The University of Wisconsin System Policy requires all students to have health insurance and recommends students to submit an immunization record. Expand the sections below for more information on Health Insurance.
Note: The mandatory health insurance coverage for international students meets the federal government Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements and the University of Wisconsin System Policy.
Students
International students who register for classes are automatically enrolled in the UWM international student health insurance policy (which is approved by the University of Wisconsin System). Health insurance is mandatory, and students may not substitute another insurance policy for the UWM-approved insurance policy.
UWM will enroll you in the Wellfleet Student Health Insurance Plan (W-SHIP)
You will have a charge on your university PAWS account each semester for health insurance
Charges for health insurance are by semester:
Fall 2023 (Coverage dates are August 5, 2023 – January 14, 2024)
Fall 2023 coverage will be charged to your Fall 2023 tuition bill.
The Fall 2023 coverage charge is $931.
Spring/Summer 2024 (Coverage dates are January 15, 2024 – August 4, 2024)
Spring/Summer 2024 coverage will be charged to your Spring 2024 tuition bill.
The Spring/Summer 2024 coverage charge is $1,158.
If you have any questions, please email ISSS’s Insurance Coordinator, Che Huewitt.
Health Insurance Plan Brochure – Providing coverage information for the University of Wisconsin System international student health insurance plan.
Graduate Students with UWM Assistantships or UWM Fellowships
If you have an assistantship/fellowship or award which provides UWM employee health insurance, you are eligible for the waiver of the health insurance charges that is calculated to your PAWS account upon your enrollment in class(es). Action is required on your part because if you do nothing, the charge will remain on your account and you will be enrolled in the general UWM international student health insurance policy.
You need to take the following steps:
If this is a NEW Graduate appointment you must be sure to enroll in the health insurance plan offered by your assistantship per your contract within 30 days of your contract start date. Email confirmation from Benefits Staff member that indicates a health insurance enrollment application was received and processed (ONLY NEW appointments WITHOUT a social security number can obtain an email confirmation) or a Benefits Confirmation statement generated by HRS if you do your enrollment via ebenefits self-service at http://my.uwm.edu. A confirmation statement will only be available if you’ve provided a social security number on your benefits application.
All students with a Graduate appointment (assistantship/fellowship/award) must have a current term’s contract for submission.
Those students with a continuing Graduate appointment must have a current contract on file with ISSS and an insurance card issued within the last 4 months for submission.
Login to your ISSS Connect portal and complete the Assistantship Insurance Information Form by uploading and submitting the appropriate documents as specified above.
After you complete those steps, the terms’ full health insurance charges will be removed from your PAWS account.
Please do note that with the submission of the web form, the appropriate health insurance documentation as specified above and having a current Graduate appointment contract on file you are certifying that you have health insurance coverage and ISSS has no further information on your health insurance coverage or plan and you should reach out to the Benefits office or your health insurance carrier for further information.
Students Sponsored by Home-Government or Other Education Program
If your home government or another agency is sponsoring your education and also providing you with health insurance benefits for the duration of your study, please submit the documentation of your sponsorship and health insurance to Che Huewitt. Action is required on your part because if you do nothing, you will be enrolled in the general UWM international student health insurance policy.
A waiver for your required participation in the UWM international student health insurance policy is not automatically granted. Your documentation will be reviewed, and if your health insurance meets the UW System requirements for international student health care coverage, we will waive the requirement of your enrollment in the UWM international student health insurance policy.
Students Who Have an F-1 or J-1 Visa and who Receive Health Care Insurance from U.S. Employment (CPT/OPT/Academic Training, a Spouse or Parent’s Employment)
If you are on an F-1 or J-1 visa and you have health insurance from your U.S. employment (CPT/OPT/Academic Training) for this term, you will need appropriate work authorization for the term, which will be verified. Without the appropriate work authorization, you will be enrolled in the general UWM international student health insurance policy.
If you have health insurance from any U.S. employment (yours, your spouse or parent’s) you should have an insurance card issued in the last twelve months and/or any documentation pertaining to your plan’s effective and termination dates or policy terms, which could include a recent benefits application or confirmation of enrollment.
Log in to your ISSS Connect portal and complete the Assistantship Insurance Information Form by uploading and submitting the appropriate documents as specified above.
A waiver for your required participation in the UWM international student health insurance policy is not automatically granted. Your documentation will be reviewed, and if your health insurance meets the UW System requirements for international student health care coverage the terms’ full health insurance charges will be waived.
For an overview of the health insurance system in the U.S. watch this video.
Medical Records
UWM strongly recommends newly admitted students submit an immunization record to Student Health & Wellness Center when they arrive on campus. Please refer to the Immunizations webpage for more information. While you are not required to have immunizations, if you have had them in the past, you must show this on your immunization record. As per the housing contracts-
Vaccinations and Hygiene Wisconsin law [sec. 36.25(46)] requires students who reside in the Residence Halls to affirm whether they have received vaccination against meningococcal disease and hepatitis B, and to provide the dates of vaccination, if any. While living in the Residence Halls, you are responsible for your own self-care including appropriate personal hygiene, physical and mental health, management of medical conditions or illnesses, and other personal needs. You are expected to utilize the various resources available to you to provide this care for yourself. If you are unable to meet these self-care expectations and/or you cause harm to yourself or others, you may be asked to adhere to an action plan and/or vacate the Residence Halls.
