# Insurance Waiver

**Source**: https://iship.washington.edu/insurance-program/insurance-waiver/
**Parent**: https://iss.washington.edu/campus-resources/health-insurance/

On This Page:

- [Federal Law and Health Insurance](#Federal_Law_and_Health_Insurance)
- [Waiver Eligibility](#Waiver_Eligibility)
- [Alternate Health Insurance Requirements](#Alternate_Health_Insurance_Requirements)
- [Before Submitting Your Waiver](#Before_Submitting_Your_Waiver)
- [How to Apply for a Waiver](#How_to_Apply_for_a_Waiver)

## Federal Law and Health Insurance

International students enrolled as J-1 Exchange Visitors, and any J-2 dependents, are required to have sickness and accident insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, for the duration of the J-1 program. This is a U.S. federal law. (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 22 Section 62.14) **Willful failure to have insurance is a violation of this law and could result in termination of J-1 status.**

The UW ISHIP requirement may be waived only when a student meets certain eligibility criteria and has comparable health insurance that is valid in the U.S.

### GAIP Insurance

International students who hold a Graduate Research or Teaching Assistant appointment may be eligible to be enrolled in the [Graduate Appointee Insurance Plan (GAIP).](https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/insurance/health/graduate-appointees/) Students enrolled in GAIP do not need to be enrolled in ISHIP and do not need to submit a waiver request form. Please review this [GAIP information](https://iship.washington.edu/before-arriving-at-uw/).

## Waiver Eligibility

Only international students who fit into one of the following categories are eligible for a health insurance/ISHIP waiver:

- **Exchange or Visiting Students:** Those students attending UW through an official exchange program sponsored either by a UW academic department or UW Study Abroad
- **Government-funded Students** Those students funded by their government, or the U.S. government
- **Alternate Insurance:** Student is receiving health insurance benefits provided by the U.S. employer of a parent, spouse, or domestic partner
- **Foreign Study:** Students enrolled at UW while studying remotely outside the U.S.
- **Employer Benefits:** Student is working in the U.S. and receiving health insurance benefits through their employer

## Alternate Health Insurance Requirements

Eligible students who plan to request a waiver of ISHIP coverage must ensure that the alternate health insurance plan meets all minimum coverage and policy requirements.

### J-1 Requirements for Minimum Coverage:

- **Medical benefits** of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- A **deductible** not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
- **Repatriation of remains** in the amount of $25,000
- **Medical evacuation** to the student’s home country in the amount of $50,000

> “As a J-1 Exchange Visitor, you and your J-2 dependents are required to have sickness and accident insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, for the duration of your J-1 program. This is a U.S. federal law. (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 22 Section 62.14) Willful failure to have insurance is a violation of this law and could result in termination of your J-1 status.”

### F-1 Requirements for Minimum Coverage:

- **Medical benefits** of at least $200,000 per medical condition per policy year
- **Medical evacuation** to the student’s home country in the amount of $10,000
- **Repatriation of remains** in the amount of $7,500

### The insurance policy:

- May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards
- May include provision for co-insurance (co-pay) up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness
- Shall not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participate

### Any policy, plan, or contract secured to fulfill the above requirements must, at minimum, be:

- Underwritten by an insurance corporation having:
  1. an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above;
  2. a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims- paying Ability rating of ‘‘A-” or above;
  3. a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of ‘‘B+’’ or above;
  4. a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A-“ or above;
  5. a Moody’s Investor Services rating of ‘‘A3’’ or above; or
- Be backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country; or
- Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor;
- Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

**Please Note:** International students and any accompanying J-2 spouse and dependent(s) may also be subject to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

## Before Submitting Your Waiver

Please make sure that:

- **You have registered for quarterly classes first**. This is what enrolls you in ISHIP.
- **You are eligible**. If your situation does not fit into any of the eligibility criteria, you do not qualify for a waiver.
- **Your name clearly appears on any supporting documents submitted** (name of a parent or spouse only will not be accepted).
- **You respond to any follow up emails requesting for more information.** It is your responsibility to respond promptly before the waiver deadline to receive consideration.
- **You are not submitting your waiver request after the third Friday of the quarter**. There are no late waiver exemption periods.
- **You do not email us within 5 days after you submitted your waiver.** We respond to requests in the order receive. Emails requesting status updates slows down the process for all students waiting for their requests to be approved.

## How to Apply for a Waiver

To request a health insurance/ISHIP waiver, the student must submit an online **ISHIP Waiver Request** by 1pm of the tuition deadline date – the **third Friday of the quarter**.

[ISHIP Waiver Request](https://apps.iss.washington.edu/forms/ishipwaiver/)

Students will receive an email response within 3-5 business days of submitting the waiver request. Waiver requests submitted the week of the deadline, may experience longer wait times for the email response.

**Approved waiver requests:** The ISHIP premium fee will be removed from the tuition statement. Students who have already paid tuition charges will receive a refund of the ISHIP fee according to the payment method set up to pay tuition.

**Incomplete waiver requests:** Students will be notified via email with additional instructions for documentation or action needed.

For health insurance waiver inquiries, please email [inswaive@uw.edu](mailto:inswaive@uw.edu).