Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the UW International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) is $2,148 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Annual ISHIP (Autumn start), Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 incl. summer; this equals 4 × the $537 quarterly student-only rate.
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
University of Washington does not allow waivers for most international students. Review the exceptions below and budget for the full SHIP premium.
- Only exchange, government-funded, US-employer-insured or remote-abroad students may waive
- J-1: at least $100,000 per accident/illness; deductible of $500 or less
- J-1: repatriation at least $25,000; medical evacuation at least $50,000
- F-1: at least $200,000 per condition per policy year
- F-1: medical evacuation at least $10,000; repatriation at least $7,500
- Co-insurance up to 25%; comparable coverage valid 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 University of Washington SHIP premium ($2,148 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: iship.washington.edu
- Waiver deadline: iship.washington.edu
- Waiver criteria: iship.washington.edu