International Student and Exchange Student Health Insurance Procedure

International Students

All international students must carry health insurance coverage for themselves for their entire stay in the United States. To satisfy this requirement, all international students are enrolled in the OSU-sponsored Student Health Insurance Benefit Plan (OSU SHIP) upon registration with the university. Enrollment may be waived only if the international student has insurance with comparable coverage as described in Section 3 below.

In all cases, proof of continuous coverage is required during the student's program of study.

Section 1: Charging for the OSU SHIP

  • Unless a waiver has been granted, the premium costs for the OSU SHIP will be billed to the student’s university account.
  • Unless a waiver has been granted, students who are registered for spring term will be enrolled in the OSU SHIP for both spring and summer terms. Enrollment in summer term is at no additional cost to the student.

Section 2: Eligibility to Waive the OSU SHIP

  • There are three categories of students that may be granted waivers from of the OSU SHIP:
    • Students sponsored by an embassy or cultural mission (automatic waiver).
      • Sponsors may send their insurance plans to the Insurance Coordinator at the university every year to be reviewed for preapproval for the upcoming academic year. Sponsors will be notified by email regarding whether their insurance plan meets the university’s health insurance waiver requirements.
      • Sponsored student information is obtained via two separate registration reports: one for international direct admissions and one for INTO OSU students. Financial Guarantees for all students are verified in OnBase to assure their scholarship with their sponsor is active. Coverage for students sponsored through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) is verified through the assigned Financial Assistant at SACM. Any issues with a sponsored student having a scholarship hold are brought to the attention of the Assistant Director of Student Programs at International Office.
    • Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Fellows (automatic waiver).
      • All Graduate Assistants and Graduate Fellows are automatically waived out of the OSU SHIP once their position has been entered into Banner by the assigned unit or college.
    • Students covered by a U.S.-based employer group insurance plan as a subscriber or dependent (must request waiver).
      • Students may submit one health insurance waiver for review each term during published open enrollment periods.
      • All health insurance waivers will be reviewed by the Insurance Coordinator to assure all insurance requirements are met and confirm the insurance plan is active.
      • Students are notified by email regarding the approval or denial of their health insurance waiver. Students that do not receive approval for their health insurance waiver will be enrolled in the OSU SHIP and charged for the coverage through their OSU Student Account in Banner.

Section 3: Applying for a Waiver

  • Enrollment in the OSU SHIP may be waived only if the student will have insurance with comparable coverage. Only students described in Section 2.1.C of this procedure need to apply for a waiver.
  • Students must apply for a comparable coverage waiver through the Student Health Insurance Office on a form provided by that office, which requires documentation of anticipated coverage. The application must be received by the Student Health Insurance Office within the open enrollment period that is published on the Student Health Services website. It is recommended that students submit the waiver with potential alternative insurance plan prior to purchasing to ensure insurance meets waiver criteria. Waiver of enrollment in the OSU SHIP is not guaranteed.
  • A comparable insurance waiver may be granted only if the student will be covered by an alternative policy, plan or contract that provides comparable coverage. "Comparable coverage" means that the alternative policy, plan or contract meets or exceeds all levels of coverage provided by the OSU Plan, including any exclusions, the maximum amount of coverage per accident and illness, and the maximum amount of cumulative benefit; and that the alternative policy, plan or contract is either backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the international student's home country; is part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or is an alternative plan offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization or eligible Competitive Medical Plan.
  • Documentation of such coverage must indicate in English the insurance company's name and address for billing purposes, policy number, the coverage terms of the policy, the effective dates of the policy, and any exclusions, the names of the individuals covered by the policy, and the maximum amount of coverage per accident and illness and/or in terms of cumulative benefits.
  • Some insurance plans may be pre-approved as comparable coverage, including those offered through a university-recognized collective bargaining agreement. Students who have insurance that is pre-approved as comparable coverage must apply for and receive their waiver before being un-enrolled from the OSU SHIP.
  • Students may contest the factual premise underlying any decision to deny a comparable insurance waiver by presenting their documentation and arguments before the Vice Provost for Student Affairs. The decision of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs is final.
  • Waiver applications can only be processed for the current quarter or academic year, not for previous quarters or academic years.

Exchange Students

Section 1: Charging for Geo Blue

  • Exchange Students will be automatically charged and enrolled in the Geo Blue health insurance once class registration has been confirmed.
  • The student will be notified by their ONID email regarding the health insurance charge placed on their student account. The email will be specific to exchange students eligible for Geo Blue health insurance coverage.

Section 2: Opting into OSU SHIP