Health Insurance

Domestic Students

The following students will be charged the health insurance premium on their Student Account as a separate fee.

• All undergraduate domestic students registering for 9 credit hours or more (EXCEPT Certificate programs and Online programs students)
• All graduate domestic students registering for 6 credit hours or more (EXCEPT Certificate programs and Online programs students)

Domestic Student Waiver Requirements

Domestic students who have health insurance coverage comparable to or better than the USF-sponsored health insurance may waive this requirement with the Health Promotion Services office during the open waiver period. 

Waiver Criteria

My policy is:

• Provided through a US Employer (my own, my parent’s, or my spouse’s/domestic partner’s); or
• Provided through the U.S. or California State Government (Medicare, Medicaid, MediCal, Tricare); or
• Individual Coverage purchased for Covered California, or another State Health Insurance Exchange Program; or
• Individual Coverage purchased directly through a U.S. insurance company meeting Minimum Essential Coverage as defined by the Affordable Care Act; or
• My plan allows me to access primary, sick, and emergency care (without limitation) near campus

Minimum Essential Coverage for domestic students

Students may request a waiver of the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan if they are enrolled in other health insurance that qualifies as Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC).

Minimum Essential Coverage generally includes comprehensive health coverage such as:

• Coverage through a U.S. employer, including coverage through a parent, spouse, domestic partner, or the student’s own employer;
• Individual health coverage purchased through Covered California, another state marketplace, or the federal marketplace;
• Individual health coverage issued by a U.S. health insurance company and intended to meet Affordable Care Act requirements;
• U.S. government-sponsored coverage, such as Medicare, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, TRICARE, Veterans Affairs health coverage, or similar coverage; 

Important: If you are waiving with Medicaid/Medi-Cal or Kaiser, please ensure that you transfer your healthcare coverage near your campus location.

Tips: Before you fill out the waiver, please have the following information ready: Insurance Company Name, Insurance Company Phone Number, Policy Holder Name, and Policy Number for your respective health insurance plan.

If a student's health coverage is dropped, it is the student's responsibility to contact Health Promotion Services to discuss their options at hps@usfca.edu or (415) 422-5797.

International Students 

The following students will be charged the health insurance premium on their Student Account as a separate fee.

• All international students and scholars registering for at least 1 credit hour or more

International Student Waiver Requirements

International students who have health insurance coverage comparable to or better than the USF-sponsored health insurance may waive this requirement with the Health Promotion Services office during the open waiver period. 

• If you will be studying at USF with a student visa, i.e., F-1, J-1, F-2, and J-2, you will need to meet the international student waiver criteria and complete the international student health insurance waiver to ensure that you have medical repatriation coverage. 
• Plans underwritten outside of the United States are not acceptable when applying for an insurance waiver. The University cannot adequately support our students enrolling in these programs, which has become even more important when considering the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Waiver Criteria

My policy is:

• Provided through a US Employer (my own, my parent’s, or my spouse’s/domestic partner’s); or
• Provided through the U.S. or California State Government (Medicare, Medicaid, MediCal, Tricare); or
• Individual Coverage purchased for Covered California, or another State Health Insurance Exchange Program; or
• Individual Coverage purchased directly through a U.S. insurance company meeting Minimum Essential Coverage as defined by the Affordable Care Act; or
• My plan allows me to access primary, sick, and emergency care (without limitation) near campus
• I have enrolled in the appropriate level of Evacuation and Repatriation coverage (this program is rarely included in medical plans) including: medical evacuation to my home country in the amount of at least $50,000 and repatriation of remains in the amount of at least $25,000

Minimum Essential Coverage for International Students

Students may request a waiver of the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan if they are enrolled in other health insurance that qualifies as Minimum Essential Coverage, also called MEC, along with appropriate Evacuation and Repatriation coverage.

Please take note that enrolling in the following insurance Plans will NOT be accepted when applying for an insurance waiver for this upcoming school year. The University cannot adequately support our students enrolled in these programs.

• MediCover Plan
• Travel insurance
• Short-term medical plans
• Socialized medical policies
• International insurance plans that are underwritten in any country outside of the U.S.

Minimum Essential Coverage generally includes comprehensive health coverage such as:

• Coverage through a U.S. employer, including coverage through a parent, spouse, domestic partner, or the student’s own employer;
• Individual health coverage purchased through Covered California, another state marketplace, or the federal marketplace;
• Individual health coverage issued by a U.S. health insurance company and intended to meet Affordable Care Act requirements;
• U.S. government-sponsored coverage, such as Medicare, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, TRICARE, Veterans Affairs health coverage, or similar coverage;

Important: If you are waiving with Medicaid/Medi-Cal, Kaiser, or other HMO program, please ensure that you transfer your healthcare coverage and/or PCP near your campus location.

Evacuation And Repatriation Coverage Requirement

International Students must maintain appropriate medical evacuation and repatriation coverage while enrolled at the University, regardless of employment status, U.S. residency status, local address, or other health insurance coverage.

This coverage must provide transportation and related services to the country associated with the student’s international status, such as the student’s country of citizenship, country of permanent residence, or another country recognized by the University in connection with the student’s international student record.

Medical evacuation and repatriation coverage is separate from health insurance and does not, by itself, satisfy the Minimum Essential Coverage requirement for waiving the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan.

The program must include a minimum of $50,000 of medical evacuation and $25,000 for Repatriation.

Tips: Before you fill out the waiver, please have the following information ready: Insurance Company Name, Insurance Company Phone Number, Policy Holder Name, and Policy Number for your respective health insurance plan and evacuation/repatriation plan(s).

If a student's health coverage is dropped, it is the student's responsibility to contact Health Promotion Services to discuss their options at hps@usfca.edu or (415) 422-5797.