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You may be eligible to waive the UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan if you can provide proof of comparable coverage. Learn about the waiver options, eligibility requirements, and deadlines for submission.

UWF International Affairs staff cannot review your insurance. You have to submit a waiver request. 

Waiving the Student Health Insurance Plan

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  • The UWF Plan for International Student Insurance is the best option if you are unsure about your current insurance.
  • Other insurance plans you may find may not meet the requirements of the UWF policy on International Student Insurance and the Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009 requirements for international student insurance. 
  • Don't Fall for too-good-to-be-true plans that are offered at prices well below the cost of the UWF Plan. If it's cheap, it will not meet the requirements. 
  • Please note, plans from outside of the United States RARELY meet all coverage types and levels for international student insurance at UWF. 

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titleWaiver Deadlines

Students can request to waiver out the first session they attend UWF for the academic year. 

Returning students and Fall Admits have to submit a request by August 1.

Spring Admits must apply by December 1.

Summer Admits must apply by April 15. 

Semester/Coverage PeriodDeadline for Waiver
Fall and Academic YearAugust 151, by 5 p.m.
Spring/SummerDecember 151, by 5 p.m.
Summer (Only for new students beginning study in May)April 15, by 5 p.m.


  • The Waiver Request must be completed by the posted deadline. This means you must have the waiver request form AND the required proof of insurance documents submitted by the deadline. 
  • Submission deadline times are for Central Standard Time (the Time Zone location of UWF) - CLICK HERE for the current time at UWF
  • After the waiver deadlines, waiver requests to use your own insurance WILL NOT be accepted. Students will be automatically enrolled in the UWF  Insurance plan for international students. Fees for the UWF Plan will be charged to Student Cashnet Transact (formerly CashNet) accounts.

Students with Insurance through Government Sponsorship Programs

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International students holding individual U.S. insurance plans compliant with the UWF University Policy AC-06.04-03/24 AND Florida Board of Governors' Regulation 6.009 may submit theInsurance waiver request (PDF) form (find the form and detailed instructions in the Waiver Request Instructions below). The insurance policy must comply with all stated requirements, or the waiver request will not be approved. No travel, international, or short-term plans of any kind are accepted, and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance cannot be waived.

Do not purchase a different insurance for the sole purpose of requesting a waiver. 

Travel insurance requiring reimbursement for medical services does not meet the regulation. 

Plans purchased on a healthcare marketplace are not eligible for a waiver. Please be advised that the Office of International Affairs is not equipped to advise on the potential impact government-subsidized healthcare can have on your non-immigrant visa status and tax filing obligation. We strongly recommend you consult with an immigration and/or tax attorney before purchasing a subsidized health insurance plan on the Marketplace Exchange. 

Waiver Requests may be submitted only if the following statements are true about the insurance plan you are submitting for the waiver:

  1. You already have the insurance and it was not purchased specifically for study at UWF with the intent to request a waiver. This means only pre-existing coverage such as coverage you had before you were admitted to UWF can be submitted.
  2. Your insurance coverage is the same as the group plan or provides greater than the coverage of the group plan. 


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titleHow to Submit a Waiver Request - Click to Open Instructions

If purchasing insurance that is not the UWF Plan through LewerMark, you must have the company confirm the insurance meets all of the requirements of the UWF University Policy AC-06.04-03/24 AND Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009 and meets or exceeds the coverage of the UWF LewerMark Plan for International Student Insurance. 

 If you choose to submit the waiver with an alternate health insurance plan, you will need to provide electronic copies of the following documents:

  • Completed Waiver Request Form. < Download the request form and fill it completely before submitting it.)
  • A coverage letter or scanned copy of the front and back of your health insurance ID card indicating the student as a covered member.
  • A scanned copy of your complete policy, including coverage amounts, exclusions, and limitations in English using US dollars.

View file
name23-24 International Student Health Insurance Waiver Request UWF.pdf
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Waiver Requests must be emailed to EMAIL LINK waivers@lewermark.com. 

  • All Waiver Requests must include the Student's Name and UWF in the emailed request along with attached Waiver Request Form AND the required Proof of Insurance Documents. 
  • Proof of insurance must be submitted with a completed waiver request form. (PDF Link)
    • Proof of insurance required documents are
      • Your insurance card or letter which confirms you are enrolled in the AND
      • The Full Policy Details or "Schedule of Benefits." - This is expected to be a very long document. A policy "brochure" or "plan summary" is not adequate. 
    • All Proof of insurance documents MUST be in English - provided by the insurance company, not translations you may make. 
    • Waiver Requests with documents that are not in English will be denied. 
  • Waivers Waiver requests submitted for insurance that does not meet ALL of the requirements outlined in UWF University Policy AC-06.04-03/24 AND BOG REG 6.009 will be denied.
  • Requests submitted without ALL required documentation will be denied. 
  • Please review all emails from International Affairs regarding insurance for important dates and deadline reminders. 
  • Please note that foreign insurance companies and travel insurance plans do not meet the State of Florida regulations. 
  • With the improved waiver review process, it is possible that plans that have previously been accepted may not be accepted for Fall 2023 and beyond. 
  • UWF strongly encourages students to verify alternative insurance will meet ALL State of Florida requirements for international student insurance BEFORE purchasing. 

