Health Insurance Requirement and U.S. Health Care - Center for Global Engagement

What Students Need to Know

The Cost of Medical Care is High in the U.S.  

Unlike many countries, the United States does not provide “universal access” or “national health care”.  International students are also not eligible for any U.S. federal welfare assistance. When international students receive medical care in the U.S., the doctors and hospitals will look to international students and their insurance companies to get paid for their services.  

According to HealthCare.gov, fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500, and the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.

Without insurance, international students might face financial ruin resulting from serious accidents or illness. This could prevent them from completing studies in the U.S.

It is CSU Enrollment Requirement

F-1 International Students

The Board of Trustees of the California State University (CSU) requires F-1 international students to have health insurance as a condition of class registration at SFSU.

J-1 Students 

As per J-1 immigration regulations and the above-mentioned CSU policy, all students on J-1 visas and J-2 dependents must maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of their program as indicated on the Form DS-2019.

The insurance company for the 2024-2025 academic year (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Summer 2025) is UnitedHealthcare.

In some cases, students may be required to pay a “co-pay” to receive a service. Additionally, some non-essential services, such as cosmetic surgery, may not be covered.

F-1 International Students

Certificate students, and EAP students on academic break during the summer. 

  • F-1 international students are not required to maintain full-time enrollment in the summer session or Winter break. However, if your program is during the summer or winter break (i.e., Summer in SF, EAP Summer), you must purchase the SFSU insurance.
  • Students may purchase the SFSU pre-approved insurance plan through in summer if they enroll in the following Fall semester.
  • F-1 international students who are not enrolled in Summer: 
    • Students who are not enrolled in Summer may choose not to purchase insurance
    • CGE recommends students to purchase some other form of short-term health insurance to protect their health, safety and financial wellness.

J-1 Students 

  • All J-1 students and J-2 dependents MUST maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of their program as indicated by the dates on their Form DS-2019 (this includes the Summer Term for Calendar Year students).  
  •  J-1 students who “willfully fail” to maintain the required health insurance coverage are in violation of their J-1 status and are subject to termination.

Routine (meaning non-emergency) dental and vision care are NOT covered by the SFSU pre-approved insurance plan. Students who would like this coverage should purchase additional dental and/or vision insurance or be prepared to pay for such services privately. Dental and/or vision insurance is not required by SFSU. Students may use other dental and vision insurance services if they wish. 

Voluntary Dental/Vision

See the UnitedHealthcare Voluntary Dental/Vision page.

Affordable dental clinics near SFSU

Exceptions

The following students may be exempt from purchasing the SFSU pre-approved insurance plan:

  • F-1 international students on government-sponsored scholarships that provide compatible insurance coverage as a part of the sponsorship. Contact globaled@sfsu.edu for instructions. 
     
  • F-1 international students receiving insurance coverage through an employer-sponsored plan in the United States (i.e., receipt of insurance as part of a spouse's U.S. employment benefits). This exception does not apply to F-1 students who are receiving employer-sponsored plans from their CPT employers.

Instructions

Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Prepare proof of insurance

Obtain an electronic copy of your Summary of Benefits and Proof of Insurance, which should include your name on the policy and eligibility dates.

Step 2: Purchase the repatriation/evacuation insurance

SFSU requires all F-1 international students to purchase repatriation/evacuation insurance to ensure they have the resources necessary to return to their home country in the event of a catastrophic event or to have their remains returned to their country should an accident occur resulting in a student's death. F-1 students are in non-immigrant status and are therefore subject to this requirement. 

To purchase the repatriation/evacuation insurance plan that meets SFSU requirements, visit Atlas MedEvac’s website. For the coverage period, enter 8/16/2024 for the start date and 8/15/2025 for the end date. This plan is $65.70 for 365 days of coverage.

Step 3: Submit documents

Upload your Summary of Benefits, proof of  insurance, and proof of Repatriation/Evacuation insurance to the Box folder.

Recommended Reading

Video Resources

Visit UnitedHealthcare Videos.

Students will find short videos on many subjects from Insurance education to a library of Mental Health and Substance Abuse videos, to specific My Account “How to” videos.

Learn How to Use Your Student Insurance

See: Frequently Asked Questions | UnitedHealthcare Student Resources

Purchase Health Insurance

F-1 international students, J-1 students must purchase and maintain SFSU pre-approved international student health insurance. 

Students may purchase additional insurance policies if they wish, but they must purchase the international health insurance plan pre-approved by SFSU regardless.

Follow these links to enroll in the health insurance plan for your program. 

Video Resources

Watch tutorial videos for purchasing insurance and create an account at UnitedHealthcare Videos.

Students will not receive printed insurance cards by mail. 

For the 2024-2025 academic year, students will receive a My Account/ID Card invitation from UnitedHealthcare within 2-3 business days that includes instructions to register and/or sign into your My Account. The ID card will only be available within 30 days of the policy effective date.

Please PRINT and always carry the insurance card. 

Insurance Refunds

Refund Process for the 2024-2025 Academic Year (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025)

Students who have filed a claim with their insurance or who submit a refund request after the refund deadline are not eligible for a refund.

Student must:

  1. Email globaled@sfsu.edu the following information:
    • Full name
    • SFSU ID
    • Statement that student is withdrawing from the program and will leave the US (F-1 or J-1 students) or transfer to another institution if possible (F-1 students).
  2. CGE will drop you from your courses.

Spring 2025 deadline: January 31, 2025

Seeking Medical Care

Student Health Services

Student Health Services (SHS) provides basic medical care to students who are enrolled at SFSU.

SHS services include:

  • Care for sore throats, stomachaches, and coughs
  • Care for back and neck pain
  • Care for mental health concerns
  • Blood tests (e.g. to clear immunization holds)
  • General health and medical advice

As a CPaGE student, each general medical visit to SHS comes with a $60 charge (see list of ALL CHARGES). This charge is then applied to your Student Center account.

Students do not pay at the time of their visit. All students, no matter what they may be billed for (such as pharmacy prescriptions, lab tests, etc.), are charged through their Bursar account. Payment is due after the visit and once charges are posted to your Student Center.

Important: SHS is NOT a walk-in clinic. Before accessing SHS services, students must first make an appointment. Students can schedule an appointment by following instructions on the SHS website. 

Students will have to pay no-show fees if they do not come to the appointment.

Using Student Health Insurance at SHS

Students are required to pay for SHS services first at the Student Center, then file a claim with insurance company to be reimbursed (paid back).

  • To pay for the medical services received at SHS: Log on to the Student Center and make payment, file a claim with the insurance company. Claim forms can be found at UnitedHealthcare Insurance Forms.

Many off-campus healthcare options are available. Students must understand what each type of healthcare facility offers and when to use them.

Off-Campus Clinics

Students who wish to receive a general medical check-up or non-urgent medical care that is not available at SHS may make a doctor’s appointment at an off-campus clinic that offers general or specialized medical care for a specific health concern.  

To find an off-campus doctors (aka "providers") 

IMPORTANT: Students should NOT go to the Emergency Room unless they have a life-threatening illness or injury.

Urgent Care

Urgent Care is a type of walk-in clinic that treats injuries or illnesses that are non-life-threatening but still require immediate attention (e.g. flu, cold, sprained ankle). Students do not need an appointment to visit an Urgent Care clinic.  

Students should visit Urgent Care in the following situations:

  • They cannot get an appointment with SHS but feel that they must see a doctor immediately.  
  • An Urgent Care clinic is more conveniently located than SHS.  
  • The student wishes to receive medical care that is not listed on the SHS website.

Emergency Room

The emergency room should ONLY be used for life-threatening situations (such as those that require an ambulance). Students who need to go to the emergency room due to life-threatening injury or illness should call campus police at 415.338.2222 (if on campus) or 911 for help.  

Students should NOT visit the emergency room for non-life-threatening situations. If students use the emergency room in a non-emergency situation, their health insurance may not cover the cost of the healthcare that they receive.  

For mild to moderate illnesses and injuries, SFSU recommends that students visit Urgent Care or make an appointment with an in-network doctor.

When making an appointment with an off-campus doctor, students should be aware of the difference between “in-network” and “out-of-network” healthcare providers. 

An in-network provider is a provider that will accept students’ insurance, while an "out-of-network" provider will not. For this reason, in-network providers are more affordable.

Understanding Health Insurance

To use their insurance properly, students should:

  1. Get familiar with insurance benefits.
     
  2. Try to find an off-campus doctor (aka healthcare provider) and an urgent care clinic. Get an idea of where the healthcare facilities are around you. 
     
  3. Carry the health insurance ID card with them all the time, especially when attending an appointment or visiting a walk-in clinic.
     
  4. If applicable, pay the “co-pay” at the beginning of the appointment. When checking in, students should ask if the healthcare provider will bill the insurance company directly for the remaining cost OR if the student must "file a claim".
     
  5. File a claim (if needed).

Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025: 

Contact UnitedHealthcare enrollment at (800) 767-0700 or email customerservice@uhcsr.com.

What is a “co-pay”?

A "co-pay" is a fixed fee that the student must pay for certain services at the beginning of an in-network medical appointment. Insurance will cover the remaining cost. Review the plan summary to learn which medical services have a co-pay.

What is a "deductible"?

A "deductible" is the set amount of money a student must spend on certain medical services before insurance will begin to cover the cost. Once the deductible is met, insurance will cover a percentage of the cost through a process called "coinsurance". Review the plan summary to learn which medical services have a deductible.

What is “coinsurance”?

If a student reaches the deductible limit for a deductible-eligible service, insurance will begin to pay for a percentage of the cost, while the student is responsible for the rest of the cost. This process is referred to as "coinsurance."

While a "co-pay" is a fixed rate for service with no deductible, "coinsurance" is a percentage of the total bill that the students pays after reaching their deductible. 

What does it mean to “file a claim”?

Normally, when students use their health insurance to receive medical care, the medical provider will send the bill directly to the insurance company. However, at some locations (for example, Student Health Services at SFSU), the medical clinic will bill the patient. The patient must pay the bill and then "file a claim" with the insurance company to receive a reimbursement, if eligible. 

For more details about how to file a claim, see video “How to Submit a Claim” on the UnitedHealthcare Videos page.

Will my health insurance cover a flu shot?

Our plan offers preventative care, including flu shots for in-network providers. SFSU’s Student Health Services offers affordable flu shots periodically during the semester.

What do I say when a healthcare provider asks what kind of insurance I have?

For Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025, your insurance company is UnitedHealthcare.

Who do I contact if I have a question about my coverage or a bill I have received?

For specific questions about medical benefits and claims or support finding an in-network provider, contact

  • For Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025: contact UnitedHealthcare enrollment at (800) 767-0700 or email customerservice@uhcsr.com.

Will my insurance cover “___”?

If a student is not sure what is covered by their health insurance plan, they may do the following:

  • Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025: contact UnitedHealthcare enrollment at (800) 767-0700 or email customerservice@uhcsr.com.

Will my insurance cover the care I receive at Student Health Services (SHS)?

Students who receive bills from SHS should pay the bill and then file a claim to receive reimbursement, if eligible.

The U.S. health insurance industry uses a lot of confusing vocabulary. Where can I look up terms that I don’t understand?

Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025: contact UnitedHealthcare enrollment at (800) 767-0700 or email customerservice@uhcsr.com.

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