International Student Health Insurance
International student health insurance is automatically charged to your student account if you are enrolled in at least 4 credits. Health insurance is set to begin at the official start of your academic term. Insurance cards (proof of insurance required at the clinic or hospital) are not automatically emailed to students. You must login to create an account on the insurance website, and you can print your card (proof of insurance) and learn more about the plan online. For more information about your student insurance please see the Counseling and Health Services webpage.
Students enrolled in less than four credits are not eligible for Hamline student insurance but international students must maintain insurance coverage.
Waivers
Eligibility to waive Hamline's health insurance plan and replace it with a plan that meets the health insurance requirements stated below is determined by your student status:
Continuing and incoming undergraduate exchange students with health insurance provided by either government or home university that meets the requirements listed below are eligible for a waiver.
Continuing and incoming undergraduate degree-seeking students are eligible to waive Hamline's health insurance for the academic year, only if the student has government or self-provided health insurance, which meets the requirements listed below.
Continuing and incoming graduate students are eligible to waive Hamline's health insurance for the academic year, if their insurance meets requirements listed below.
Health insurance requirements
All students must maintain health insurance coverage that meets these minimum requirements:
- Insurance shall cover medical benefits of at least $100,000 per person per accident or illness
- Insurance shall cover repatriation of remains in the amount of at least $25,000
- Insurance shall cover expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of at least $50,000
- A policy secured to fulfill the insurance requirements shall not have a deductible that exceeds $500 per accident or illness
- International students must maintain insurance as required above for the duration of the academic program at Hamline University
Why are students required to maintain health insurance?
The mandatory insurance policy exists for the protection of students. It is extremely risky to be in the United States without adequate health insurance. The U.S. does not have a national health care system, so individuals are responsible for all costs associated with medical care. A single day of hospitalization or medical treatment may cost thousands of dollars. Individuals who live in the US rely on insurance as protection against extreme financial hardship that can be associated with unexpected medical costs. It is important that students be protected as well.
Hamline requires international students to maintain insurance that also includes medical evacuation and repatriation. These are uncommon features of domestic insurance policies, but are extremely important should something happen to an international student. Medical evacuation and repatriation costs can amount to tens of thousands of dollars, and without insurance that specifically covers these costs, the student or their family would be responsible for paying these expenses.
It is Hamline’s policy that ALL international students maintain adequate health insurance. However, for J-1 visa holders, it is also a federal regulation that you maintain insurance that meets the minimum requirements determined by the Department of State. Willful failure to comply with this requirement would result in termination of your J visa status.
Please note that having insurance does not mean that all medical costs will be covered. For specific information about what is covered in your insurance plan, you must read your insurance policy statement or speak to your insurance provider.
