Federal and/or state laws require that international students maintain adequate health insurance while attending the University of Washington. While many other countries bear the expense of health care for their residents, individuals in the United States are responsible for these expenses themselves. A single day of hospitalization can cost thousands of dollars. A good insurance policy gives you access to excellent medical facilities and provides protection against the enormous costs of health care.
All matriculated international students in F-1 or J-1 status at UW Bothell are required to purchase the UW Bothell Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan. You may enroll in the UW Bothell plan by visiting http://www.uhcsr.com/ and click on Student Health Insurance and Plans tab located in the upper left-hand of the page. If you do not provide the Office of Special Services with proof of insurance, you will be out of status as an international student. International students will be allowed to register once they meet the University's health insurance requirement. A hold will be placed on their account each quarter until the time that the Manager of Special Services determines that they have satisfied the University requirement for health insurance.
Please review the details of the plan carefully, including the effective dates of coverage. We urge you to purchase this insurance for the entire policy year (or the remainder of the policy period for students enrolling in winter or spring term) so that you will be covered whether or not you are enrolled each quarter. If you arrive in the U.S. before the effective date of the UW insurance plan, you should buy supplemental insurance during this uninsured period. Make every effort to be insured during your entire stay in the U.S., including your vacation quarters and after graduation if you stay for a period of Optional Practical Training or Academic Training.
The requirement that you purchase the UW Bothell Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan may be waived only if you meet the eligibility criteria listed below and have comparable insurance that is valid in the U.S. Only students who fit into one of the following categories are eligible for an insurance waiver:
The insurance must provide a monetary minimum of $200,000 or more per medical (accident and sickness) condition, per policy year. (Fulbright students must meet minimum insurance requirements set by the U.S. Department of State.)
Complete the Insurance Waiver Form and submit it, along with the proof of coverage, to the Office of Special Services located in UW1 181 no later than 3:00 pm on the 7th calendar day of the quarter (if this is a weekend, turn the form in by the preceding Friday, as the ISS is not open on weekends).
If you receive a graduate Research or Teaching Assistant appointment, you may be eligible for the Graduate Appointee Insurance Plan (GAIP). If you enroll, this will automatically replace the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan and no waiver is required.
