Insurance

International Student Health Insurance

Admitted international students studying at USF are required to carry adequate health insurance. Students under an F or J visa are required to carry health insurance that meets the minimum state coverage requirements per Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009 and USF Regulation 6.0162 updated May 2026.

Until students complete this requirement, they will have a Student Insurance (SI) hold on their accounts which will prevent them from registering for classes. To register for classes, students must submit a completed Release Form. Students do not need to purchase or show proof of health insurance to release the SI Hold. Students are encouraged to review USF’s health insurance mandate no later than December 11, 2026.  International students should not purchase medical insurance, until after they successfully complete the Health Insurance 101 Canvas course. 

Please note: The USF-Sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan's (SHIP) premium will be automatically charged to your Student Self-Service account when the SI hold is released.

Spring 2027: To release the SI Registration Hold follow these steps:

1. Complete the SI Hold Release Form. Allow 1 business day for your SI Registration Hold to be released, which will enable you to register for classes.
2. You will receive a Canvas Course notification for the Health Insurance 101 Canvas course on or after November 15. You must successfully complete the course, quiz, and assignment no later than December 11. (If you successfully completed this course in Fall 2026, you will not be required to complete the course again for Spring 2027).

As part of the Health Insurance 101 Canvas Course, you will be required to indicate how you intend to satisfy your insurance requirements for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year.

International students have the option to enroll in the USF-Sponsored Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Academic HealthPlans (AHP) OR waive out with an adequate alternate policy before the deadline. Academic Healthplans' (AHP) portal is located on the MyCare26 website, and includes detailed benefits and enrollment information for the USF Student Health Insurance Plan. This Care26 website also includes information about the insurance waiver process for students planning to purchase an alternate health insurance plan.

Spring 2027: Enrolling in USF-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
To activate your enrollment in the USF SHIP underwritten by United Healthcare, you will need to pay the premium directly through your student account no later than January 11, 2027, by the first day of Spring semester. Tuition deferments CANNOT be applied to insurance premiums. Insurance companies will not activate coverage without payment.

• Visit usf.mycare26.com to review the 2026/2027 SHIP brochure and instructions on how to obtain your insurance card
• If you are working as an eligible GA/RA/TA, click here for additional enrollment information.

USF SHIP features comprehensive coverage exceeding FL-BOG and USF's regulations.

2026-2027 USF-Sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

Policy Period - Policy In effect	Premium - Cost of Coverage
Spring/Summer (1/1/27 - 8/16/27)	$1,572.00

Waiving USF Sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) with an Adequate Alternate Insurance Plan

Spring 2027 Waiver Process: From November 15, 2026, through January 11, 2027, you have the opportunity to waive USF's sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).  

1. Complete the USF Insurance Release Form, and then allow 1 business day for your hold to be released.

2. Approximately 3 days after completing the Insurance Release Form, you will receive a notification of enrollment in the Health Insurance 101 Canvas Course. This course will be available after November 15 and should be completed by December 11.

3. After successfully completing the Canvas Course, you may utilize the AHP portal (Care26) to upload your waiver documents for compliance using alternate insurance. 

4. Allow 2-3 weeks for review/determination. This is step-two waiver approval process. AHP will review and provide its initial determination. USF Health Services will make the final determination, before your Student Self-Service account is updated and the premium charge is removed.
   
   

Special guidance for New and Returning Students:

Returning Students	New Students
Gaps (lapse) in coverage from year to year will not be approved. Check the date last year's plan ended! Purchase	Will receive an email to activate their accounts from AHP (Care26).
If needed, request password reset through AHP (Care26).	Create a password to activate your account.
The Health Insurance 101 course is needed once per academic year.	SI Hold Release form will need to be completed every year.

Submit adequate documentation to AHP from November 15, 2026, through January 11, 2027. Alternative policies purchased/submitted on or after 11:59PM on January 11, 2027, will not be considered /reviewed for the 2026/2027 academic year. If your coverage is not active by the 1st day of classes, you WILL be required to purchase the USF Sponsored Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for Spring/Summer semesters.

We encourage students to review the health insurance mandate no later than December 11, 2026. USF Staff will be unavailable to answer questions from December 19 through January 3 during USF’s Winter Break.

Students under an F or J visa
Students are encouraged to review USF’s health insurance mandate no later than December 11, 2026.  No medical insurance should be purchased until you have successfully completed Health Insurance 101 Canvas course for International Students. Once you review the updated requirements, have your health insurance company complete the USF Insurance Compliance (Waiver) form and submit it to AHP, along with the front and back of your insurance card and policy brochure for review no later than January 11, 2027.

• Returning students cannot have a gap (lapse) in coverage; you are required to have continuous health insurance coverage.
• Your policy must provide coverage for the entire academic year, even if you are planning to graduate and/or leave the country. The academic year includes Summer.

Students under a non-F or J visa  
You must submit a copy of the front and back of your health insurance card to AHP for review:

• You must have active health insurance for the entire semester.

Please note: the USF premium will not be removed from your Student Self Service account unless your policy meets the minimum requirements of the mandate and is officially approved by AHP and USF.

In the meantime, when paying class tuition and university fees, subtract the insurance premium from your total and pay the remaining amount. If left unpaid, the insurance premium charge on your account will not generate a late fee.

If you are experiencing issues with uploading proof of your alternative policy, please contact Academic HealthPlans (AHP) at (888) 896-5797 or click here. 

• DACA students may attach a copy of their current Notice of Action I-797 in Canvas Assignments upload successfully completing Health Insurance 101 Canvas course for International Students 
• Sponsored students may upload a copy of their sponsorship letter and/or health insurance card in Canvas Assignments after successfully completing Health Insurance 101 Canvas course for International Students 

Click here for some frequently asked questions. 

Click here for commonly used insurance terms. 

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