Student Health Insurance

Most individual taxpayers in the US are required to carry health insurance in order to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Individuals who don’t may be subject to a tax penalty for not having coverage.

Options to satisfy the ACA:

• Enroll in the Texas A&M University System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Academic HealthPlans (AHP)
• Be covered elsewhere through a parent, outside employer, or through the health insurance marketplace

As a Graduate Student in a benefits-eligible campus job, you will be eligible for the state contribution (first of the month following the wait period) to help you pay for your health benefits. You can enroll in a plan designed for Graduate Student Employees (Grad Plan) or the plan offered to regular A&M System Employees (A&M Care). You will enroll for your health plan through your employing department with access through iBenefits (available through Single Sign On). 

NOTE: You MUST make a choice to enroll or not. If you do NOT make a choice (to accept or decline), you will be enrolled in A&M Care employee plan (not the Grad Plan) on your state contribution eligibility date. It will cost you money, so please make sure you go online and make a selection through iBenefits.

If you are covered elsewhere through a parent, outside employer, or through the health insurance marketplace, you may consider declining our coverage.

International students on an F1 or J1 visa/status are required to purchase the System Student Health Insurance Plan (SSHIP) unless they have an alternate health insurance plan approved through the waiver process. J2 dependents must be covered by health insurance as per the United States Department of State Regulations.

The Texas A&M University System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is automatically charged to an international student’s tuition and fee statement. Some students have alternate health insurance coverage and do not need to have SHIP. This includes coverage through a parent, employment, or purchased by a sponsoring organization. These students may have their SHIP automatic enrollment waived (have the fee removed or receive a refund for premiums charged on your fee statement) provided they can demonstrate proof of adequate alternate coverage through the waiver application process which is open for a limited time each semester.

The waiver process includes an evaluation of whether or not the plan satisfies BOTH ACA requirements AND required provisions for medical evacuation and repatriation. Different coverage requirements exist for students on J visas and their dependents. If your plan has everything except medical evacuation and repatriation, you can purchase a plan through Academic Health Plans that will supplement your other plan to make it compliant with System Regulations and you will be charged the appropriate amount for that extra coverage.

International students on an F1 or J1 visa/status are required to purchase the System Student Health Insurance Plan (SSHIP) unless they have an alternate health insurance plan approved through the waiver process. J2 dependents must be covered by health insurance as per the United States Department of State Regulations.

The Texas A&M University System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is automatically charged to an international student’s tuition and fee statement. As a Graduate Student in a benefits-eligible campus job, you will be eligible for the state contribution (first of the month following the wait period) to help you pay for your health benefits.

You can enroll in a plan designed for Graduate Student Employees (Grad Plan) or the plan offered to regular A&M System Employees (A&M Care). You will enroll for your health plan through your employing department with access through iBenefits (available through Single Sign On). Enrollment into the Grad Plan through iBenefits will automatically start the process to have the health insurance cost removed from your fee statement or generate a refund of that cost. We recommend that you work closely with your employing department to best understand how to sign up for benefits given your unique situation.

NOTE: You MUST make a choice to enroll or not. If you do NOT make a choice (to accept or decline), you will be enrolled in the A&M Care employee plan (not the Grad Plan) on your state contribution eligibility date. It will cost you money, so please make sure you go online and make a selection through iBenefits. In addition, a waiver will not be processed automatically since you are not enrolled into the Grad Plan.

If you have alternative health insurance coverage through a source other than TAMUS, you may also go through a waiver application process through Academic HealthPlans (AHP) to stop the automatic enrollment into the SHIP or receive a refund. The waiver process includes an evaluation of whether or not your plan satisfies BOTH ACA requirements AND required provisions for medical evacuation and repatriation. Different coverage requirements exist for students on J visas and their dependents. If your plan has everything except medical evacuation and repatriation, you can enroll in a plan through AHP that will supplement your other plan to make it compliant and you will be charged the appropriate amount for that extra coverage.