No universal healthcare in the USA. Universities require F-1 and J-1 students to be insured — usually through the school's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unless a waiver is approved.
Student-only premiums, mostly for plan year 2026–27, at the 99 universities in our dataset that publish one (median $3,679/year). Always accepted by your school and usually linked to the campus health center.
Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers on the Aetna PPO network. Silver from $33/month at ages 12–24 ($59 at 25–29). Silver has a $400,000 annual maximum, which some schools don't accept for a waiver.
Smart, Budget, Select and Elite tiers. Smart from $40/month (under 25, U.S. included, monthly payments). Renewable up to 4 years; dependants cannot be added.
Savings, Care and Benchmark tiers on the UnitedHealthcare PPO network, priced per day of cover; Benchmark from $123/month. Refund if your school rejects the plan and you have made no claim.
Choose $50,000–$500,000 per illness or injury (J-1-compliant from the $100,000 option) and a $0–$500 deductible. $5 copay at the student health center; UnitedHealthcare PPO network.
| Item | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| University SHIP (per year) | $538.80–$9,384.75 | Student-only rate at 99 of the 100 schools in our dataset (checked 30 September 2026), median $3,679; lowest: Caltech's subsidised graduate rate, highest: UC Santa Barbara's graduate rate. Examples: University of Washington $2,148, Harvard $4,954 (plus a separate $1,944 health fee), Stanford $8,808. |
| Private student plans (entry tiers) | $33–$51.20/month | ISO Silver $33 (ages 12–24), WorldTrips StudentSecure Smart $40 (under 25), Compass Savings $43, IMG Patriot Exchange $51.20. Entry tiers often fail stricter waiver criteria. |
| Private student plans (top tiers) | $87–$204/month | ISO Platinum $87 (ages 12–24), Compass Benchmark $123 (ACA-comparable), WorldTrips StudentSecure Elite $204 (under 25). |
| Deductible (listed private plans) | $0–$500 in-network | WorldTrips StudentSecure $0 on all tiers; IMG Patriot Exchange $0–$500 (your choice); Compass $250 or $500; ISO Gold $500 in-network. J-1 plans may not exceed $500 per accident or illness. |
The United States has no universal healthcare system, and treatment is expensive. As an international student you need health insurance: universities require it — usually through their own Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) — and J-1 exchange visitors must also meet federal minimums.
Most US universities enrol international students in their SHIP automatically. In our dataset of 100 universities (checked on 30 September 2026, mostly plan year 2026–27), the 99 schools that publish a student-only premium charge $538.80–$9,384.75 a year (median $3,679). A SHIP typically covers:
SHIPs are built around the on-campus health center, where routine visits are free or cheap. Benefits differ by school, so read your plan’s benefit summary.
If you’re on a J-1 visa (exchange visitor), federal rules (22 CFR 62.14) require insurance for you and any J-2 dependants for the whole programme, with at least:
Co-insurance of up to 25% is allowed. F-1 students have no federal minimum — your university’s rules apply. If you use private insurance on a J-1 visa, check that the plan meets all four limits (IMG Patriot Exchange, for example, only from its $100,000 option).
Many universities let you waive the SHIP if your own plan meets their criteria:
18 of the 100 schools in our dataset don’t let F-1/J-1 students waive at all. Look up your school in our US University Waiver Finder to see the SHIP price, waiver deadline and published waiver criteria of 100 US universities and colleges, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCLA and NYU.
US colleges and universities hosted 1,177,766 international students in 2024/25 (Open Doors 2025), and the USA remains the world’s top study destination, with leading research universities and a wide choice of programmes. Healthcare is expensive, so the right insurance matters.
If you want to waive a costly SHIP or need a private plan that meets F-1/J-1 rules, we compare the private student health plans for the USA — each plan links straight to the provider. See all USA student health insurance plans →
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Related guides: Student health insurance USA — F-1 visa guide · Cheapest F-1 visa health insurance plans 2026 · How to waive university health insurance in the USA · OPT/CPT health insurance gap for F-1 students
For universities and the student visa, see the guide to studying in the USA (opens in a new tab) on our sister portal study-abroad.org.
Complete guide to health coverage for international students in America.
Read more →Everything about insurance requirements for F-1 visa holders.
Read more →Tips for selecting the right insurance plan for your studies.
Read more →How to buy or switch coverage from inside the US after an F-1 or OPT status change.
Read more →Compare insurance options for international students in these countries
Compare your university's SHIP with private plans that meet F-1 and J-1 rules — each plan links straight to the provider.
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