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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 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 by the University of Michigan, the International Center can help coordinate health insurance coverage so that you have complete coverage for your time here. During your initial check-in to the University, the U-M International Center will arrange coverage for you through the U-M Health Insurance Plan. Your department can explain how to sign up for the health insurance benefit of your choice.

As soon as you have enrolled in one of the U-M Benefits plans and this enrollment is recorded in the U-M administrative computing system (M-Pathways), the International Center will cancel your coverage in the U-M Health Insurance Plan.

The effective date for U-M 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 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.

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. The U-M International Center Health Insurance office will then determine whether or not your insurance plan is comparable to the U-M Health Insurance Plan. If the insurance plan meets this standard, then the U-M International Center office will issue you a waiver and you will not need to continue membership in the U-M Health Insurance Plan. Once a waiver has been issued, the U-M International Center will cancel the U-M plan effective with the beginning date of your alternative coverage or as specified on the waiver form. For more information, please read the section Applying for an Insurance Waiver. If your waiver request is approved, please be sure to complete the University Health Service insurance form [PDF] and return the form to UHS.

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: 11/07