Student Insurance

Students are automatically enrolled in the System Student Health Insurance Plan (SSHIP) so they do not violate their visa status or TAMU System Regulations. An International Insurance Fee will be added to your bill. Active athletes are enrolled in a separate plan that covers those activities. 

Insurance plan benefits, access, and optional dental and vision insurance can be accessed here. 

 2025-2026 Insurance Rates and Coverage Dates 

• Early Arrival: $252 for coverage August 1-31 (new students for fall semester only) 
• Fall: $1,010 for coverage September 1-December 31 
• Spring/Summer: $2,013 for coverage January 1-August 31 
• Summer: $756 for coverage May 17-August 31 (new students for summer or those without summer Grad Plan coverage) 

SSHIP Waiver Eligibility for Graduate Student Employees 

To be eligible for an automate removal of International Insurance fees 

1. Your Grad Plan coverage must begin on or before: 
   1. September 1st for the fall coverage period 
   2. January 31st for the spring/summer coverage period 
   3. May 17th for the summer coverage period 
2. AND the GSE must enroll in the Grad Plan within 7 days of their hire date
3. AND the GSE’s visa information and Alien Work Authorization Expiration Date must be entered into Workday 

If all three requirements are met, your fees will be removed automatically. If your fees have not been removed and you believe you have met all the requirements, please contact International Student Programs and Support. 

Graduate Student Employees must choose to enroll in the Grad Plan during onboarding. They should select the option, “I will begin my benefits coverage on my hire date. I understand I will pay the full premium until my employer contribution begins.” They will be responsible for paying the full premium payment for the first two to three calendar months of coverage, depending on the hire date. This cost is currently $252 per month. This amount paid is not refundable. 

If you start a position after the waiver deadlines, select your benefit coverage to start after your initial hire date, or waive your benefit coverage; you will not qualify for a waiver. 

If your Grad Plan coverage starts after the waiver deadlines and you have paid SSHIP coverage on your fee bill, you may be eligible for a refund for months of double coverage. Refunds are processed at the end of the semester following the end of the coverage period. For example, refunds for spring/summer coverage are processed by the insurance provider late fall semester. Refunds will be added to your student account and are disbursed through Bankmobile.  

F-1 and J-1 students may be eligible to waive (opt-out) SSHIP coverage. Waivers are under the purview of Academic Health Plans (AHP) and TAMU-CC and ISPS are not involved in the review process. Questions about the waiver process can be directed to AHP at support@ahpcare.com or 1-877-624-7911. 

Other Waiver 

Students should not purchase private insurance. Insurance plans must meet the following requirements. 

They meet ONE (1) of the following criteria:   

• The plan is a sponsored plan of a US or foreign government, or embassy.  
• The plan is an employer provided group health plan.   
• The plan is provided by intercollegiate athletics, and coverage for all medical insurance is provided through a policy as part of the current sports accident medical policy approved by System Risk Management. 

AND all the Essential Minimum Benefits required by the ACA with no annual limits. (See below for a list of required benefits).  

• Ambulatory patient services    
• Emergency services    
• Hospitalization (such as surgery)    
• Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (care for a mother and baby before and after the baby is born)    
• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment, counseling and psychotherapy    
• Prescription drugs    
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices    
• Laboratory services   
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management  
• Pediatric Vision and Dental Care  

• The policy covers the entire coverage period for which it is submitted.  
• The policy annual deductible is no more than $500 (except for employer plans).   
• The policy contains no exclusions for pre-existing conditions   
• The policy covers 100% preventative care as defined by the ACA.  
• The policy covers repatriation expenses of at least $25,000*   
• The policy covers medical evacuation expenses of at least $50,000*

Note:   

Many employer-sponsored health insurance plans will not meet the medical evacuation and repatriation requirements. If your employer health insurance coverage otherwise meets all criteria, you may meet this requirement by purchasing Academic Emergency Services Supplemental Coverage separately.   

In such a case, once a student buys such coverage, they will be granted a waiver. If you are not sure if medical evacuation and repatriation is covered, you may submit a waiver application and AHP will contact you to purchase AES if necessary. 

Full instructions and deadlines can be found here. Processing can take 7-10 business days. Your International Insurance fees will not be removed from your account until ISPS receives the approval notification directly from AHP.