Why the University Requires Insurance
Every student’s health and well-being are critical components to academic success. The primary purpose of student health insurance is to provide an affordable and comprehensive benefits package, so students have easy access to physical and mental health care and prevention screenings while attending school. Student health insurance (SHIP) plays a critical role in optimizing student’s choice for health care services.
You may choose coverage under SHIPor another approved plan. You can enroll in the plan, or you can waive out of the plan by providing proof of insurance.
Proof of Insurance
Proof of insurance coverage must be submitted through the Academic Health Insurance Portal (AHP).
Plan Benefits must include:
- An effective date of August 1 (for incoming Fall Term)
- Allow you to receive health care services in the state of South Carolina
- Include the following services at a minimum:
- Ambulatory Patient Services
- Chronic Disease Management
- Emergency Services
- Hospitalization
- Laboratory Services
- Maternity and Newborn Care
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatments (including behavioral health treatment)
- Prescription Drugs
- Preventive and Wellness services
- Rehabilitative and Habilitative Services and Devices
- Provide unlimited aggregate maximum benefit per policy year per covered person
- Does not have a pre-existing condition limitation
- Out-of-pocket limit per policy year that does not exceed $7500 per individual and $15,000 per family
Plan Benefits must include:
- A minimum benefit of $50,000 for medical evacuation and $25,000 for repatriation of remains.
- Coverage must allow the insured student to receive services in South Carolina, cover the student while in school in the U.S. or on USC-related educational travel and all minimum benefits listed above.
J-1 Exchange Students and J-2 Dependents
Plan Benefits must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Part of a group benefits program offered to enrolled students by a designated sponsor.
- A health maintenance organization (HMO) that is federally qualified as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration (HFCA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- A Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration (HFCA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Underwritten by an insurance company that has an AM Best Company rating, a Insurance Solvency International LTD (ISI) rating, or a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of A- or above.
- Underwritten by an insurance company that has a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.
Travel policies will not be accepted.
Students required to have health insurance
- Undergraduates taking six hours or more and paying the student health fee
- Graduate students taking six hours or more
- Graduate students with assistantships
- USC School of Medicine students enrolled in 1 or more hours
- All international students
Exception: Graduate students showing the “Distributed Graduate Program” concentration on their primary curriculum are not required to waive out of the student health insurance. These students must enroll in the plan voluntarily if they want the insurance. Please direct any questions to [email protected].