International Students

All international students taking 1 or more credit hour (and their dependents) must carry health insurance coverage available through SUNY (or comparable coverage) for the duration of their academic registration at UB. These policies also apply to J-1 student interns, and are set by SUNY Administration.

This page is only for international students. If you are an international scholar, please visit the international scholar page.

Insurance Information: 2023-2024
Coverage Coverage Dates Deadline for Enrollment and Waivers Premiums
Fall Semester 8/15/23 - 1/14/24 9/29/23

 

$1073.63*

 

Spring Semester and Summer 1/15/24 - 8/14/24 2/23/24 $1494.65*
Summer Only 5/15/24 - 8/14/24 Determined on a case-by-case basis $645.58*
Monthly The 15th of each month to the 14th of the next month Determined on a case-by-case basis
$214.02*

Open enrollment is available until the deadline regardless of your coverage history. You can also enroll any time throughout the year with no gap in coverage from your previous plan if you have a life-changing event; please read this page carefully for more details. Please review the enrollment form and dependent enrollment form for more information, including off-cycle rates.

Automatic Enrollment and Billing

All international students are billed and enrolled into the SUNY health insurance once registered for at least 1 credit hour due to their student visa. No action is needed for an international student to be enrolled into the SUNY health insurance. 

If a student has a personal health insurance, they may apply for a waiver to opt out of the SUNY health insurance. The personal health insurance must be comparable or better than the SUNY policy and meet all requirements to receive a waiver. The health insurance waiver is an annual process that must be completed to have the charge for the health insurance refunded from the student account. Once an approved waiver is on file, the charge for the health insurance will be refunded and the student account will be charged for the required medical evacuation and repatriation insurance. The medical evacuation and repatriation insurance is required for all international students. 

If there is no approved waiver on file by the waiver deadline, the student will remain enrolled into the student health insurance. 

Assistantships

Students that have assistantships enroll into the student employee health insurance through Human Resources which is a different insurance company than the student health insurance through our office. Graduate and Teaching Assistants enroll into the NYSHIP SEHP policy and Research Assistants enroll into the UMR policy. 

Request a Waiver

If you have private health insurance that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements, you can request a waiver of the premium. Acceptable plans must be:

  • US-based
  • Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliant
  • Comparable policy to SUNY plan
NYS Essential or Community Plans are NOT Accepted for an International Waiver

You will only be permitted a waiver of the cost of the SUNY health insurance if your policy matches or exceeds the policy available through SUNY, and is approved by Haylor, Freyer and Coon. In some cases, your policy must also match or exceed requirements from the U.S. Department of State (policies that meet SUNY requirements typically meet these requirements; the UHCSR plan available through SUNY far exceeds U.S. Department of State requirements).

Forms for International Students

Related UB Websites

Need Help?

For help understanding and navigating the health insurance process.

1 Capen
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14260-2100

Phone: (716) 645-3036

For questions about your plan

UnitedHealthcare Student Resources

Domestic Policy #2022-202767-1
; International Students Policy #2022-203-415-41
; OPT/J1 Policy #2022-203415-44
; Study Abroad Policy #2022-203415-43

Dependent Enrollment Forms and General Inquiries
P.O. Box 809025
Dallas, TX 75380-9025

Phone: (888) 714-6544

UnitedHealthcare Student Resources

Domestic Students Policy #2022-202767-1
; International Students Policy #2022-203-415-41
; OPT/J1 Policy #2022-203415-44
; Study Abroad Policy #2022-203415-43

Claims
UnitedHealthcare Student Resources
P.O. Box 809025
Dallas, TX 75380-9025

Phone: (888) 714-6544