US University Waiver Finder

A SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan) waiver is an official request to opt out of your university's mandatory health insurance by showing proof of comparable alternative coverage. If approved, the SHIP fee is removed from your student account and you use your own plan instead.

At 82 of the 100 schools in this tool, international students can waive the school plan if their own plan meets the school's criteria — typically US-based claims handling, no or a high annual benefit maximum, a limited deductible, mental-health cover and medical evacuation/repatriation. At the other 18 (for example University of Washington, Cornell University, and Northwestern University) F-1/J-1 students generally have to stay on the school plan. Many schools reject travel or international-only plans.

International students often submit plans such as ISO Student Health Insurance, IMG Patriot Exchange, WorldTrips StudentSecure or Compass Student Insurance for a waiver. Whether a plan is accepted depends on your university's criteria (benefit maximum, deductible, US claims address and more) — compare the plan's terms with the requirements on your school's page before you buy.

Your saving is the SHIP premium minus the price of a private plan your university accepts. SHIP premiums in this tool range from $539–$9,385 a year. Private US student plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band, but plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more — so compare real prices for the plan you would submit before you decide.

If you miss the deadline, you are automatically enrolled in SHIP and charged the full premium. Most universities do not allow late waivers — the only way to drop SHIP mid-year is typically through a qualifying life event or by leaving the university.

Each university's premium, waiver deadline and waiver criteria were checked on September 30, 2026 against the university's official SHIP or waiver page (or the insurer's page the university links to) for the plan year shown — mostly 2026-27. Every university page links its sources. Premiums and rules change every year, so confirm the current figures on your university's portal before you decide.