Overview
| Excerpt |
|---|
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
The Florida Board of Governors requires that all international students enrolled at UWF in a visa status of F or J have health insurance (including those applying for F or J status). For this reason, enrollment in the LewerMark UWF Student Health Insurance Plan is automatic at the time of registration, and the cost of the policy is included in the student’s semester fee charges. In certain cases, students holding comparable coverage may be eligible to waive enrollment in the UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan.
UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan meets and exceeds the requirements of the Regulation, and we believe it is a good value for the coverage it provides. More information is available on our insurance resources page about the UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan and using health insurance in the United States. More information about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Please be mindful,
- 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.
Review the following waiver eligibility categories to determine your eligibility, required documentation, and submission deadline & submit by email to LewerMark for Review.
...
| borderColor | #009CDE |
|---|---|
| titleColor | #004C97 |
| titleBGColor | #8DC8E8 |
| borderStyle | solid |
| title | Waiver Deadlines |
The waiver program was created to honor great plans that students are already enrolled in through their government-sponsored program, family plan from their home country that meets or exceeds the LewerMark plan and adheres to the Florida Board of Governors and UWF regulations, or an ACA plan provided through a parent or spouse's US employer. Do not purchase a plan for the sole purpose of submitting a waiver request. UWF International Affairs staff cannot review your insurance. You must submit a waiver request to the waivers team as outlined on this page. |
Waiving the Student Health Insurance Plan
The Florida Board of Governors requires that all international students enrolled at UWF in a visa status of F or J have health insurance (including those applying for F or J status). For this reason, enrollment in the LewerMark UWF Student Health Insurance Plan is automatic at the time of registration, and the cost of the policy is included in the student’s semester fee charges. In certain cases, students holding comparable coverage may be eligible to waive enrollment in the UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan.
UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan meets and exceeds the requirements of the Regulation, and we believe it is a good value for the coverage it provides. More information is available on our insurance resources page about the UWF LewerMark International Student Health Insurance Plan and using health insurance in the United States. More information about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Please be mindful,
- 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.
Review the following waiver eligibility categories to determine your eligibility, required documentation, and submission deadline & submit by email to LewerMark for Review.
| Panel | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||
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.
|
- 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 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 Transact (formerly CashNet) accounts.
Students with Insurance through Government Sponsorship Programs
UWF has pre-screened the insurance coverage for students in the following government sponsorship programs. Students with support documented on a current financial guarantee letter from one of these programs do not need to submit a waiver request IF they have submitted their current Financial Guarantee from the sponsorship program to UWF by the Waiver Deadline.
- Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission
- Kuwait Culture Division
Students with Individual Insurance
The waiver program was created to honor great plans that students are already enrolled in through their government-sponsored program, family plan from their home country that meets or exceeds the LewerMark plan and adheres to the Florida Board of Governors and UWF regulations, or an ACA plan provided through a parent or spouse's US employer.
Do not purchase a plan for the sole purpose of submitting a waiver request.
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:
- 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.
- Your insurance coverage is the same as the group plan or provides greater than the coverage of the group plan.
| Expand | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
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:
Waiver Requests must be emailed to waivers@lewermark.com.
Late Opt Out Requests will not be accepted.
|
Receiving the Decision
After your Opt Out Request has been submitted, you will receive an email that your waiver is pending 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, 2025, to August 14, 2026.
- If a student is approved to OptOut and it is found the student later canceled or let their insurance expire/lapse, their SEVIS Record will be terminated for failure to maintain enrollment Requirements as an international student at UWF.
- The Fee for insurance will be removed from the student's Transact (formerly CashNet).
- Opt Out approvals are for 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 you are approved for a partial waiver, you will be charged for supplemental coverage in Fall 2025 for the full year. The estimated cost of the supplemental coverage with a partial waiver is $100 for the year, to be paid in full by August 31, 2025
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.
...
- 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 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 Transact (formerly CashNet) accounts.
Students with Insurance through Government Sponsorship Programs
UWF has pre-screened the insurance coverage for students in the following government sponsorship programs. Students with support documented on a current financial guarantee letter from one of these programs do not need to submit a waiver request IF they have submitted their current Financial Guarantee from the sponsorship program to UWF by the Waiver Deadline.
- Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission
- Kuwait Culture Division
Students with Individual Insurance
...
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:
- 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.
- Your insurance coverage is the same as the group plan or provides greater than the coverage of the group plan.
| Expand | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
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:
Waiver Requests must be emailed to waivers@lewermark.com.
Late Opt Out Requests will not be accepted.
|
Receiving the Decision
After your Opt Out Request has been submitted, you will receive an email that your waiver is pending 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, 2024, to August 14, 2025.
- If a student is approved to OptOut and it is found the student later canceled or let their insurance expire/lapse, their SEVIS Record will be terminated for failure to maintain enrollment Requirements as an international student at UWF.
- The Fee for insurance will be removed from the student's Transact (formerly CashNet).
- Opt Out approvals are for 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:
...
| Expand | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
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. |
| Expand | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
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. |
...
| Expand | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
The deadline to submit a waiver request are hard deadlines. Late Waiver requests will be denied.
UWF reserves the right to decline/reject installment/monthly payment policies. |
...