Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Rice Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan is $3,523 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Annual rate for 8/1/26–7/31/27; equals Fall $1,477 + Spring $2,046.
Waiver deadline
Submit your waiver request before the deadline above. Universities rarely accept late waivers — if you miss it, you are auto-enrolled in SHIP and billed the full premium.
Waiver requirements
Rice University does not allow waivers for most international students. Review the exceptions below and budget for the full SHIP premium.
- Individual deductible of $5,000 or less (higher requires an HSA)
- Unlimited annual and lifetime benefits (no policy maximum)
- Includes prescription coverage
- In/outpatient medical and mental health care in Houston, Texas
- Not a medical cost-sharing or co-op program
- US-based claims administrator, US phone/address, policy issued in the US
Private plans you could submit
These private US student health plans are in our comparison. None is automatically accepted — check the policy maximum, deductible, claims address and the other points above against the plan's terms before you buy:
- ISO Student Health Insurance — from $33/month
- WorldTrips StudentSecure — from $40/month
- Compass Student Insurance — from $43/month
- IMG Patriot Exchange Program
What a waiver can save
Your saving is the Rice University SHIP premium ($3,523 a year) minus the price of a private plan the university accepts. Private plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band; plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more. Compare the real price of the plan you would submit before you decide.
- Premium: studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu
- Waiver deadline: studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu
- Waiver criteria: studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu