Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Temple University Student Health Insurance (Aetna Student Health: Personal Choice Deductible Plan / Personal Choice High Option Plan) is $7,383.12–$7,844.16 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Temple publishes monthly student-only rates, billed monthly and paid directly to Aetna, for Sept 1, 2026–Aug 31, 2027: $615.26 (Deductible Plan) or $653.68 (High Option Plan), multiplied by 12 months. The mandatory medevac/repatriation plan for F-1/J-1 students (The Hartford) is separate.
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 Temple University, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Deductible of at most $500 per accident or illness
- Pays at least 75% of covered expenses
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation ≥ $25,000 (Temple auto-enrolls F-1/J-1 students)
- Medical evacuation ≥ $50,000 (Temple auto-enrolls F-1/J-1 students)
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 Temple University SHIP premium ($7,383.12–$7,844.16 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: careers.temple.edu
- Waiver deadline: aetnastudenthealth.com
- Waiver criteria: careers.temple.edu