Waiver Policy for International Student Health Insurance

How Does the Waiver Policy Work?

Students can purchase their own insurance plan and waive the CU Denver plan if it meets the minimum requirements set by the University of Colorado Denver. (Requirements are listed below.) Before purchasing alternative insurance, be sure that ALL of the requirements are met, especially preventive care and mental health benefits!

Waiver requests must be submitted electronically each fall and spring semester. You must provide proof of your own health insurance.

It is mandatory that your health insurance policy starts no later than the first day of the semester and covers you for the entire time that you will be in the U.S., including holidays and semester breaks.

Insurance Waiver Requirements

Your insurance must meet ALL the requirements listed below:

• The annual deductible cannot exceed $500.00
• Medical benefits of at least $1,000,000.00 per plan year with no internal (per service) dollar limits or per visit limits for specific benefits; this includes preventive care benefits and mental health benefits
• Co-insurance cannot be less than 75% for Preferred Provider (PPO) networks and access to non-emergent and non-urgent network providers in the Denver metro area
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000.00
• Medical evacuation benefits to student’s home country of at least $50,000.00
• No pre-existing condition limitations
• Coverage for maternity regardless of when a student becomes pregnant
• Coverage of suicide and self-inflicted injury (intentional or non-intentional)
• The health insurance company is a U.S.-based carrier or entity underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above
• The plan must be compliant with all the guidelines of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• The claims administrator must be based in the U.S.
• The plan must be underwritten in the U.S. (plans underwritten by offshore companies that are subsidiaries of U.S. or non-U.S. insurance corporations do not meet this requirement)
• The policy must be active at all times when the student is in the U.S. as a student of CU Denver, including upon arrival in the U.S., during semester breaks, and on or before the first day of the semester.

Before purchasing alternative insurance, be sure that ALL of the requirements are met, especially preventive care and mental health benefits.

Important Note: You cannot waive out of the summer enrollment period. 

How to Enroll

All international students with an F-1 or J-1 visa who have not received an approved waiver will be automatically enrolled in the university’s insurance. You will receive your enrollment materials from United Healthcare. If you need your insurance materials earlier, you can enroll immediately by visiting studentcenter.uhcsr.com/ucdenver and click "OPT IN". If you are an international student enrolling your dependent(s), you may enroll them at studentcenter.uhcsr.com or through your My Account.

OPT or ESL Academy Students

If you are an OPT or ESL Academy student, you may enroll yourself and your dependents and pay for coverage online provided you were enrolled in the plan for the semester prior to OPT status. You may enroll up to one additional year. Students are eligible to continue plan enrollment for up to 24 months after the additional OPT year if accepted into a STEM practical training. This scenario equals a total of 3 years of insurance coverage post-graduation. To register online, please visit  https://requestcoverage.uhcsr.com/ucdenver and follow the instructions. For best results, please use your desktop or laptop computer as the site is not supported for mobile devices. Please click on the links to learn more about OPT and STEM OPT.

Supplemental Medical Evacuation & Repatriation Benefits

If the student’s alternative insurance plan meets all of the requirements except the Repatriation of Remains in the amount of $25,000.00 and the Medical Evacuation benefits to the student’s home country of at least $50,000.00; they can purchase a separate Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (MER) insurance plan by enrolling at Global Travel Plus​ for the American College Student Association to meet those requirements.