Health Insurance Requirements
Health insurance is a program that helps cover many medical expenses that can occur while you are in the United States. SIUE has secured a medical health insurance policy for all international students. This is the only acceptable health insurance plan for international students attending SIUE. The University Student Insurance Committee coordinated the premium and plan benefits through Academic Health Plans.
All international students are required to enroll in the plan if they are enrolled in (1) or more credit hours or are enrolled in University 500. The credit hours can be on-campus or off-campus. Your Bursar bill will automatically include this fee.
International students are required to have the SIUE-approved student insurance plan unless:
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Student is sponsored by their home government and have a comparable policy that meets or exceeds the insurance requirements in the SIUE policy.
OR
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Student is enrolled in a U.S. employer-provided group health plan that meets or exceeds the insurance requirements in the SIUE policy.
Students who meet one of the above criteria must submit a waiver request and provide proof of comparable coverage during the semester’s waiver period. You will receive an email from Academic Health Plans with instructions on how to submit a waiver request. During the waiver period, the student must complete the waiver request form through Academic Health Plans. Completing the waiver request form does not guarantee that the waiver will be accepted. Coverage will be verified, and you will be notified of approval or denial.
Students who are approved to waive the insurance must purchase Repatriation Insurance through Health Service, unless specifically included in a comparable plan.
For more information abou the insurance requirements for interantional students, please visit Health Services.
Immunizations Requirement
Immunizations are required by Illinois state law for all students enrolled at SIUE. Immunization records must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. Unfortunately, our office is not able to provide English translation services.
The Office of International Affairs strongly recommends that you complete your immunization requirements before you arrive at SIUE. The deadline to complete this requirement is the first day of class. If you do not have immunization records, you can get the immunizations once you arrive and they will be covered by SIUE's health insurance.
Detailed Information about required immunizations can be found on the Immunization Requirement section of SIUE Health Service website.
A recording of Fall 2022 101 Health Insurance Information Session can be located here. This session covers information such as insurance coverage, how to view your insurance card, how to find a provider/specialist/hospital, insurance network and many more.
For additional questions about immunization requirements or health insurance waivers, please contact the Health Service office at cougarcare@siue.edu or call 618-650-2842.
