Insurance for International Students

Mandatory Insurance Requirements

International students with “F” or “J” visas are required to have health insurance when they are registered for classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These students are automatically enrolled and billed for the university’s student health insurance plan if they are enrolled in at least one class (worth a minimum of one credit hour) during each insurance coverage period.

NOTE: International Graduate Students may already be required to carry health insurance due to a qualifying graduate assistantship. In those cases, the international student is only charged once for the insurance premium, and they may also be eligible to receive a credit from their department towards the insurance premium charge.

Accepting Student Health Insurance 

Each enrollment period, qualifying international students need to ACCEPT their enrollment to gain access to their online account through the insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare Student Resources.

Click the link below for step-by-step instructions:
Accepting Your Student Health Insurance

 

Waiving Student Health Insurance 

International students may opt out from purchasing the university’s student health insurance plan if they have proof of equivalent health insurance that is either: 

  • A group insurance plan offered through a U.S.-based employer  
  • A Government-sponsored/guaranteed program where a current financial guarantee is on file with the university
    • Examples include:
      • Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM)
      • Embassy of Oman
      • Kuwait
      • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • A qualifying plan through International Student Insurance (ISI World Trips Select or ISI World Trips Elite)

 

Additionally, the plan must also meet the following qualifications to be eligible for a waiver request: 

  • Must comply with the Affordable Care Act

AND 

  • Must include unlimited medical evacuation/repatriation coverage.
    • If your current plan does not have this coverage, standalone coverage can be purchased to supplement existing coverage.
    • If proof of medical evacuation and repatriation coverage is not included with the supporting documents in your waiver request, it will not be approved)

 

All other forms of health insurance are not accepted and will not qualify for a waiver. 
If you purchase an alternative insurance plan before verifying that it meets the above waiver requirements, you will still be responsible for paying the insurance premium for the University's student health insurance plan, regardless of your obligation to another insurance provider.

When necessary, the University will verify additional information such as insurance carrier financial rating and United States claims processing contact information to verify eligibility.

 

NOTE: Non-degree-seeking J1 international students should check with the International Student and Scholar Office for waiver details.

Waiver Process

Waiver applications for Fall 2026 are due by midnight September 12, 2026. If insurance is not waived by this date, the insurance premium charge will be non-refundable.

  1. Go to MyRED
    (Make sure to allow pop-ups on your computer, if requested)
     
  2. Go to the Student Accounts tab
     
  3. Under Important Links, choose Waive Student Health Insurance and answer the questions. 
    (If you DO want coverage, choose “I want my UNL Health Insurance.”)
     
  4. Once you have completed the waiver request, if your request is approved, your insurance charge will be credited and removed from your student account.
    • If your waiver request is denied, you will be required to keep the student health insurance plan through the rest of the semester. 
    • If you do not submit a waiver request or if you do not successfully complete a pending waiver request, you will be responsible for the cost of the premium added to your student account balance.
       

Appealing Denied Waiver Requests

If you receive a denied waiver request, you will receive an email from UHCSR detailing the reason for your denial. That email will also provide details on how to appeal and resubmit your request. Students are only allowed to submit two waiver requests through the link in MyRED, so if you have received a denial, first submit an appeal through the email you received and wait for a response before submitting. 

If you have two denied waiver requests, then you will not be able to submit any further requests to waive your insurance.

Questions Regarding Your Insurance

If you have any problems setting up your UHCSR My Account, or if you have questions concerning the insurance policy and coverage, please contact the United Healthcare StudentResources Campus Representative.

UnitedHealthcare StudentResources Campus Representative
unebraskaadvocates@uhcsr.com
866-351-4262 

 

If you have any questions surrounding your status as an international student or the requirement to carry health insurance, please contact the International Scholar and Student Office.

International Student & Scholar Office
https://global.unl.edu/isso
isso@unl.edu
402-472-0324

 

If you have any questions about enrollment, need to be enrolled, or need to appeal a waiver decision, please contact Student Accounts.

Office of Student Accounts
https://studentaccounts.unl.edu
studentaccounts@unl.edu
402-472-2030