Health Insurance for F1 and J1 students

Overview

Health insurance is required of all F-1 and J-1 international students.  When you register for classes you will automatically be enrolled in our UST Sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan). The insurance will assist in paying for accident and illness expenses that may arise while you are attending the UST. 

No insurance will cover a "pre-existing condition" or illness that you had before you bought the health insurance policy.  If you had insurance in the U.S. immediately before taking our policy then you can waive the pre-existing condition clause.  Dental and optical care is not covered under the health insurance plan in the U.S., so we strongly urge you to get dental and optical work done before you leave home.  Students do have the opportunity to purchase dental and vision discount programs.

Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan

We are pleased to announce a NEW Student Health Insurance Plan through Aetna Student Health beginning fall 2009.   Highlights of the 2009-2010 plan through Aetna Student Health include:

1. $1,000,000 coverage
2. No Deductible
3. Maximum $5,000 out-of-pocket expense
4. 5 visits per year covered at 100% for care received at the UST Student Health Service
5. Prescription coverage plan
6. Access to local and national preferred providers
7. Access to Dental, Vision, Fitness, and alternative Health Care Discount Programs
8. Travel Assistance Service and Worldwide Medical Coverage while studying abroad
9. 24 hour nurse telephone line
10. Disease management program

Insurance Waivers 

F-1 international students who want to waive the UST-sponsored health insurance plan can submit their U.S.-based health insurance information (that meets the minimum coverage requirements listed below) via Murphy Online at: https://banner.stthomas.edu. 

We will accept waiver requests for the fall 2009 semester from August 1st through September 30th.  However, in order to allow time for questions, we strongly encourage you to request your waiver by September 23, 2009.  If your waiver request is approved, you will still be enrolled in and billed $36/semester for an evacuation and repatriation plan.

Your alternative insurance policy must meet the following coverage requirements in order to have a waiver request accepted. The alternative policy must:

• Be written in English
• Be a US-based insurance company
• Be converted to U.S. dollar values
• Provide at least U.S $100,000 coverage per accident or illness
• Have a deductible not greater than $1000 per condition
• Have a waiting period for coverage of a pre-existing condition no longer than 12 months
• Treat pregnancy/maternity as any other illness
• Provide continuous coverage during academic semesters and University breaks and vacation periods (including Winter break, J-term and summer break)