Overview

Instructions

Updates for Fall 2021 and COVID-19

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. We understand that you may have questions about maintaining your status and how that impacts your next steps to get health insurance.

Determine What Insurance to Use 

The University of West Florida has a recommended plan you can use from Insurance For Students (IFS). There are also three other pre-approved insurance options that if purchased do not require you to submit the Health Insurance Waiver Form. If you would like to use an insurance plan different from IFS or a pre-approved option you must submit a Health Insurance Waiver Form for approval.

• The recommended plan from IFS is the best option if you are unsure about your current insurance.
• Other insurance plans you may find aside from IFS or the other pre-approved options (including U.S. insurance plans) may not meet the requirements of Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009.

 If you do not submit a waiver form by the deadline, you must purchase the IFS plan. 

Pre-Approved Insurance Plans 

The University of West Florida recommends the following insurance plans:

Insurance for Students (IFS) Policy for UWF International Students (only for F-1 or J-1 students and their dependents at UWF)

• Available at www.insuranceforstudents.com/uwf 
• Enroll with IFS using this link.
• UWF receives a confirmation if you purchase the UWF policy through Insurance for Students. 

International student athletes on a UWF sports team:

• Go to https://www.insuranceforstudents.com/uwfsports to purchase the Intercollegiate Athletics insurance.
• Only students who are competing on one of UWF's athletic sports teams may enroll in this option.
• Contact Kacy Bledsoe for more information. 

Additional Pre-approved Options

View additional pre-approved plans at this linked PDF. Pre-approved plans will not be an option for insurance after the posted deadline for waiver submission. After the waiver deadlines, ONLY the IFS plan for UWF students will be accepted. 

Using Your Own Insurance Plan - Submitting an International Student Health Insurance Waiver Form

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

• The deadline for fall semester or academic year is August 15th
• The deadline for spring and summer is December 15th
• The deadline for Intensive English Program summer students is April 15th.
• After the posted waiver deadlines, alternative insurance WILL NOT be accepted. Students will need to enroll in the IFS plan for UWF students. 

If purchasing an insurance that is not one of the recommended or pre-approved plans, you must have the company confirm the insurance meets all of the requirements of Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009.

• Proof of insurance must be uploaded in MyUWF in the form of a completed Health Insurance Compliance Form (linked below and in the waiver form in MyUWF). Other forms of proof such as letters, cards or insurance plan documents will not be accepted. 
• Waivers submitted for insurance which does not meet ALL of the requirements outlined in BOG REG 6.009 will not be accepted.
• Please review all emails from International Programs regarding insurance for important dates and deadline reminders. 
• Please note that many foreign insurance companies and travel insurance plans do not meet the State of Florida regulations. 
• With updated documentation process, it is possible that plans that have previously been accepted may not be accepted for Fall 2020 and beyond. 
• UWF strongly encourages students to verify an alternative insurance will meet requirements for international student insurance BEFORE purchasing. 

Late waiver form submissions will not be accepted.

• Students who have not submitted a valid waiver will be directed to purchase the recommended Insurance for Students policy for UWF students. 

How to Complete a Waiver Form

Log into MyUWF. Go to https://marina.uwf.edu/pass/dynamicforms/?formid=f8b8b732-6fbd-46e7-9b92-5ca62657a9c0. 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 /Term 

Choose the semester/term you are requesting the waiver for. Spring and Summer are to be submitted as one waiver period for most students. 

Enter Status with Athletics 

Enter if you are on an athletic team at UWF, and click "Next." If you are an athlete on one of the UWF intercollegiate athletic teams, you must also confirm your insurance meets the requirements for student athlete insurance. Contact the UWF Athletics head athletic trainer for assistance. 

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 - Health Insurance Verification Form Completed and Signed by Insurance Company

After entering the insurance company information, you must upload proof of your insurance coverage. Students will need to contact the insurance company to complete the Health Insurance Verification Form - which requires signature of the student and completion and signature by the insurance company. When the company completes the form, all items must be answered yes. 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 insurance information.

**UWF is no longer accepting insurance letters, ID cards, or declaration of benefits pages. ** You must upload a completed Health Insurance Compliance form as proof of insurance. 

Download the Health Insurance Compliance Form

See the example completed form below. Students will need to have the Health Insurance Compliance Form completed by the insurance company and upload the completed document to the waiver form in MyUWF. 

**UWF is no longer accepting insurance coverage letters, ID cards, or declaration of benefits pages. **

The uploaded completed Health Insurance Verification Form must be in English. Once you have completed the upload, Click, "Next," and sign the Health Insurance Waiver Form. 

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. 

International Student Insurance FAQs 

What if I am unable to return to the US for the Fall 2021 semester? Do I need insurance?

That depends on your visa status for Fall 2021. 

• F-1 and J-1 students are required to have insurance coverage if the I-20 or DS-2019 is active in SEVIS.
• The requirement depends on your SEVIS record - not on where you are currently located, so it applies when you are outside of the US, too.
• We understand that you may not know your plans yet. 
• If you do not want to purchase insurance for Fall 2021, we recommend that you contact your international student advisor or schedule an advising appointment to review the impact on your visa status.

Can I wait and purchase my insurance later?

Yes, the deadline to purchase the UWF policy is August 23, 2021.

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

The deadline to submit the form is August 15, 2021.

• Please see the information above on steps to submit the waiver form.
• The dates of insurance must be 15 Aug 2021 to 12/31/2021.
• You must have continuous coverage inclusive of the dates shown in the insurance email you have received. 
• Your current insurance end date is $INSURANCESTARTDATE$.
• If your 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. 
• This 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 must purchase the UWF student insurance policy. 

What if I am planning to enroll in a Pre-Approved policy option?

You may enroll in the UWF policy for international student insurance at any time before the start of Fall 2021.

• Students who have not enrolled in the UWF policy by the start of Fall 2021 will have a hold placed on their UWF account.
• You cannot make changes to your course registration if you have a hold on your account.
• Email international@uwf.edu if you have questions.

If I want to purchase an IFS or ISI insurance plan not listed as pre-approved plan, is that okay?

• No. You must use the links in Pre-Approved Plans.
• Only these plans are pre-approved.
• For IFS, if you have any questions please email info@insuranceforstudents.com and tell them you are a UWF student. 
• For ISI, you must choose the Budget, Select, or Elite option for Student Secure. 
• The Student Secure Smart plan is not approved.

What if I have more questions not related to insurance?

• You can schedule an advising appointment in Navigate in MyUWF.
• Search for immigration advising to see available appointments.