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Alternatives to the U-M Health Insurance Plan

Health insurance for international students and scholars is required at the University of Michigan, but there are situations where alternatives to the U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan are accepted.

Insurance Provided as a U-M Benefit

This information may apply to you if you are or will be a

  • Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)
  • Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA)
  • Fellowship Holder whose fellowship includes GradCare
  • J-1 Exchange Visitor (visiting scholar) with a U-M appointment.

Process

If you receive an offer for a position for which you are eligible for benefits paid for by the University of Michigan, or if you are awarded a U-M fellowship that includes GradCare health insurance, the International Center will coordinate health insurance coverage so that you have complete coverage for your time here. When you attend your initial check-in to the University, the U-M International Center will arrange coverage for you through the U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan .

As soon as possible, you should enroll yourself and any eligible dependents in your U-M-paid benefits by following the procedures described at U-M Benefits Enrollment. Please also review the information available at U-M Benefit Groups carefully, or ask your department administrator for assistance, since specific procedures and the health insurance plans available to you may be different depending on your “benefit group.”

As soon as you have enrolled yourself and any accompanying F-2 or J-2 dependents in one of the U-M Benefits plans and this enrollment is recorded in the U-M administrative computing system (Wolverine Access/M-Pathways), your coverage in the U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan will be cancelled and any needed adjustments (credits) will be made to your insurance account. No waiver request form is required since this is an automated process.

The effective date for U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan cancellation is the beginning date of your health insurance benefit if your health insurance benefit begins on the first day of the month. If your U-M-paid health insurance benefit begins later in the month, you will have to keep your coverage in the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan until the end of the month since the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan cannot be pro-rated by the day. You will not be responsible for International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan charges for any months for which you have an applicable health insurance benefit for that entire calendar month.

Automatic Re-enrollment in the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan

If your U-M-paid insurance coverage  ends before the end of your stay as an F-1 or J-1 student or scholar, you will be re-enrolled in and billed for the International Student/Scholar insurance plan. If you leave the University permanently before the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019, or leave the United States because you have decided not to complete your post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). Please be sure to fill out the appropriate departure form. Forms are available on this web site at Immigration-Related Forms. Please follow the instructions on the form that describe when and how to fill out the form and where to submit the form.

If you do not do submit a departure form, the International Center will not know that you have ended your F-1 or J-1 stay.  You will be automatically re-enrolled in the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan (and billed for the plan) if your U-M-paid benefits coverage ends before your I-20, DS-2019 or (for F-1 students on Optional Practical Training) your OPT end date.

Special Note for Fellowship Holders

You must wait for a letter or insurance ID card from the insurance company (not from the University of Michigan). When you have the card or letter, bring it to the International Center, and the Health Insurance Office will cancel your U-M Health Insurance Plan, effective to the beginning date of your health insurance benefit. You will not be responsible for U-M Health Insurance Plan charges for any months for which you have an applicable health insurance benefit for that entire calendar month.

Should your position change so that you are no longer eligible for benefits paid for by the University of Michigan, the International Center will re-enroll you in the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan.

Fellowship holders must come to the U-M International Center to re-enroll in the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan once their U-M paid benefits end.

Private Insurance or Insurance Provided by a Sponsor

During your initial check-in to the University, the International Center will arrange coverage for you through the U-M Health Insurance Plan. If you would like to substitute private insurance or insurance provided by a sponsor for the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan, you can apply for an insurance waiver.

Please remember that the waiver will only be approved if your insurance plan meets U-M requirements . Once a waiver has been issued, the U-M International Center will cancel the U-M plan effective on the beginning date of your alternative coverage, as specified on the waiver request form, or as specified when the waiver request is approved.

Automatic Re-enrollment in the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan

If a waiver request form has been approved for private insurance or insurance provided by a sponsor, and the time period for which the waiver has been approved has ended, and the waiver is not renewed or is not re-approved, you will be re-enrolled in the International Student/Scholar insurance plan if you have not yet completed your stay as an F-1 student or J-1 student or scholar.

If you leave the University permanently before the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019, or leave the United States because you have decided not to complete your post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). please be sure to fill out the appropriate departure form. Forms are available on this web site at Immigration-Related Forms. Please follow the instructions on the form that describe when and how to fill out the form and where to submit the form.

If you do not do submit a departure form, the International Center will not know that you have ended your F-1 or J-1 stay, and you may be billed for health insurance because you will be automatically re-enrolled in the International Student/Scholar Insurance Plan if your insurance waiver ends before your I-20, DS-2019 or (for F-1 students on Optional Practical Training) your OPT end date.

Michigan Student Assembly Insurance Plan

You can also satisfy the insurance requirement by enrolling in the Michigan Student Assembly-endorsed Health Insurance Plan.


Last reviewed: 2/09