- The plans tend to offer comprehensive coverage, including pre-existing conditions, mental health services, and campus clinic access.
- You usually can’t opt out, even if you already have private insurance.
- Costs can be high, sometimes exceeding $5,000 per year.
- However, financial aid may help cover these costs—check with your university’s international student office.
Please note that if you have a dependent on an F2 visa accompanying you during your studies, they can usually opt out of the mandatory insurance from your university and choose any insurance plan they wish.
Opting Out of University Insurance
Some universities allow you to waive the school’s health insurance if you purchase a private plan that meets the university’s requirements. To qualify for the waiver, the insurance you are buying has to meet these requirements:
- Minimum coverage of $50,000
- Low deductible
- Coverage for mental health and maternity care (though this varies by school)
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Coverage for repatriation of remains
Be sure to check with your university for their specific policy criteria before buying a plan.
If Your School Does Not Offer Health Insurance
If your school does not offer health insurance, it is up to you to register for an insurance plan independently. These are your best options:
- The Marketplace. The Health Insurance Marketplace was established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and allows you to compare and purchase health insurance plans that are ACA-compliant.
- Pros: Marketplace plans are required to cover essential health benefits and cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.
- Cons: Less flexibility, and premiums can be relatively expensive, especially for comprehensive coverage.
- Private insurance providers and brokers. You can also purchase health insurance directly from private companies or through brokers specializing in plans for international students.
- Pros: Better variety of plans; you can select the coverage you want based on your needs and your budget.
- Cons: Plans don’t have to be ACA-compliant, so they may not cover pre-existing conditions or may have limited benefits. It is crucial to review the terms carefully.
Please note: Just because insurance is not mandated by your school, it doesn’t mean you should go without it. Healthcare in the US is extremely expensive, and without health insurance, you’ll be responsible for all costs out of pocket, even for basic or emergency care.
The good news is that there are affordable insurance options available for international students. You can use brokers like Insubuy to compare multiple plans side by side and choose one that fits both your budget and healthcare needs.
What Are the Best Health Insurance Plans for International Students in the USA?
Here are the top 6 health insurance plans that offer a comprehensive coverage for international students in the USA:
- Patriot Exchange Program.
- Student Health Advantage Standard.
- Student Health Advantage Platinum.
- Exchange Guard Choice.
- Exchange Guard Essential.
- Student Secure Elite.
- NavigatorStudent.
Some students prefer to buy their health insurance from ISO (International Student Insurance), and even one Reddit user has great reviews for them saying they had no issue finding a plan with basic coverage that was accepted by their university.
Meanwhile, we at VisaGuide.World would advise you to check with Insubuy, an ACA (Affordable Care Act)-compliant online comparison site for health insurance plans. There, you can compare any plan for students and determine which one is best suited to your personal needs.
Can’t I Just Use a Visitor's Insurance?
No, US visitor’s insurance is not proper health insurance; it covers you only in the case of emergencies and is valid for only short travels. While studying in the US, you need coverage beyond emergencies and long-term coverage that is valid for the entire duration of your stay. So, travel insurance is not a replacement for actual health insurance.
Can I Use Insurance From my Home Country Instead of Purchasing a New Policy?
If you are under mandatory insurance in your school, you cannot use insurance from your home country. If you can opt out of the insurance requirement, then you may be able to use the health insurance you have from your country, provided that:
- It meets your school’s requirement for adequate insurance and
- It offers coverage when you are abroad.
How Much Does F1 Visa Insurance Cost?
Your F1 visa insurance can be as cheap as $500 or as expensive as over $5000. It all depends on what coverage you want or how long you plan on buying your health insurance policy. Here are the yearly prices of the most popular plans for international students
| Insurance Plan | Price (per year), starting from: |
|---|---|
| Patriot Exchange Program | $936 |
| Student Health Advantage Standard | $1,668 |
| Student Health Advantage Platinum | $4,896 |
| Exchange Guard Choice | $1,153 |
| Exchange Guard Essential | $843 |
| Student Secure Elite | $4,393 |
| NavigatorStudent | $5,100 |
If you are not covered by mandatory insurance, then you have the option to explore an affordable plan for the duration of your studies. It’s important you spend some time doing research to see how much the costs of this type of insurance typically go and what you need to get covered.
As one Redditor points out, health insurance is not something you want to cheap out, but at the same time do not buy an overly expensive plan; try to find a balance between having the coverage you need for an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should F1 Visa Applicants Get Health Insurance?
You must buy your student health insurance before you enroll at your university. You can do this from your home country before arriving in the United States or after, as long as you have insurance by the time your semester starts. Of course, with mandatory plans, those plans become active after you pay your tuition and classes begin. Depending on the policy, your coverage can start as soon as the next day after purchase.
What Happens With My F1 Insurance After I Graduate?
After you graduate, you are no longer eligible for student insurance as you are no longer a student. But if you change your immigration status in the US, e.g., you obtain an H-1B work visa, you need to buy health insurance that is H-1B visa compliant or any other required insurance based on your immigration status.
What if I’m Doing an OPT (Optional Practical Training)?
If you’re doing an OPT (Optional Practical Training), you are no longer eligible for the insurance your school requires, which means you have to find a new insurance plan to cover you during your OPT.
Please note that your employer may include you on their group health insurance during your OPT.
On the other hand, if your school had insurance with a waiver option, then you have the following two choices depending on your situation:
- If you chose to use the health insurance plan your school offered, you are no longer eligible to continue with the same insurance while doing your OPT. So, this means you have to buy a new health insurance plan.
- If you opted out of your school’s insurance and had another health insurance plan, you may continue with the same insurance if it offers coverage for OPTs.
You can compare plans and get a free quote for health insurance for OPT at Insubuy.
Is There Health Insurance Coverage for Dependents of Students?
If you have any dependents while you are in the US on an F1 visa, they will be in the country under an F2 visa; hence, their insurance is known as F2 visa insurance. This means your dependents must also have the same insurance as you, depending on your school’s requirements.
On the other hand, if you are free to choose your coverage yourself, then you can opt for an F2 Visa health insurance plan, which offers more flexibility regarding the coverage your dependents receive.
How to Get Dental Insurance for International Students in USA?
A comprehensive F1 insurance can also cover dental, but more often than not it’s not included in your insurance. In this case, you either have to purchase dental coverage as an add-on to your existing plan or buy a separate dental plan.
Dental insurance usually covers routine check-ups, emergency services, and services such as fillings, extractions, or cleanings. However, it covers a lower amount of more complicated services, like root canals, usually at 50% of the cost.
Does International Student Insurance Cover Medications, Eye Checks and Glasses?
Yes, most international student medical insurance covers for prescription medication. If you are not sure, you should read the policy description or ask the insurer. Usually, the way it works with prescription medication is that you pay for the medication upfront and then you file a claim for reimbursement with your insurer.
Additionally, there are a number of over-the-counter medications that do not require a prescription (such as cold medicine) and are available at drugstores across the US for fairly reasonable prices.
Similar to dental insurance, a basic plan may not offer coverage for eye check-ups or prescription eyeglasses or contacts. Depending on your insurance company, you can choose to have it covered, by paying a little extra on your monthly premium.