If you are an F-1 or J-1 international student or a J-1 scholar whose Form I-20 or DS-2019 was issued by the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), you are required to have health insurance coverage for yourself and any F-2 or J-2 dependents while at the University of Michigan. Health insurance coverage is coordinated through the U-M International Center.
This section provides the following information on the U-M health insurance requirement and the U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance (IHI) Plan.
Contact Health Insurance Advisor
By Email: Most requests and questions can be handled by email: [email protected], and you can also refer to the forms and information on our website for some common questions and requests.
By Phone: You can call 734-647-2303 and leave a message and the Insurance Advisor will return your call.
By Virtual Drop-In: The Insurance Office offers virtual “drop-in” advising sessions for students who have quick questions related to their insurance. Drop-in advising hours will not be available when the office is closed, such as on holidays. You may join the “drop-in” advising session by clicking the "Join Now" button below.
- Monday: 10am - 11am and 2pm - 3pm
- Thursday: 10am - 11am and 2pm - 3pm
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will I receive an insurance card?
You will receive your Blue Care Network (BCN) in the mail about two weeks after you complete your check-in.
Your virtual ID card will also be always available on the Blue Care Network (BCN) website once you have registered for your BCN member account.
If you recently arrived at U-M, your virtual insurance card may not be available on the Blue Care Network (BCN) website until about two weeks after you complete your check-in. You can use the temporary insurance certificate you received at your check-in until your virtual ID card is available.
- I started/ended my insurance in the middle of the month. Why am I being charged for the whole month?
The minimum charge for insurance is one calendar month (for example, all of August, all of September). Your insurance charge cannot be prorated (charged for a partial month). So, if you are covered for any part of a month under this plan, you will have to pay for the whole month.
- Where can I get my U-M International Student/Scholar Health Insurance (IHI) bill?
You are not going to get a bill in the mail for your IHI. Instead, you need to check your bill online every month. To see your bill, go to Wolverine Access. Click on Student Business, then log in using your uniqname and password. Under Campus Finances, click on Account Inquiry and you will see your bill. For payment options, see Making Payment on a Student Account.
- Why can't I see my bill on Wolverine Access? / Why am I being charged twice?
If you attended mandatory check-in after the bills for the month have been generated, you will not see a charge. You will have to wait until next month for the next billing cycle. You will see two charges: one for the current month and another for the previous month that was not charged. You do not have to worry about late fees for the first month since there was no bill. If you have more questions regarding your bill, you can contact the U-M Student Financial Services.
- How do I enroll in University of Michigan benefits, such as GradCare?
If you are receiving benefits paid by your department, you can talk to your department administrator to find out your Benefit Group. Once you have that information, you can go to U-M Benefits Enrollment.
IMPORTANT: Remember to add your F-2 or J-2 dependents to your plan. Once you enroll, your IHI plan will be automatically cancelled. If for any reason your other University of Michigan health care benefit stops, you will automatically be put back on the IHI plan.
- I received a bill from the hospital/doctor, what do I do? I paid for treatment at the hospital, how can I get my money back?
Sometimes, the hospital does not bill the insurance company. You might need to call the hospital or file a claim with the insurance company depending on your situation. Please refer to Bills and Claims for step-by-step instructions.
- How do I get coverage abroad? Are there any problems if my bills are not in English?
Your plan provides full medical coverage while traveling abroad through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core program, but you may have to pay for the treatment and then file a claim. You can contact Global Core at 800-810-2583 or collect at 804-673-1177. Please see Travel Outside the U.S. for instructions on how to proceed. Don't worry if your bills are not in English. Even if your bills are in a different language, the insurance company will translate them to evaluate your claim.