Health Insurance
All PSU international students and their families are required by law to carry health insurance for the duration of their studies. Health care in the U.S. is very expensive and this is intended to protect you from serious financial hardship.
It is your responsibility to comply with insurance requirements by checking your student bill for insurance fees each term or meeting all of the requirements for a waiver.
PSU’s Healthcare Coverage
PSU’s required insurance coverage and fees consist of three parts:
1. Health Service Fee
Allows students access to the Center for Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), a primary health care clinic on campus for all PSU students enrolled in 5 or more credits. This clinic includes mental health counseling staff and a dental clinic.
2. Basic Insurance Plan
Pays a portion of health care expenses, but does not eliminate expense of major illness or injury. The Basic Insurance Plan is included with the Health Service Fee.
3. Supplemental Health Insurance Plan
Pays significant portion of major medical expenses after Basic Insurance Plan is exhausted.
For information about the benefits provided by this health insurance plan, please click here to view the 2011-12 PSU International Student Health Insurance Brochure. You can find out all about the Health Insurance Plans on the Wells Fargo website here.
Interim Insurance
If you are arriving in the U.S. before the PSU coverage begins and you would like to purchase health insurance for the interim period between your arrival and the PSU insurance start date, you can do so at a cost of $21 per week.
PSU coverage begins:
Fall Term 2011: September 20th
Winter Term 2012: January 9th
Spring Term 2012: April 2nd
Summer Term 2012: June 20th
Fall Term 2012: September 20th
Spouses and children are also eligible for weekly coverage at an additional rate. For more information, please email:
Special Circumstances for Waiver of Supplemental Plan
Fees for health insurance will appear on your student bill each term and cannot be waived unless allowed by one of the following special circumstances:
- You are on a J visa and have adequate health insurance purchased before you arrive in the US.
- Your government or embassy pays for your insurance through an outside company.
- You have insurance coverage through your US employer during your practical training period.
- You have insurance through your spouse’s employer.
Applying for Waiver of the Supplemental Plan
To obtain a waiver of the Supplemental Plan coverage and fee you must do the following:
- Ensure that you have the minimum coverage required by law (see below).
- Submit an online waiver request through the Wells Fargo Insurance Services Waiver Form
- Check your student billing account for the removal of the Supplemental Plan fee.
You will be charged the Supplemental Plan fee if ANY of the following apply to you:
- proof of insurance is submitted after the term deadline
- the start or end date of your coverage is missing
- your coverage doesn’t meet the minimum requirements
- your renewal leaves a gap in your coverage dates
- your insurance expires before the first day of the following term
Fees, Coverage Requirements and Deadlines
Students will normally pay the Health Service Fee with their tuition for the classes they are taking. The Health Service Fee is a mandatory student fee for all students taking 5 or more credits at PSU. Because the Basic Insurance is included in the Health Service fee, a student will only have to pay the Basic Insurance as a separate charge on their account if they are taking fewer than 5 credits. Students should always be charged separately for the Supplemental Plan, generally during the fourth week of classes; it will never be included in your tuition.
To waive the PSU Supplemental Insurance, your insurance coverage must meet all of the following requirements:
- Medical benefits covering at least $102,000 for each accident or illness
- The deductible may not exceed $500 for each accident or illness
- Medical evacuation to the home country (unlimited coverage)
- Repatriation of mortal remains to the home country (unlimited coverage)
2011-2012 Academic Year
| Fall and Winter Terms (Each Term) | Spring-Summer Charged as a single fee during the Spring term |
|
| Student | $274 | $548 |
| Spouse | $429 | $858 |
| Child | $334 | $668 |
| Term | Must Begin By | May Not End Before | Waiver Submission Deadline |
| Fall | 09/20/2011 | 01/09/2012 | 10/07/2011 |
| Winter | 01/09/2012 | 04/02/2012 | 01/20/2012 |
| Spring | 04/02/2012 | 09/20/2012 06/15/2012 (Note) |
04/13/2012 |
| Summer | 06/25/2012 | 09/20/2012 | 07/06/2012 |
Your insurance may not expire before the beginning of the Fall 2012 insurance plan unless you will graduate in Spring quarter.