Required for All International Students at UW
Washington state laws require that international students maintain adequate health insurance while attending the University of Washington. All matriculated international students in F-1 status at the University of Washington are required to enroll in the University of Washington Student Health Insurance every quarter.
Read "Waiver Eligability" section below to see if you fit one of the specific categories of students that are allowed to be waived from the insurance requirement.
Failure to Fulfill the Requirement
Students who fail to provide proof of insurance enrollment by the deadline each quarter to International Student Services (ISS) will be reported to the Office of the Registrar. The student will be dropped from all enrolled courses for failure to meet the health insurance requirement. Students who are dropped from their courses will be unable to maintain their full-time student status.
A student’s failure to be a full-time student is a violation of their F1 visa, and thus ISS is required to terminate the student's I-20 immigration record due to this violation. Students should consult with ISS prior to termination to discuss their options.
How to Enroll in the UW Student Health Insurance Plan in 2 Easy Steps
Enrollment in the insurance plan each quarter is not automatic. Students must enroll and purchase the plan each quarter.
STEP 1: PURCHASE THE PLAN ONLINE
The insurance plan can be purchased at: https://student.lifewiseac.com/uw/bt/ and then clicking on “Enrolling in a Plan”. Payment options are also provided. Students are encouraged to use Firefox , as there are technicial difficulties when using old versions of Internet Exlporer.
STEP 2: FORWARD YOUR ENROLLMENT CONFIRMATION EMAIL TO ISS@UWB.EDU .
A registration hold is placed on a student’s record each quarter until the student provides proof to International Student Services that they have enrolled and purchased the insurance for the quarter.
After purchasing the insurance online, the student will receive a confirmation email from the insurance company with the subject "Order Completed". Student must forward this message to International Student Services at iss@uwb.edu in order to provide proof of their enrollment. Once confirmed, the registration hold is taken off of the student’s record.
Enrollment Deadline
Students must enroll and pay for the insurance within 14 calendar days from the start date for the quarter. No enrollments made after the first 14 calendar days will be allowed by the insurance company.
Insurance Policy Benefits for 2012-2013
For the 2012-2013 academic year, the University of Washington Student Health Insurance Plan is administered by LifeWise Assurance Company.
• Benefits Booklet for UW Bothell Students
Includes information about how much the insurance costs, what is and is not covered in the insurance plan, how to file an insurance claim, how to use in-network providers, and more.
• In-Network Providers for Hospitals, Pharmacies, and Clinics
An online guide provides a listing to help you find in Washington a provider that LifeWise Insurance prefers you to go to (called an “in-network provider”). If you go to an in-network provider, LifeWise Insurance will help to cover more for your medical expenses.
• Frequently Asked Questions
Provides information on common questions that students may have about the insurance.
Cost & Dates of Coverage
Insurance Premium (Cost) Per Quarter
The cost for the insurance plan is $618 USD per quarter (student only). More information about the premium rates is available on page 4 at: https://student.lifewiseac.com/uw/bt/
Dates of Coverage
Students should make every effort to be insured during their entire stay in the U.S., including the vacation quarters, grace periods, and while authorized on Optional Practical Training. ISS encourages all students to purchase the insurance plan for the entire year to ensure coverage year-round, whether or not the student is enrolled in courses each quarter. Coverage dates for each quarter is available in the Benefits Booklet (see link above).
If a student will arrive in the U.S. before the effective date of the UW insurance plan, they should buy supplemental insurance during this uninsured period. The UW provides suggestions on other health insurance options at: www.washington.edu/admin/hr/benefits/insure/other-hlth.html
Questions About Your Insurance Policy?
LifeWise Assurance Company can answer your specific questions about policy benefits or insurance claims. Their toll free phone number is: 1-800-971-1491.
Health Care Facilities
There are some specific hospitals and clinics that LifeWise Insurance prefers that you go to for help, called in-network providers. If you go to an in-network provider, LifeWise Insurance will help to cover more of the medical expenses (if applicable).
Life Threatening Emergency / Emergency Room
Dial 911 on any telephone to receive emergency medical attention. The emergency room and ambulance are used for life-threatenung situations only.
Non-Life Threatening Situations / Urgent Care Clinic
Consider going to an Urgent Care Clinic for medical attention (even after hours). You can usually walk into a clinci without an appointment, and can be open 24-hours, on holidays and weekends. Also there is 24-hour care available at several nearby hospitals, including the University of Washington Medical Center.
The nearest Urgent Care Clinic to UW Bothell that is part of the LifeWise Assurance Company network is:
Evergreen Urgent Care Center
16916 140th Avenue NE, Suite 200
Woodinville, WA 98072
Phone: 425-488-2273
Directions to Evergreen Urgent Care Clinic: Take bus #372 from UW Bothell.
The nearest pharmacy & general medicine clinic to UW Bothell that is part of the Lifewise Assurance Company network:
HealthPoint Bothell
10414 Beardslee Blvd
Suite 100
Bothell, WA 98011
Phone: 425-486-0658
Directions to HealthPoint: Located just down the street from Husky Village.
UW Insurance Waiver Eligibility
Students should not expect to be able to purchase an insurance plan that is not through UW. The requirement to purchase the UW Student Health Insurance Plan may be waived only if you fit into one of the following categories and have comparable insurance that is valid in the U.S. are eligible for an insurance waiver:
- Exchange or visiting student attending UW through an official exchange program sponsored either by a UW academic department or the UW Office of International Programs & Exchanges.
- Student funded by his or her government, or the U.S. government. Funding agencies include but are not limited to DAAD and Fulbright.
- Student receiving health insurance benefits provided by the U.S. employer of his or her parent, spouse or domestic partner.
- Student enrolled at UW but doing research outside the United States.
- Student working in the U.S. and receiving health insurance benefits through his/her employer.
Minimum Coverage: The insurance must provide a monetary minimum of $200,000 or more per medical condition per policy year, medical evacuation (at least $10,000) and repatriation of remains (at least $7,500).
Research or Teaching Assistantship: 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 UW Student Health Insurance Plan and no waiver is required. More information on GAIP is available at: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/benefits/insure/gaip/index.html
Applying for a Waiver: Submit an Insurance Waiver Form and proof of alternate coverage to the International Student Services no later than 5:00 pm on the 7th calendar day of the quarter (if this is a weekend, turn the form in by the preceding Friday). You can obtain an Insurance Waiver Form from International Student Services office.