Rule 50402: Student Health Insurance Requirements

1.  Title

Student Health Insurance Requirements 

2.  Rule and Regulation

Sec. 1  International Students

1.1  Requirement for International Students and Delegation of Authority.   The Board of Regents delegates to the Chancellor the authority to approve a policy on International Student Health Insurance, which defines the categories of students who shall be defined as “international students” who are required to maintain health insurance as a condition of enrollment, and outlines the health insurance requirements which shall be applicable to such International Students.

1.2  The policy on International Student Health Insurance shall include, at a minimum:

1.2.1  A requirement that international students subject to the policy shall be automatically enrolled in the U. T. System sponsored student health insurance plan titled U. T. System Student Health Insurance Program (UT SHIP), with the exceptions noted in Section 2.2.

1.2.2  The authority of each institution of the U. T. System to assess each international student, for each semester in which the international student is enrolled, a Student Health Insurance Premium fee (as an incidental fee authorized by Texas Education Code Section 54.504) sufficient to cover the cost of the international student’s enrollment in coverage under the UT SHIP and the cost of medical evacuation and repatriation coverage provided through UT SHIP for that semester.

1.2.3  The process by which the enrollment requirement and Health Insurance Premium fee may be waived for international students who:

a.  are sponsored by the U.S. government, a foreign government recognized by the U.S., or certain international, government sponsored or nongovernmental organizations, if: 1) the sponsor has guaranteed payment of all health care expenses in writing, or 2) has provided coverage through a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) compliant plan;

b.  are enrolled in the U. T. System Employee Group Health Plan;

c.  are enrolled in another PPACA-compliant employer-provided plan or another PPACA individual plan, with such coverage compliant with the PPACA; or

d.  are enrolled exclusively in distance learning programs or classes.

1.2.4  A requirement that any international student granted a waiver based on coverage that does not include medical evacuation and repatriation coverage must purchase the medical evacuation and repatriation coverage provided through UT SHIP for each semester of enrollment; and

1.2.5  A requirement that any international student who obtains a waiver based on proof of alternative coverage as described in this Rule is required to report any lapse of such coverage to the institution immediately.

Sec. 2  Students Enrolled at Institutions with a Medical and Dental Unit 

2.1  Requirement for Students Enrolled at Institutions defined as Medical and Dental Units. In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 51.952, the Board of Regents is authorized to require students enrolled in a U. T. System institution defined by law as a Medical and Dental Unit to have health insurance coverage.

2.2  Delegation of Authority.  The Board of Regents delegates to the Chancellor the authority to approve a policy that defines the categories of students who are required to comply with this requirement. The policy shall also provide that the requirement may be satisfied by either the student’s enrollment in UT SHIP or by the student presenting evidence of comparable PPACA health insurance from a source other than the University, following policy guidelines issued by the Chancellor.

2.3  Notification of Requirement. Catalog supplements will be published by the U. T. System institution defined by law as a Medical and Dental Unit regarding this requirement.

Sec. 3  Failure to comply with the policies described in Section 1 or Section 2 above shall be grounds for institutional disciplinary action against the student.

3.  Definitions

Medical and Dental Unit – an institution identified as such in Texas Education Code Section 61.003(5), including The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio; The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston; The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston; The University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston; the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin; the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; the nursing institutions of The Texas A&M University System and The University of Texas System; and The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston

4.  Relevant Federal and State Statutes 

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 United States Code Section 18001 
Texas Education Code Section 51.952 – Student Health Insurance 
Texas Education Code Section 54.504 – Incidental Fees 
Texas Education Code Section 61.003(5) – Medical and Dental Unit
22 CFR Part 62 – Exchange Visitor Program 
45 CFR Parts 144 and 147 – Student Health Insurance Coverage 

5.  Relevant System Policies, Procedures, and Forms 

The University of Texas Systemwide Policy UTS 186, Student Health Insurance Requirements for International Students 

6.  Who Should Know 

Administrators 
International students 
Students enrolled at an institution defined by law as a Medical and Dental Unit 

7.  System Administration Office(s) Responsible for Rule 

Office of the Chancellor 
Office of Business Affairs 
Office of Academic Affairs 
Office of Health Affairs 

8.  Dates Approved or Amended 

Editorial amendment to Sections 2 and 3 made September 3, 2021
May 15, 2014 (Rules 50402 and 50403 combined into one new Rule 50402) 

9.  Contact Information 

Questions or comments regarding this Rule should be directed to: 
•  bor@utsystem.edu