Late Opt Out Requests will not be accepted. 

  • Students who have not submitted a valid waiver by the deadline will be enrolled in the UWF Plan through LewerMark and the insurance fees charged to the student Transact (formerly CashNet) account. 

Receiving the Decision

After your Opt Out Request has been submitted, you will receive an email that your waiver is pending review. Review . If your request is incomplete, you will be told what documents are missing. Waiver requests must be complete by the deadline for submission. The review takes several days.

If Opt-Out is Request Approved:

  • If your waiver is accepted, you will receive an email confirming your insurance meets ALL the requirements of Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009 and UWF University Policy AC-06.04-03/24
  • Students are responsible for maintaining their insurance for the full year: August 15, 20232024, to August 14, 20242025.
    • If a student is approved to OptOut and it is found the student later canceled or let their insurance expire/lapse, their F1 Status SEVIS Record will be terminated for failure to maintain enrollment Requirements as an F1 international student at UWF. 
  • The Fee for insurance will be removed from the student's Transact (formerly CashNet). 
  • Opt Out approvals are for the the current plan year; the Plan year is August 15 to August 14 annually.
  • If students Opt out for Spring/Summer, they must submit a new Opt Out Request before Fall. 

If Waiver Request Denied:

  • If you receive an email rejecting your waiver, the reason for the rejection of the waiver will be provided in detail.
  • Students with a denied waiver request can ask UWF International Affairs to issue a refund request letter to send to the company from which to denied insurance was purchased.
    • Students can email international@uwf.edu to ask for a refund request letter. Students will need to provide the name and address of the company. 
    • UWF International Affairs will email the refund request letter to the student who then must send the letter to the insurance company. 
    • UWF cannot guarantee the refund will be granted by the company. However, the refund request letter may be helpful for students who paid for insurance that does not meet requirements. 
  • Requests for appeal of the not be able to appeal waiver decision or submit subsequent waivers with altered policies for the same Coverage Year will be denied.
    • For example, If your waiver is denied in Fall, you will be enrolled in the UWF plan for the year.
      • You will be able to submit a new waiver the following July for the next academic year. 
  • Students who have not submitted a successful Opt Out Request will be enrolled in the official insurance policy for UWF international students.
  • The UWF Plan fees will be charged to their Transact (formerly CashNet) account. 

Student Responsibilities When Submitting a Waiver to use their own insurance

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  1. To maintain insurance that meets UWF University Policy AC-06.04-03/24 AND Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009. Insurance is required to keep your immigration status valid. The regulation specifies the type and amounts of insurance and how long you must possess coverage.
  2. To select insurance that meets/exceeds coverage of the coverage of the UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Policy with coverage for the full academic year (365 days) 
    1. Students issued F-1 or J-1 visas’ continuous coverage must be in effect until August 14, 20232025, or later, regardless of graduation dates and/or leaving the country for a break. The new student’s effective date should be August 15, 20232024, or prior. 
  3. To review the ‘Exclusions and Limitations' section of the policy under consideration.
  4. To advise the insurance company that they are attending the University of West Florida.
  5. To provide their issued visa information in some instances their passport number

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  1. Conduct enrollment audits throughout the academic year.
  2. Request proof of current coverage from students after a waiver has been approved for the current academic year. 
  3. Decline/reject installment/monthly payment policies. 

FAQs for the Waiver Request Process


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titleAre there Plans UWF already knows they will reject??I have partial or full tuition fee waiver. Does that apply to insurance?

As noted on your Form I-20, health insurance is a required expense for F1 students at UWF and is separate from the tuition fees. 

Tuition waiver (if a student has one) does not apply to fees that are not tuition. Insurance fee is not part of or included in the tuition fee. 

A Graduate Assistantship DOES NOT waive insurance requirements or fees. 


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titleI plan to go home for the summer. Can I waive out with just Fall and Spring insurance?

The insurance requirement states students must have continuous coverage for their full program at UWF including semester breaks and summer. F1 students must have coverage in summer, even if they plan to travel home during a break. 

Waiver requests must demonstrate students will have coverage for the full year, 365 days. 

J1 students studying at UWF for less than a full year must have insurance for the full duration of the program DS2019. 


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titleI found a document online that says UWF student can use a different insurance that was "pre-approved." Can I use that?

Students should refer to the current information found in Confluence about Insurance Requirements for the Fall 2023 term and beyond. 

