The University of Texas System Board of Regents passed Regent Rule 50402, which as of Fall 2015, requires international students to have medical insurance compliant with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Student on an F-1 visa will be required to have this medical insurance coverage except, Mexican citizens or permanent residents students on F1, F2, and F3 (border commuter) visas attending UT System Border institutions residents.
Academic Health Plans administers the Student Health Insurance Plan (UT SHIP) that is underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. All international students (any student who is in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa) are required to have UTSHIP. In addition, for future reference the UT System has established new criteria determining when an international student can request a waiver by providing alternate health insurance coverage. In order to be approved for the waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements set in the System regulation, be PPACA compliant and you will need to provide the required documentation.
If you plan submitting a waiver, you will have to apply here https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/waiver. If the provider determines that the alternate insurance policy submitted is approvable, the waiver will be granted. If the provider determines that the insurance policy submitted does not meet the minimum requirements, the waiver will be denied. For coverage information please go to: https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/
2020-2021 UT System Student Health Insurance Brochure
To check what are the current medical insurance costs for each semester, please click on the link below:
Medical Insurance Continuation Coverage (Students that Graduated)
Click here to enroll in Continuation Coverage.
Optional Vision Coverage
This service is not administered by Academic HealthPlans.
Optional Dental Coverage
Online Secure Access - Find doctors, get an ID card, view claims and more
How to Register/Login for Blue Access for Members (BAM) -
Change Address, Phone or Email
It is very important to make sure that your address, phone number, and email address on file at the school are current and accurate. If not, ID cards, explanation of benefits and other notifications about your student health insurance plan may not get to you. If you have moved or your contact information has changed, please make sure you update your contact information with your school.
Additionally, please refer to help.myahpcare.com to learn how you may update your address in our records as well.
International students are required to have medical insurance compliant with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Students on an F-1 and J-1 visa will be required to have this medical insurance coverage.
Consequently, in order to be compliant with this new rule, the UT Student Health Insurance Plan (UT SHIP), which meets these new requirements, will be added on to your tuition for the Fall 2020 semester with an amount of $1,163.00. The medical coverage is from 08/15/2020-12/31/2020.
In addition, for future reference the UT System has established new criteria determining when an international student can request a waiver by providing alternate health insurance coverage. In order to be approved for the waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements set in the System regulation, be PPACA compliant and you will need to provide the required documentation. Waivers approved by our office during past semesters may no longer qualify to replace the UT SHIP due to the new requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Insurance Waiver Process:
The Fall 2020 waiver will be expected to go live on 07/15/2020. If you plan on submitting a waiver, you will need to apply here https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/waiver.
NOTE: You must submit a new waiver for every semester.
International students on F-1 and J-1 visas (except for Mexican Citizens or Permanent Residents) must have health insurance compliant with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Academic Health Plans administers the Student Health Insurance Plan (UT SHIP) underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
As per UT System requirements, the UT Student Health Insurance Plan (UT SHIP) has been added to your tuition for the Spring 2021 semester with an amount of $1,890. The medical coverage is from 01/01/2021 – 08/14/2021. The health insurance coverage will be required regardless if you are enrolled during the summer or not, as long as you have the intention to continue with your program of study during the fall of that year.
For coverage information, please visit: https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/
Exemptions
Exemptions to the automatic enrollment from the January-mid-August insurance billing are the following:
A UTRGV Handbook of Operating Procedures policy regarding this update for medical insurance is under development.
Health Insurance Waiver Process:
An international student can request a waiver by providing alternate health insurance coverage. To be approved for the waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements set in the System regulation, be PPACA compliant, and will need to provide the required documentation.
For the insurance waiver requirements, please visit: https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/waiver
The Spring 2021 waiver is live from 11/02/2020 until 01/25/2021. If you plan on submitting a waiver, you will need to apply here https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/waiver and follow the steps below:
Be sure to submit your alternate insurance coverage no later than the 01/25/2021 waiver deadline date. If the provider determines that the alternate insurance policy submitted is approvable, the waiver will be granted. If the provider determines that the insurance policy submitted does not meet the minimum requirements, the waiver will be denied.
NOTE: You must submit a new waiver for every semester.
International students on F-1 and J-1 visas (except for Mexican Citizens or Permanent Residents) must have health insurance compliant with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Academic Health Plans administers the Student Health Insurance Plan (UT SHIP) underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.
As per UT System requirements, the UT Student Health Insurance Plan (UT SHIP) has been added to your tuition for the Summer I 2021 semester with an amount of $318 and/or Summer II 2021 semester with an amount of $309. The medical coverage for Summer I is from 06/01/2021 – 07/08/2021, and Summer II is from 07/09/2021 through 08/14/2021.
For coverage information, please visit: https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/
Exemptions
A UTRGV Handbook of Operating Procedures policy regarding this update for medical insurance is under development.
Health Insurance Waiver Process:
Students are required to submit a waiver each semester. An international student can request a waiver by providing alternate health insurance coverage. To be approved for the waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements set in the System regulation, be PPACA compliant, and will need to provide the required documentation.
For the insurance waiver requirements, please visit: https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/waiver
The Summer I 2021 waiver is live from 05/01/2021 until 06/11/2021, and Summer II 2021 waiver is live from 06/08/2021 until 07/23/2021. If you plan on submitting a waiver, you will need to apply here https://utrgv.myahpcare.com/waiver and follow the steps below:
Be sure to submit your alternate insurance coverage no later than the 06/11/2021 for Summer I and 07/23/2021 for Summer II waiver deadline date. If the provider determines that the alternate insurance policy submitted is approvable, the waiver will be granted. If the provider determines that the insurance policy submitted does not meet the minimum requirements, the waiver will be denied.
NOTE: You must submit a new waiver for every semester.
To request a waiver, the alternate insurance must meet the following criteria:
The alternate insurance plan must also meet the following dates of coverage:
Notes
The carrier letter for a U.S. Individual Plan must include a signed, official letter on letterhead stating: