International Student Activate/Waive

Dependents of International student are now eligible to enroll in the plan once the student has enrolled, and for the same period of coverage. If you would like to enroll your dependent, please click here after you have activated yourself in the plan.

It is the responsibility of each international student required to maintain health insurance to ACTIVATE their enrollment in the UH System Endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan or submit a WAIVER during each coverage period online enrollment activation and waiver period. 

Enrollment Activation and Waiver Periods:

Summer:  05/21/2026 at 8 AM CST - 06/11/2026 at 5 PM CST

Summer 2026 Coverage Dates:  June 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026

REQUIREMENTS

UH System Policy states that international students with "F" or "J" visa status are required to be covered under the UH System-endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan or have equivalent health insurance coverage, regardless of the number of credit hours taken. At the time of registration, the student will automatically be charged for the mandatory UHS-endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) coverage period on their student financial account.

The University of Houston International Student Health Insurance Requirements and Instructions can be viewed at www.uh.edu/healthcenter/international.

The health insurance fee is posted to a student's university financial account based on the information reflected in their university records. It is the responsibility of each student to review their financial account for accuracy.

International students who are required to maintain health insurance must activate their enrollment or submit a waiver for each coverage period before the term's posted deadline.

If the health insurance fee has been posted to a student’s university financial account, it is the student’s responsibility to complete one of the following requirements before the term’s posted deadline.

If the student does not complete one of the following requirements before the term’s posted deadline and the health insurance fee remains on their university financial account, the university will automatically activate the student’s enrollment in the UH System-Endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan approximately 2-5 days after the close of the Open Enrollment Period for the designated coverage period.

• ACTIVATE their enrollment in the UH System-Endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan before the term’s posted deadline, OR
• Obtain an APPROVED WAIVER before the term’s posted deadline, OR
• Make changes to their university account that result in a CREDIT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE FEE to their university financial account before the posted deadline.

Once enrolled in the plan, the student’s enrollment will remain in force throughout the entire coverage period for the designated term.

INSURANCE ENROLLMENT ACTIVATION 
(You wish to be enrolled in the UHS-endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan)

You will need to ACTIVATE your enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan each coverage period.  It is recommended that you complete this ACTIVATION at least one week before the beginning of the new coverage period to ensure you have access to your insurance account. 

By clicking the “Click Here to Enroll” link below, you confirm that you have read and understand:

• The University of Houston System Policy concerning F and J Visa holders
• The insurance activation and address verification instructions sent to you by Academic HealthPlans or found in the International Student Health Insurance Requirements.
• The university will submit your eligibility to activate your enrollment in the plan to Academic HealthPlans after you have registered for classes and been charged the health insurance fee.  
• How to get your insurance ID card.
• The plan’s coverage period.

The University of Houston International Student Health Insurance Requirements and Enrollment Activation Instructions can be viewed at www.uh.edu/healthcenter/international.

Once you log in using your CougarNet User ID and Password, select the ENROLL button under the “I Need Health Insurance” section.

WAIVERS

A waiver of the health insurance fee may be requested online with proof of acceptable alternate health insurance. In order to be approved for a waiver of enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements as set forth below and be submitted by the waiver deadline date.

Please be advised that the waiver request will be reviewed for compliance and verified active with the insurance carrier. Notification of acceptance or rejection of this request will be sent to your university email within 7 - 10 business days.

NOTE:  Waivers that are approved before the beginning of the term's coverage period will be reviewed again for active coverage after the start of the coverage period.

• Waivers are valid for one coverage period only. Students will have to submit a new waiver each coverage period.Late submissions will not be accepted.
• If you do not apply for a waiver, your waiver was submitted successfully, or your waiver was denied, the health insurance fee will remain posted to your university financial account. The university will automatically activate your enrollment in the UH System-Endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan approximately 2-5 days after the close of the Open Enrollment Period for the designated coverage period.
• Once enrolled in the plan, your enrollment will remain in force throughout the entire coverage period for the designated term.

An international student may request a waiver of this mandatory health insurance fee in the following instances, with proof of acceptable alternate insurance.

• The student is sponsored by the U.S. government, by a foreign government recognized by the U.S., or by certain international, government-sponsored or non-governmental organizations, and the sponsor has provided a plan equivalent to the SHIP or a letter guaranteeing payment of all health care expenses.
• The student is enrolled in a verifiable employer-provided group health plan that is equivalent to the SHIP.
• If medical evacuation and repatriation that equals the amounts as compared to the SHIP are not included in an otherwise acceptable policy, a rider must be purchased.
• Students submitting a Student Health Insurance Plan from another university/college must include official documentation of which university/college holds their active I-20 before their alternate health insurance plan can be considered. A Student Health Insurance Plan from another university or college will not be accepted if the University of Houston holds the student’s I-20.

All International Students with “F” or “J” visa holders must meet all of the following minimum requirements:

• Medical/preventative care benefits equivalent to the UHS-endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan with no annual limits.
• Contains no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
• Imposes no provisions for coinsurance that exceed 25% of the covered benefits.
• Medical evacuation coverage amount is no less than $50,000.
• Repatriation coverage amount is no less than $25,000.
• Dates of coverage meet or exceed the requirement for the SHIP coverage period for the current term.
• International “J” Student Visa Holders must have a policy whose deductible does not exceed $500 annually.
• International “F” Student Visa Holders must have a policy whose deductible does not exceed $1,500 (individual)/$3,000 (family) annually.

If your alternate coverage meets the above minimum requirements, submit electronic copies of the following documents with your online waiver request:

• A scanned copy of the front and back of your health insurance ID card for the CURRENT coverage period, indicating the student as a covered member. The plan must include a phone number and claims remittance address that is located within the United States.
• A scanned copy of your insurance policy benefits summary for the CURRENT COVERAGE PERIOD, including coverage dates, coverage amounts, exclusions, and limitations. All documentation must be in English, and coverage amounts must be in US dollars. Summary of Benefits Example
• A scanned copy of your medical evacuation and repatriation coverage (if you have this coverage).

Disclaimer:  Academic HealthPlans reserves the right to deny your waiver request based on the University of Houston’s waiver criteria. You will receive an email confirmation from AHP once your waiver request has been received. You will also receive an email from AHP to notify you if your request was approved or denied. If your request is approved, please allow 7 business days for the university to remove the health insurance fee from your financial account.

By clicking the “Click Here to Waive” link below, you confirm that you have read and understand:

• The University of Houston System Policy concerning F and J Visa holders.
• All documentation must be for the current coverage period, and your waiver will be automatically denied if all required documentation is not uploaded with your submission.
• Your waiver will be denied if you do not meet the qualifications to submit a waiver request or your alternate health insurance plan does not meet the minimum requirements.
• The waiver instructions emailed to you by Academic HealthPlans and included in the International Student Health Insurance Requirements.
• The examples of UNACCEPTABLE alternate health insurance plans that will automatically be denied without further review if submitted with your waiver request.
• If your waiver is approved, it is your responsibility to verify that the health insurance fee has been credited to your university financial account after the 7 business day processing period.

The University of Houston International Student Health Insurance Requirements, Waiver Criteria, and Instructions can be viewed at www.uh.edu/healthcenter/international.

Once you log in using your CougarNet User ID and Password, select the WAIVE button under “I Already Have Insurance” Section.

QUESTIONS: Contact Academic HealthPlans Customer Service at Get Help.