International Student AHP Insurance Guide

Health Insurance Requirements per UT System

The UT System has established criteria in which an international student can request a waiver of the student health insurance plan by providing alternate health insurance coverage. In order to be approved for a waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements as set in the system regulation.

Click here to read more about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Click here to read more about the University of Texas Board of Regents regulations.

Steps to access your health insurance:

Step One: Create your AHP account:  https://myahpcare.com/register

Step Two: Create BCBSTX Account:  Blue Cross Log In (if new, click on "Register Now")

Step Three: Obtain your digital insurance card

• Digital Insurance Card
• Insurance through BCBSTX App

If applying for an insurance waiver:  https://utsa.myahpcare.com/waiver 

Waiver Requirements 

• Waiver Portal Open from July 13, 2025 until September 13, 2025

Here is the Waiver Information:

If you do not want the Student Health Insurance Plan, you must decline or opt-out of coverage by submitting a  waiver. You may only opt-out of coverage during the following Waiver Periods:

Fall - 07/13/2025 - 09/13/2025

Spring - 12/03/2025 - 02/06/2026

Summer - 04/26/2026 - 06/05/2026

Health Care Coverage for International Students must be provided through a Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act (PPACA) compliant individual or employer health plan that meets the minimum federal requirements for coverage for certain foreign exchange visitors set forth in 22 CFR 62.14 (b) and (c) and (d).

1. Such a plan must provide coverage that, at a minimum:
   • Provides the Essential Minimum Benefits required by the PPACA with no annual limits;
   • Contains no exclusions for pre-existing conditions;
   • Covers 100% of Preventive Care as defined by the PPACA;  
   • Imposes a deductible that does not exceed $500 per accident or illness;
   • Imposes no provisions for co-insurance that exceed 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness; and
   • Is underwritten by an insurance carrier that meets the requirement of 22 CFR 62.14(d)(1) or offered or underwritten by a federally qualified HMO or competitive Medical Plan as determined by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
2. Plans that do not meet the Health Care Coverage requirements of this policy include:
   • Short Term Limited Duration Plans; and
   • Other health plans created expressly for the purpose of providing coverage to international students and/or non-immigrant visa holders.
3. Evacuation/Repatriation Coverage for International Students must provide coverage for:
   • Repatriation expenses in the amount of no less than $25,000; and
   • Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the insured to the insured’s home country of no less than $50,000.

Individual plans provided through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (or “Exchange”) or a state Health Insurance Marketplace (or “Exchange”) provide coverage that meets the Health Care Coverage requirements of this policy.

A waiver shall be granted to an International Student for any semester of enrollment in which the student is:  

• Eligible for, and as, a participant in the UT System Employee Group Health Plan coverage.  
• Able to establish that the student has coverage that is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country and is provided through a PPACA compliant plan.
• Sponsored by the US Government or another sponsoring entity that has guaranteed payment of all health expenses and repatriation and evacuation expenses in writing.
• Able to establish that the student is enrolled in health care coverage through another source that meets the requirement of #1 and/or # 2 above; or
• Enrolled exclusively in distance learning class at the institution.

Definitions

Essential Minimum Benefits: A comprehensive package of benefits and services that must be included in a PPACA compliant health care, including:

• 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

Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage Specific additional coverage provided to pay the expenses associated with the cost of medical evacuation of an insured and the return of the remains of a deceased insured to the home country of the insured.

International Student A student who is enrolled at a UT System institution who holds a non-immigrant visa that is tracked by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), other than a category F3 visa. A student enrolled at a UT System and who holds an F1, F2, J1, or J2 non-immigrant visa is an “International Student”.

Preventative Care Medical care that must be offered to participants in health coverage with no out of pocket costs to the plan enrollee.

Short Term Limited Duration Plans or other health plans created expressly for the purpose of providing coverage to international students and/or non-immigrant visa holders do not meet the requirements for Health Care Coverage described in Section 3.1(a) of this policy.

Enrollment in UT SHIP Plan as Default Requirement 

International students shall be automatically enrolled and assessed a fee sufficient to cover the cost of enrollment in UTSHIP.  This enrollment will be inclusive of the Health Care Coverage and Evacuation/Repatriation coverage offered through UTSHIP unless the  institution has granted the International Student a waiver, pursuant to the requirements.

International Students granted a waiver based on the requirements of the UT System Policy using an insurance policy that does not include the Evacuation/Repatriation Coverage requirements shall be automatically enrolled in UTSHIP Evacuation/Repatriation Coverage (Academic Emergency Services [AES]) and charged a fee sufficient to cover the cost of this enrollment.

Links:

Click Here to Submit your Waiver Request

AHP Waiver System - Student Training

Student Waiver Quick Reference Flyer

Interested in Voluntary Dental and Vision Insurance?

Insurance Resources & Coverage Add-Ons

Information HUB:  https://utsa.myahpcare.com/

UTSA AHP Benefits Page:  https://utsa.myahpcare.com/benefits

Enrollment Page:  https://utsa.myahpcare.com/enrollment   (Scroll down to "Online Enrollment" and click on "International and Graduate Students")

• Add dependents
• Dental
• Vision

Blue Access for Members

Access an electronic ID card, view claims information, and more

• Blue Access for Members (BAM) Login
• Information on Blue Access for Members (BAM)
• How to Register/Login for Blue Access for Members (BAM) 
• ID Card Flyer
• BCBSTX Mobile App
• BCBS Quick Start Guide
• Single Sign On Brochure
• Find Group and Member ID

Important Health Requirements to be completed before enrolling at UTSA

Health Requirement 1:

Health   Requirement  2:

TB Screening/Test

All international students are required to submit proof of Tuberculosis Screening to UTSA Wellness360 on or after March 1 for the summer or fall semesters and on or after September 1 for the spring semester.

What documentation do I need?

It is highly recommended that you obtain a TB blood test in your home country. Student Health Services accepts the following blood tests:

• AQuantiFERON GOLD
• T-Spot

If your test result is in a language other than English, please have a translation service translate Records into English prior to submission to UTSA Wellness360.

UTSA does not accept these tests:

• ELISA
• IgG
• IgM
• Other forms of rapid testing
• PPD from other countries

How do I submit proof of TB screening/test?

• Fax at (210) 458-4151
• Email to   wellness360@utsa.edu.

Health Insurance Options After Graduation

Continuation of Coverage is available to insured students who have graduated or are no longer eligible for coverage under the UT System plan at UTSA. Covered students must have been insured for at least six (6) continuous months. Your premium must be received by Academic Health Plans within 30 days after your UTSA Student Health Insurance Plan terminates. Eligible students may purchase an extension of coverage for up to a maximum of 3 months. Per AHP, continuation of coverage is only available once and cannot be renewed ( example: purchase 1 month extension, not able to extend for additional 2 months). Contact  Academic Health Plans for more information, if needed.