Every international student studying at NYU is required to have health insurance. Learn more about it at the Student Health Center.

F-1 Students

Students in F-1 status are automatically enrolled in and billed for the NYU-sponsored student health insurance comprehensive plan upon registration each semester. F-1 students may elect to instead enroll in the basic coverage, which provides the same coverage but has higher out-of-pocket expenses if and when you need healthcare. Students who maintain alternate health insurance coverage that meets the University’s minimum health insurance criteria may waive the NYU sponsored student health insurance plan entirely (see Waiving the Student Health Insurance Plans section).

F-2 Dependents

Spouses and children of F-1 students who will be in the United States in F-2 status are encouraged to have health insurance coverage for the period of time that they will spend in the United States. F-1 students may contact their health insurance provider to learn how to add dependents to their health insurance plans.

J-1 Students And J-2 Dependents

All Exchange Visitors (both J-1 students and J-2 dependents) are required by federal regulations to have adequate health insurance coverage during their time in J-1 and J-2 status. NYU sponsored J-1 Exchange Visitors are automatically enrolled in and billed for the NYU-sponsored student health insurance comprehensive plan upon registration each semester. The NYU sponsored student health insurance plan does meet the federal requirements listed below. The J-1 Exchange Visitor will need to contact their health insurance provider to add their J-2 dependents to their health insurance plan.

The minimum coverage an Exchange Visitor must provide are:

  • medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;

  • repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;

  • expenses associated with medical evacuation of the Exchange Visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and

  • a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

Any policy or plan must, be underwritten by an insurance corporation with one of the following minimum rating: 

  • an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above 

  • a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A¥” or above 

  • a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above

  • a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A-” or above

  • a Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above 

  • is backed by the “full faith and credit” of the Exchange Visitor’s home country

  • part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor

For additional information on the Exchange Visitor health insurance requirements, please review the ‘Insurance’ section at Bridge USA.

Failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage (as described here) is a violation of U.S. government regulations and could result in immediate termination of your SEVIS record and loss of your immigration status.

Insurance coverage must run for the entire duration of the Exchange Visitor’s program in the United States. The Exchange Visitor’s program includes the duration the Exchange Visitor’s studies in their academic program and any additional Academic Training period added to the student’s DS-2019 after completion of their academic program.

If you will travel to the U.S. before your NYU health insurance begins, we highly recommend that all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents purchase health insurance coverage to cover the period of their arrival in the U.S. until the NYU health insurance begins before traveling to the United States. We recommend that your health insurance coverage be active prior to traveling.

How to Waive the NYU Health Insurance Plan

Students who wish to waive out of the NYU’s student health insurance plan may follow these instructions:

Find Health Insurance after Graduation

After you have completed your degree at NYU, in order to stay covered, you will need to find an alternative health insurance plan if not covered by the employer. In the US, you are responsible to pay your own medical costs unless you are covered by health insurance. F-1 students are not required by law to have health insurance coverage but due to the expensive cost of health care, it is strongly recommended to find a health insurance policy to cover your needs. J-1 students are required to maintain minimal health insurance requirements.