Understanding Student Health Insurance At The University Of Oklahoma

If you are a student at the University of Oklahoma, you may be wondering if you are covered by student health insurance. The university offers a student health plan, and any student taking nine hours or more of campus-based classes qualifies. International students must enroll in the OU Student Health Plan or provide evidence of suitable alternative health coverage to receive a waiver. As an OU student, you will be automatically covered by the Student Health Plan from the first day of classes. However, if you arrive in the US before the first day of classes, you will need to purchase separate traveller's insurance for that period.

International students

The student health plan is a good option for those without insurance coverage or whose out-of-state insurance only covers emergency visits in the Norman area. The plan is administered by OUHS, and most students have little to no out-of-pocket expenses when visiting the Goddard Health Center. However, benefit coverage may change when receiving care outside of Goddard.

For F-1 international students and their F-2 dependents, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) policy requires the purchase and maintenance of hospital, medical, and repatriation insurance. This can be done either through the OUHSC Student Health Insurance Plan or by submitting a waiver to show alternative coverage. The Student Health Plan's coverage begins on the first day of classes, so it is recommended that students arriving in the US before this date purchase traveler's insurance to cover the interim period.

All international students and their dependents must purchase health and accident insurance coverage before enrolling at OU. For J-1 students and their dependents, US Department of State regulations require the purchase and maintenance of adequate health and accident insurance, with specific minimum coverage guidelines. It is a violation of J-1 status to fail to maintain health insurance coverage that meets these guidelines.

Dependents

The University of Oklahoma's health insurance policy for international students requires that F-1 international students and their accompanying F-2 dependents purchase and maintain hospital, medical, and repatriation insurance. This means that if you are an international student with a spouse or children, they must also be covered by insurance.

For domestic students at Oklahoma State University, graduate students who are enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan can also choose to insure their dependents, including legal spouses and dependent children under 26 years of age. This is done by communicating directly with UnitedHealthcare for enrollment, and any associated payments for dependent coverage will be handled directly through them.

For international students at Oklahoma State University, J-1 Scholars who are actively participating in coursework or research activities are eligible to enroll in the insurance plan. It is not clear whether these students can also insure their dependents, but it is likely that they would need to follow similar procedures as domestic students and communicate with UnitedHealthcare directly.

It is important to note that the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have different insurance policies, and students should carefully review the specific requirements and procedures for their respective universities.

Costs

The cost of health insurance is an important consideration for students. While some schools may recommend having some form of health insurance, others may require it, especially for international students. The University of Oklahoma, for instance, mandates that international students enrol in the OU Student Health Plan or provide proof of alternative coverage to receive a waiver.

There are several options for obtaining health insurance as a student in Oklahoma. One option is to remain on your parent's health insurance plan. According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), you can stay on your parent's plan until you turn 26. However, it's important to consider the level of coverage provided, especially if you are studying out-of-state or in a different geographic region.

Another option is to enrol in a school-sponsored health plan. The University of Oklahoma offers its own student health plan, and they encourage enrolment by lowering the class requirement. Any student taking nine hours or more of campus-based classes qualifies for the OU Student Health Plan. It is important to note that school-sponsored plans may have limitations, such as not covering services off-campus or only being available to full-time students.

Additionally, you can consider a Student Health Plan, which is designed specifically for full-time students aged 17-29. This plan provides coverage across the US, but it may require a lump-sum premium payment and is not available in every state.

For those seeking their own coverage, individual and family health plans are also available. These plans offer a range of benefits depending on the specific plan selected. When evaluating any health plan, it is important to consider not just the monthly premium but also the deductible, copayments, and coinsurance.

In Oklahoma, students can also explore options like catastrophic health insurance plans, which have low premiums but high deductibles, or short-term health insurance plans that serve as temporary coverage.

It is always a good idea to prioritize having comprehensive health insurance coverage to protect yourself from unexpected medical bills.

Waivers

The University of Oklahoma requires all international students to enrol in the OU Student Health Plan. However, students covered by a qualifying plan other than the university-sponsored plan may choose to waive (decline) the Student Health Plan offered by OU. In this case, they must complete the waiver application on the Academic Health Plans website. The waiver process must be done every semester, and the deadline is usually within the first few weeks of each semester.

For international students, the waiver requirements are as follows:

• The student is eligible for and enrolled in the OU employee group health plan or another employer-sponsored ACA-compliant group health plan.
• The student provides evidence that they are eligible for and enrolled in an ACA-compliant individual coverage purchased through the Exchange (HealthCare.gov) or another ACA-compliant individual coverage purchased from an insurance carrier based in the US.
• The student is eligible for and enrolled in coverage that is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country and is provided through an ACA-compliant plan or policy in writing in English.
• The student is sponsored by the US government or another sponsoring entity that has guaranteed payment of all the student's medical, repatriation, and evacuation expenses.
• The student is enrolled exclusively in distance learning classes at the university.

For domestic students, the waiver requirements are as follows:

• Medical coverage must be currently active, listing coverage dates that cover the entire coverage period being waived, be written in English, and premiums must be quoted in US currency.
• Individual medical insurance coverage must be ACA-compliant.
• Group Health Plan coverage, as a covered employee or covered dependent, must meet the ACA requirements for Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) and Minimum Value (MV) (at least a 60% actuarial value).
• All medical coverage must meet the Minimum Essential Coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including but not limited to a) no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, b) preventative care and women's healthcare as required by the ACA must be covered at 100%, and c) include no annual or lifetime limits.
• Tribal coverage, Military coverage, and Sooner Care are acceptable forms of insurance coverage.

If a student does not want the Student Health Insurance Plan, they must decline or opt out of coverage by submitting a waiver during the designated Waiver Periods.

Coverage

The University of Oklahoma (OU) requires all international students and their dependents to purchase comprehensive health insurance coverage. This is a common requirement for international students studying in the United States. OU offers its own Student Health Plan, which students are automatically enrolled in on the first day of classes. This plan covers students at school, at home, or while travelling in the US or abroad.

International students at OU have two options to fulfil the health insurance requirement: they can either sign up for the OU Student Health Plan, or they can apply for a waiver by providing evidence of suitable alternative health coverage. The waiver application must be completed on the Academic Health Plans website for each semester the student wishes to waive the OU Student Health Insurance Plan. Deadlines for waiver applications are typically within the first few weeks of each semester.

The OU Student Health Plan does not cover the cost of prescriptions. Students will be required to pay a small fee, known as a copay, each time they purchase a prescription drug, even through the university Goddard Health Center.

For F-1 international students and their F-2 dependents, the OU policy requires the purchase and maintenance of hospital, medical, and repatriation insurance. J-1 students and their dependents must also purchase and maintain adequate health and accident insurance, with specific minimum coverage guidelines mandated by the US Department of State. These guidelines include medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness, repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000, medical evacuation expenses of $50,000, and deductibles not exceeding $500 per accident or illness. Failure to maintain this level of coverage is a violation of J-1 status.

While most Oklahoma colleges and universities do not require health insurance, it is still recommended that students obtain coverage. Students can stay on their parent's health insurance plan until they turn 26, but they should check if their plan provides in-network providers near their school, especially if they are studying out of state. Students can also explore other options such as enrolling in their own plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid or CHIP, or short-term health insurance plans.

Frequently asked questions