International Insurance

International students are automatically enrolled in International Insurance through UnitedHealthcare. However, eligible graduate student employees have the option to apply for employment-based insurance.

Those plans may include:  

• Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP): Offered to eligible graduate students working as a teaching assistant or graduate assistant 
• State Employee Health Insurance: Offered to eligible graduate students working as a lecturer or in another UUP-represented position 
• Research Foundation Employee Health Insurance: Offered to eligible graduate students working for the SUNY Research Foundation at UAlbany

If you enroll in an employment-based insurance plan by the deadline, you’re eligible to have your International Insurance cancelled and the fee removed from your bill. (Note: This is considered a waiver, but a waiver application is not required.)  

If your enrollment in an employment-based plan is not yet complete, or there are any gaps in your employment-based insurance plan (such as over the summer), you will be charged for the International Insurance plan for the days you did not have other coverage.  

If you need to seek medical care during the enrollment process, please do so. You should contact the enrollment coordinator for the plan you intend to enroll in to ensure the claim will be processed through the correct insurance provider.  

If your Student Account bill is due before your insurance waiver is processed, you may be charged a late fee if you do not pay the outstanding balance on your bill.  

If you pay the International Insurance fee by the bill due date and your waiver is approved after your payment, the International Insurance fee will be refunded either partially or in full.

Note: Students enrolled in employment-based plans must still pay for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Insurance, since the employment-based plans do not include this coverage. Please pay this fee by the due date.

If you use the International Insurance plan (UnitedHealthcare) while waiting to enroll in an employment-based insurance plan, the International Insurance cannot be terminated, and a refund cannot be issued.  

The New York State Essential Plan or Medicaid Plans do not qualify for a waiver of the health insurance requirement. Do not enroll in these plans.  

As an international student, you must have enough funding for your stay in the United States. If you accept U.S. government assistance, it is possible the U.S. government will later determine you have been a public charge.  

This could result in:

• Denial of an F-1 or J-1 visa or renewal
• Refusal to enter the U.S.
• Denial of a future change of status or future benefits (such as OPT)

Waivers will only be granted if you are receiving health insurance as a benefit of your employment in the United States or from the employment of a family member in the United States.  

Your policy must be based in the United States and Affordable Care Act compliant. Health insurance policies from countries other than the United States will not be accepted.

If you believe you qualify for a waiver, please submit the International Student Health Insurance Waiver Application and your confirmation of coverage letter from your insurance company to [email protected].

You must first be enrolled in international health insurance before you can add dependents to your policy.

Once you are enrolled, email a completed International Student Dependent Enrollment Form to [email protected]. Haylor, the insurance broker, will process your form and send it to UnitedHealthcare. This takes about one to two weeks.

You will receive an email from UnitedHealthcare with a payment link. Make the payment to complete the dependent enrollment process.

You must first be enrolled in international health insurance before you can add dependents to your policy.

Once you are enrolled, email a completed J-1 Visiting Scholar Dependent Enrollment Form to [email protected]. Haylor, the insurance broker, will process your form and send it to UnitedHealthcare. This takes about one to two weeks.

You will receive an email from UnitedHealthcare with a payment link. Make the payment to complete the dependent enrollment process.

University employees are not required to purchase international health insurance. However, the University recommends it.  

Please complete the University’s International Travel Registry for Faculty & Staff. Review UAlbany’s Policy on Faculty and Staff International Travel for detailed information.

To purchase a plan, please send a completed Faculty/Staff Outbound Enrollment Form to [email protected].

To enroll dependents, please email [email protected].

After submitting the form, you will receive an email with a payment link. Make the payment to complete the enrollment process. 

Students are required to purchase international health insurance for all University-affiliated international travel. Fees are automatically added to your Student Account bill.

Once you complete the International Travel Registry for Students, you will receive an email from the insurance coordinator with more information about your health insurance policy.  

To enroll dependents, please email [email protected].

Review UAlbany’s Policy on Student International Travel for more information.