Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the SUNY International Student Health Insurance Plan (UnitedHealthcare Student Resources, incl. dental via First Reliance Standard) is $2,403.01 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Sum of Fall ($1,006.73) and Spring/Summer ($1,396.28) premiums. UB notes (9/10/26) that dental rates are being lowered retroactively per NYS DFS, so the billed amount may change slightly. If a waiver is approved, mandatory medevac/repatriation cover is billed instead ($41.60 fall + $58.24 spring).
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
According to University at Buffalo (SUNY), your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Must be an employer-based plan
- US-based and Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant
- Comparable to or better than the SUNY plan
- No maximum coverage limits
- NYS Essential Plan and Medicaid plans not accepted
- Policy in effect by Sep 1 (fall) or Feb 1 (new spring students)
Visit the University at Buffalo (SUNY) health services portal →
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 University at Buffalo (SUNY) SHIP premium ($2,403.01 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: buffalo.edu
- Waiver deadline: buffalo.edu
- Waiver criteria: buffalo.edu