Ibrahim Gardner
International students at Boston College are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan. This is because the U.S. government and the State of Massachusetts require all international students to have health insurance from a U.S.-based company. Foreign health insurance policies are not considered comparable and are therefore not accepted. However, international students at Boston College may be eligible for a waiver if they are insured through their own or a parent/guardian/spouse's health insurance plan offered through a U.S. employer or certain government-sponsored programs. To waive the Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan, international students must file a waiver by mid-June each year. It is important to note that the waiver does not carry forward and must be submitted every year. Additionally, students who initially waive participation in the student plan but later wish to enroll before the waiver deadline may rescind their waivers by deleting the prior waiver or completing the Rescind Waiver form.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Waiver availability | Limited situations for international students |
| Waiver requirements | Compliance with Massachusetts state law |
| Acceptable insurance plans | Insurance through a U.S. employer or certain government-sponsored programs |
| Unacceptable insurance plans | International insurance plans, socialized or standard medical policies, travel insurance plans, or short-term medical plans |
| Waiver deadline | Mid-June each year |
| Waiver process | File a waiver form and provide proof of appropriate insurance |
| Waiver frequency | Must be submitted every year |
| Waiver costs | No charge for the summer if beginning the program in the summer |
| Waiver location | Boston College Office of Student Services |
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What You'll Learn
- International students must have health insurance from a US-based company
- Foreign health insurance policies are not considered comparable
- Students are automatically billed for Boston College's health insurance plan
- International students are not eligible to waive the college's health insurance
- Students must file a waiver for the fall and spring semesters
International students must have health insurance from a US-based company
Most US universities require international students to have health insurance before enrolling in classes. Some universities offer a group plan, while others recommend affordable health insurance plans for international students. Students with health insurance included in their sponsorship package or through their parents' insurance plans may be eligible for a waiver. However, state law prohibits universities from accepting coverage by an insurance company outside the US, except in limited situations. For example, Boston University accepts certain government-sponsored programs, such as the Government of Kuwait/UAE or Saudi Arabia.
There are many companies that offer health insurance plans specifically designed for international students, such as IMG Global. These plans can provide worldwide coverage, international claims specialists, and access to 24/7 emergency assistance services with multilingual capabilities. Students can also compare their current coverage to the university's student health insurance plan to see if it meets the waiver requirements.
It is important to note that health insurance requirements may vary depending on your visa type. For example, F-1 visa holders are not required to have health insurance by the US Department of State, but their university may require it. On the other hand, J-1 and J-2 visa holders must have health insurance while in the US. Additionally, health insurance plans must meet certain requirements, such as medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness and evacuation expenses of up to $50,000.
In summary, international students must have health insurance from a US-based company to ensure they have adequate coverage while studying in the US. Students should research their university's requirements and compare different insurance plans to find the best option for their needs and budget.
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Foreign health insurance policies are not considered comparable
Boston College requires all students enrolled in a degree program to be enrolled in and billed for the student health insurance plan. This includes international students.
Students who are already covered by their own or a parent/guardian/spouse's health insurance plan offered through a US employer, or a government-sponsored program (e.g. Government of Kuwait/UAE or Government of Saudi Arabia) may be eligible for a waiver. To waive the BC coverage, students must confirm that they are covered by the indicated medical insurance policy for the full academic year and that their policy provides benefits that are at least comparable to the BC student plan.
Students who do not complete a waiver prior to the deadline will automatically be enrolled in and charged for the UnitedHealthcare student plan. Students can file a waiver for the fall and spring semesters by mid-June each year.
Boston College is also enrolled with HTH Worldwide Insurance Services, which provides worldwide medical coverage for students travelling and living outside the United States. Additionally, undergraduate students participating in a study abroad program through the Office of Global Education will be enrolled in supplemental health insurance for the duration of their program.
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Students are automatically billed for Boston College's health insurance plan
Students at Boston College are automatically billed for the college's health insurance plan, provided by UnitedHealthcare underwritten by Harvard Pilgrim. This applies to all students enrolled in a degree program, regardless of credit hours. Non-degree students taking courses that add up to at least 75% of a full-time schedule will also be automatically enrolled.
