Health Insurance                                              Issue 8
Greetings,

At the University of Maryland, we want to make sure that all our students are healthy and covered by comprehensive health insurance.  Please read below for more information regarding health insurance.

DOCUMENT CHECK PROCESS. After you have arrived to the U.S. we require that you complete an online document check-in process. Please review the detailed instructions on our websitehttps://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/international-student-scholar-services/iterp-check-documents-check  DO NOT try to do the check-in until AFTER you arrive in the US. This is a required step in your SEVIS registration process, please complete it prior to attending the immigration session during orientation.  Documents Check is not anticipated to be available until July 31, 2019.

Please also ensure that you register for a mandatory immigration session!  We are offering some earlier sessions on August 2, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15 for F-1 students.  Sign up in iTerp for orientation sessions.
Health Insurance

The U.S. does not have comprehensive socialized health care as is available in many countries. In the United States health care and health insurance can be expensive.   As such, all newly admitted students in F and J status who are undergraduates are automatically enrolled and cannot waive out of insurance coverage.  This includes J-1 Exchange Students.  This practice was implemented to ensure that international students on UMD visa sponsorship receive appropriately comprehensive insurance coverage. 

About the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

The University of Maryland SHIP insurance plan is a platinum level insurance plan. Beginning August 1st 2019, SHIP coverage will be provided by Carefirst (Blue Preferred PPO).

SHIP covers most services at the University of Maryland Health Center. At the University Health Center, SHIP patients do not have deductibles and no fee is required for covered services.

For more information about SHIP please see below.

SHIP CAREFIRST (BLUE PREFERRED PPO) 2019-2020

For the 2019-2020 academic year, SHIP coverage will be provided by Carefirst (Blue Preferred PPO).

For information about the SHIP Carefirst (Blue Preferred PPO) plan, please visit 
https://umd.myahpcare.com/. 



Graduate Students in F-1 Status

International graduate students are strongly  encouraged  to enroll in a UMD health care plan to ensure that you receive comprehensive healthcare coverage.  If you have an assistantship, you may enroll in a UMD health care plan through the assistantship.  The SHIP UMD plan is also offered to you as an option for your insurance coverage.

J-1 Exchange Visitors who are not Exchange Students

As an Exchange Visitor in the United States, you are required to carry health insurance for yourself and your J-2 dependents for the full duration of your J program.  Your proof of insurance coverage must be uploaded to the iTerp system when you arrive to UMD and will be verified by ISSS at the ISSS orientation and throughout your stay at Maryland.

Required insurance specifications for those in J status can be found below:


Immunization Reminder
     
Please remember to take care of your immunization requirements as soon as possible!  More information was provided in a previous Tip of the Week, but you can go to the link below:

http://www.health.umd.edu/clinicalservices/allergimmuntravel/immunizations





If you do not intend to enroll at UMD and would like to stop receiving these emails, please inform the admissions office (undergraduate students) or the Graduate School and your academic department (graduate students).
Sincerely,
 

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)