If you are an F-1 or J-1 student or J-1 scholar and your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 was issued by the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), you must have health insurance that meets U-M requirements for yourself and any accompanying F-2 or J-2 dependents during the entire time you are an F-1 or J-1 student or scholar at the University of Michigan. In order to meet U-M requirements, your health insurance must, in the judgment of the University, provide coverage that is at least comparable to the coverage described in the Blue Care Network of Michigan — Member Guide. In order to be considered “comparable coverage”, an insurance plan must, at a minimum, meet all of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Health Insurance Standards.
Enrollment Process
If your Form I-20 or DS-2019 was issued by the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), you will complete a Mandatory Immigration Check-In for Students or for Scholars when you arrive in Ann Arbor. As soon as you have completed the mandatory check-in process, you and your accompanying F-2 or J-2 dependents will be automatically enrolled in the U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan through the end date on your Form I-20 or DS-2019, so that you can be certain that you are covered by adequate health insurance. Your International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan coverage will become effective on your program start date (Form I-20, Item 5 or Form DS-2019, Item 3).
If you are or will be eligible for health insurance benefits administered by the U-M Benefits Office, or if you would like to use other insurance coverage instead of the University of Michigan International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan, please refer to Alternatives to the U-M Health Insurance Plan.
Your Responsibilities as a Policy Holder
To comply with University of Michigan insurance requirements, you must ensure that you are enrolled in U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance (IHI) for the entire time you are a student or scholar at the University. At times, however, you may need to make changes to your plan. For example:
Adding Dependents to Your Plan
If you removed your F-2 or J-2 dependents because they were going to join you later, you need to add them to your IHI plan as soon as they arrive in the U.S. Remember that they must have health insurance too. You must complete an International Health Insurance Plan Change Form to add dependents to your plan. Complete the “Addition” section of the form using their arrival date as the “Effective date.” You must include a copy of your F-2 or J-2 spouse and dependents' flight ticket/confirmation or their admission stamp, or paper or print-out of electronic Form I-94 (please click on the link for instructions) as documentation of their arrival date. You can submit the form with supporting documents in person at the U-M International Center Health Insurance Office or email to [email protected].
If your dependents are not F-2 or J-2 they are not required to have health insurance, but you can add them if you want. If you choose to add them, visit the U-M International Center Health Insurance Office and meet with the Health Insurance Coordinator. You will need to bring copies of your marriage license or certificate and the birth certificates of your children.
Removing Dependents
If your dependents leave the U.S. before you do, you can remove them from your plan using the “Deletion” section of the form. You must include a copy of your F-2 or J-2 spouse and dependents' flight ticket or confirmation as documentation of their departure date.
Leaving U-M Early
If you leave U-M permanently before the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019, or leave the U. S. because you have decided not to complete your post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), it is your responsibility to submit an early departure form. Leaving U-M or not enrolling in classes does not automatically cancel your IHI plan.
If you do not submit an early departure form, the International Center will not know that you have ended your F-1 or J-1 stay and you will be billed for your IHI plan through Wolverine Access until the end date on your I-20, DS-2019, or post-completion OPT.
- F-1 Students: M-Passport > Requests > Departure Form
- J-1 Students: M-Passport > Requests > J-1 Departure Form
- J-1 Scholars: J-1 Scholar Notice of Departure Form
Please follow the instructions on the form that describe when and how to fill out the form and where to submit the form.
Temporary Absence from the U.S.
If you will be out of the U.S. for at least three calendar months, you may apply for a waiver of your required health insurance. In order to apply for this waiver, you must complete and submit your International Health Insurance Temporary Absence Waiver request form to the International Center Health Insurance Office within 30 days of your departure from the U.S., along with evidence that you have purchased tickets and have confirmed reservations for your departure and return dates. An example of a person absent from the U.S. for three calendar months would be someone who left the U.S. on May 15 and returned on September 2, since they would be absent from the U.S. for all of June, July and August. However, if you are leaving the United States in order to participate in a U-M sponsored educational activity, such as a study abroad program, you are not eligible to cancel your international health insurance.
Please read the information on the form carefully before you submit it. Once you have submitted your request to the International Center Health Insurance Office, your request has only been approved if you receive an email reply confirming approval.
This procedure is effective through the end of the current insurance contract year, August 31, 2024. It may change when the new insurance contract year begins on September 1, 2024.
Optional Coverage During your Grace Period
If you stay at U-M longer than you expected, your insurance will automatically be extended to your new end date on your I-20 or DS-2019, or to the end of your OPT period. If you are staying in the U.S. during the grace period after the end date on your I-20/DS-2019/OPT/AT, you have the option of extending your health insurance through the grace period. If you wish to extend your coverage, be sure to fill out an International Health Insurance Plan Change Form. Please type the new end date on the Extension line, with the note “Grace Period”. Then print, sign, and date it. You can submit the form in person at the U-M International Center Health Insurance Office or email it to [email protected].
Do not allow your insurance coverage to lapse. Without health insurance, you are in violation of University of Michigan regulations, and you are at great financial risk if you have an accident or get sick.