Documents you may find in a web search that are not current for Fall 2023 and beyond are no longer valid.

UWF has worked very hard to identify the best insurance option for students that meets and exceeds the minimum requirement of the Board of Governors Regulation for the insurance requirement. Over time, some plans that were previously accepted have been identified as not meeting requirements - Updates to the list of plans that are not accepted have been made in the best interest of students. 

Do not enroll in insurance if you have found it listed as accepted for UWF students for a term before Fall 2024. 

Insurance for Students (IFS) is no longer the provider for international student insurance. Any plan you might purchase through IFS would require students to submit a waiver request. 

International Student Insurance (ISI) is no longer an approved insurance provider for UWF students. ISI and other insurance companies offer plans you might see labeled as "Student Secure" or "Worldtrips". 

The following Insurance Plans have been confirmed they will not meet international student requirements for Fall 2023 and beyond.

  • World Trips Student Secure Smart - Not accepted by UWF.  Does not meet requirements. 
  • World Trips Student Secure Budget - No longer accepted after July 2022. Does not meet requirements. 
  • World Trips Student Secure Select - No longer accepted after July 2023. Does not meet requirements. 
  • World Trips Student Secure UWF - This plan was a special plan through ISI for UWF for 2022-2023 only. There is no UWF plan from ISI for Fall 2023 and beyond, even if you find it on the ISI website. This plan is no longer accepted. 
  • BlueCross BlueShield Plans through the Health Care Marketplace. BCBS contacted UWF regarding these plans NOT MEETING requirements.
    • Requests from students for waiver with any of these plans will be denied.


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    titleWhat if I am planning to use my own insurance? Can I submit the International Student Health Insurance Waiver Form later?

    The deadline to submit a waiver request are hard deadlines. Late Waiver requests will be denied. 

    • Please see the information on steps to submit the waiver request.
    • The dates of insurance must be 2023 to 2023 for Fall 20232024.
    • The dates of insurance must be 2023 to 2024 for Academic Year 20232024-20242025.
    • You must have continuous coverage inclusive of the dates shown in the insurance email you have received. 
    • Your current insurance end date is included in reminder emails from UWF International Affairs.
    • If your current insurance end date is before August 15, you must submit your documentation before your current policy expires.
      • You must purchase insurance before your current policy expires.
      • AND you must submit your waiver form and insurance proof document. 
      • Documentation must show continuous coverage.
    • If you purchase after your current insurance expires and have a lapse in coverage dates, your waiver will not be approved and you will be terminated for failure to maintain visa requirements. 
    Expand
    titleI had an ISI or IFS insurance last year, Can I use the Same Insurance again?


    Insurance for Students (IFS) is no longer the provider for international student insurance. Any plan you might purchase through IFS would require students to submit a waiver request. 

    International Student Insurance (ISI) is no longer an approved insurance provider for UWF students. ISI and other insurance companies offer plans you might see labeled as "Student Secure" or "Worldtrips". 

    The following Insurance Plans have been confirmed they will not meet international student requirements for Fall 2023 and beyond.

  • World Trips Student Secure Smart - Not accepted by UWF.  Does not meet requirements. 
  • World Trips Student Secure Budget - No longer accepted after July 2022. Does not meet requirements. 
  • World Trips Student Secure Select - No longer accepted after July 2023. Does not meet requirements. 
  • World Trips Student Secure UWF - This plan was a special plan for 2022-2023 only. There is no UWF plan from ISI for Fall 2023 and beyond, even if you find it on the ISI website. 
  • BlueCross BlueShield Plans through the Health Care MarketPlace that do not pay the required 80% in-network and 60% out-of-network. BCBS contacted UWF regarding these plans NOT MEETING requirements.
    • Requests from students for waiver with any of these plans will be denied.

    UWF reserves the right to decline/reject installment/monthly payment policies. 




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    titleMy Waiver Was Accepted for 20222023-20232024. Do I Have to Submit a New Request?

    The insurance waiver process is for the coverage period. If you were approved for the 20222023-2023 2024 academic year, you must submit a new waiver for 20232024-2024 2025 Academic Year BEFORE the August 15 1 deadline.

    It is important to note that previously approved insurance may not be approved Fall 2023 2024 forward as the waiver review process has been improved for compliance and integrity. 

    ...

    Expand
    titleCan I use a Marketplace Plan?

    Please be advised that UWF Office of International Affairs is not equipped to advise on the potential impact government-subsidized healthcare can have on your non-immigrant visa status and tax filing obligation. We strongly recommend you consult with an immigration and/or tax attorney before purchasing a subsidized health insurance plan on the Marketplace Exchange. 

    Do not purchase insurance for the sole purpose of requesting a waiver of the UWF Group Plan. 

    UWF reserves the right to decline/reject installment/monthly payment policies.