Students are covered from August 7, 2024, through August 6, 2025, and the premium for the summer is $1,044 for enrollment from May 10 to August 6. The fall enrollment period begins on August 7, and students are automatically charged for the fall and spring insurance periods.
Students who begin their program in the summer are not automatically charged for summer insurance and do not need to file a waiver for the summer. However, they must file a waiver for the fall and spring semesters. These waivers are typically available by mid-June each year.
It is important to note that Massachusetts state law governs insurance waivers. International students' insurance is only eligible for a waiver in limited situations. The state does not allow waivers with international insurance plans, socialized or standard medical policies, travel insurance plans, or short-term medical plans. However, international students may be eligible for a waiver if they are insured through a parent or guardian's health insurance plan offered through a U.S. employer or certain government-sponsored programs.
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International students are not eligible to waive the college's health insurance
The U.S. government and the State of Massachusetts mandate that all international students have health insurance from a U.S.-based company. Foreign health insurance policies are not considered comparable and are therefore not accepted. International students at Boston College are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan. This is to ensure that international students are covered by a plan that meets or exceeds the Student Health Insurance Plan.
In the case of Boston University, international students are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). However, students can waive SHIP coverage if they have other coverage that meets the comparable coverage requirements. It is important to note that state law prohibits Boston University from accepting coverage by an insurance company outside the United States, with very few exceptions.
In general, international students are not eligible to waive college health insurance in Massachusetts. This is because health insurance is necessary to help defray the costs of medical treatment, which can be extremely expensive in the United States due to the absence of a socialized or national health care system. Federal and state regulations also have insurance mandates that international students must comply with during their stay in the U.S., including requirements specific to students in Massachusetts.
While the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) strives to provide the most up-to-date information on insurance requirements, it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the proper coverage. Students should be aware of the specific requirements for Massachusetts, such as the standard of minimum coverage mandated for all persons residing in the state. Additionally, students should be mindful of their visa status and ensure that their health insurance complies with the requirements of their visa type, such as the additional insurance requirements for J-1 exchange visitors.
Overall, while there may be limited situations where international students can waive college health insurance, it is generally not permitted in Massachusetts. International students are encouraged to carefully review the insurance requirements and ensure they have adequate coverage to meet their health needs during their studies in the United States.
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Students must file a waiver for the fall and spring semesters
Boston College automatically enrols students in its student health insurance plan and bills them for the insurance premium. This applies to students enrolled in a degree programme, regardless of credit hours.
However, students who have other insurance coverage can waive the college's insurance plan. To do so, they must file a waiver for the fall and spring semesters. These waivers are available by mid-June each year. Students who begin their programme in the summer do not need to file a waiver for that period.
The waiver must be submitted every year. To qualify for a waiver, the student's insurance plan must meet specific requirements. For instance, Massachusetts state law does not allow waivers with international insurance plans, socialised or standard medical policies, travel insurance plans, or short-term medical plans. However, a waiver may be eligible if the student is insured through their own or a parent/guardian/spouse's health insurance plan offered through a US employer or certain government-sponsored programs. It is important to note that the student's insurance plan must comply with Massachusetts state law for a waiver to be approved.
Students at Boston College who wish to waive the college's insurance plan should refer to the Office of Student Services website for information. Additionally, they can contact the Student Accounting Office to determine if their insurance meets the waiver requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
No, international students are not eligible to waive the Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan. All international students will automatically be billed for the plan.
If you are insured through a parent/guardian’s health insurance plan offered through a U.S. employer, you may be eligible for a waiver. However, the state does not allow waivers with international insurance plans, socialized or standard medical policies, travel insurance plans, or short-term medical plans.
To enrol, log in to your Gallagher account using your BC username and password. Select the “Enroll” button under "Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan - Summer" and follow the prompts.
The summer premium is $1,044 for enrollment from May 10 to August 6. Medical insurance is automatically charged for the fall and spring insurance periods.
The deadline to enrol is by the start of the fall enrollment period, which begins on August 7.
