Overview

Students on F-1 and J-1 visas are required to have insurance by 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 have it for. F-1 and J-1 students have the following obligations:

1. Keep the required coverage during your entire period of study. This includes breaks and annual vacation.
2. Provide documentation showing proof of this coverage to International Programs following the process listed below.
3. Purchase insurance coverage for any F-2 or J-2 dependents attached to your F-1 or J-1 status.

Failure to comply with these requirements forces the University of West Florida to terminate your immigration status.

This process is managed by International Programs. For help with the process, please email international@uwf.edu or call (850)474-2479.

Instructions

Determine What Insurance to Use 

The University of West Florida has pre-approved plans you can use. This is the best option if you are unsure about your current insurance. Many insurance plans (including ones in the U.S.) do not meet the requirements. If you use a pre-approved plan, you do not have to submit a health insurance waiver. 

 If you do not submit a waiver by the deadline, you must purchase a pre-approved plan.

Pre-Approved Insurance Plans

The University of West Florida has pre-approved the following insurance plans:

Insurance for Students available at www.insuranceforstudents.com/uwf. 

International athletes must use the policy at www.insuranceforstudents.com/uwfsports. 

Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission insurance (We must receive a copy of a valid Financial Guarantee as proof) 

Kuwait Cultural Division insurance (We must receive a copy of the Financial Guarantee or the Certification of Insurance as proof) 

Using Your Own Insurance Plan 

You can use insurance from your home country or a different U.S. policy as long as you complete a waiver by the deadline. 

The deadline for fall semester is August 1st

The deadline for spring and summer is December 1st

The deadline for Intensive English Program summer students is April 15th

How to Complete a Waiver

Go to https://marina.uwf.edu/pass/dynamicforms/?formid=f8b8b732-6fbd-46e7-9b92-5ca62657a9c0. You will need to log in to MyUWF to access the form. The form is not open all year. It is only open when waivers are being accepted. 

Begin the Form 

After logging in to MyUWF, you will be taken to the complete form screen. Click "Complete Form."

Choose Your Student Type

Choose your correct student type. 

Exchange Student (use this if you are participating in an exchange with a partner university) 

Intensive English Program (use this if you are only attending English as a Second Languages at the Intensive English Program) 

Degree-Seeking Student (use this is you are in a bachelors, masters, specialist, or doctorate program) 

Non-Degree Seeking Student (use this if you are not in a degree program, but you are attending regular university classes) 

Special Program Student (use this if you are in a special program; you will have been notified to use this code) 

Choose the Semester  

Choose the semester you are requesting the waiver for. Spring and Summer are attached for most students. 

Enter Status with Athletics 

Enter if you are on an athletic team at UWF, and click "Next." 

Acknowledge and Certify the Waiver Conditions

At the beginning of the second page, you must acknowledge and certify a series of legally binding statements. 

List Coverage Benefits

After the acknowledgements and certifications, you must answer "Yes" or "No" to the coverage requirements. For the waiver to be approved, all of the answers must be "Yes." However, it is very important that you do not falsify any of this information. Insurance fraud is a crime, and you can lose your immigration status if you falsify your information. Once you have answered the required questions, click "Next."

Enter Insurance Company Information 

At the top of page three, enter as much information about your insurance company as you have. You must enter the Company Name, Start and End Dates, and the Insurance Company Phone Number. 

Upload Proof of Insurance 

After entering the insurance company information, you must upload proof of your insurance coverage. This can be coverage letters, ID cards, or declaration of benefits pages. All of these documents must be in English. Once you have completed the upload, Click, "Next," and sign the document. 

Receiving Approval 

After your waiver has been submitted, it takes several days to get approval for the waiver. If you receive an email rejecting your waiver, please follow the instructions in the email. If you have any questions about your waiver status, please email international@uwf.edu.