For up-to-date policy documents, or to log into your account, always visit: https://www.uhcsr.com/NDSU

Scroll down on this landing page for NDSU and you will find a tile similar to this, labeled "Medical - International Student Plan." Then click "Explore Policy" to find out more.

Information about COVID-19 and the UHCSR insurance plan

Click here for UHCSR's informational page about COVID-19.

This policy number below is the same for all NDSU international students enrolled in this policy period.

In addition - each student always has an individual, unique, "SR ID #" that is also found on the card. This SR ID will remain the same for you each semester you remain enrolled at NDSU.

Once logged in to My Account, select ID Card Information, and you will be given two options: “Request Permanent ID card”  and/or  “View or Print ID Card." You can do both options, or you can also set up a mobile app on your phone through the UHCSR smartphone app. Search for "UHC StudentResources" for Apple or Android in the App Store or on Google Play to view your insurance card.

No, the health insurance plan does not provide for regular dental and vision care. However, an option exists where you can purchase additional dental and/or vision insurance separately through UnitedHealthcare StudentResources by the posted deadline each year. If the deadline has passed, you must wait until the next policy period to purchase it. More information about these plans can be found here: https://ndus.edu/student-services-overview/dental-vision/.

The only exception to this is for those insured persons under 19 years of age - see the next paragraph for more information.

Pediatric Dental & Vision Coverage

Any person insured on the policy under the age of 19 has what is referred to under the current Affordable Care Act (ACA) as "Pediatric Dental and Vision" coverage. This is in addition to the usual health insurance coverage through the UnitedHealthcare StudentResources plan. This is considered an "essential benefit" for persons 18 years of age and younger and it's required to be given, and is a great benefit to have. However it is not available to persons 19 years of age and older. More information about this can be found in your policy documents found at https://uhcsr.com/ndsu. Other questions? If you have any questions about pediatric dental/vision eligibility or coverage for persons younger than 19 years of age, please contact UHCSR directly.

I need a document stating my UHCSR insurance is valid (or has expired). How do I request this?

Please call Customer Service at 1-877-433-6667 to request a "Certificate of Credible Coverage" document.

Some examples of situations where this may be an option:

If your UHCSR student insurance from NDSU is expiring, and you are no longer enrolled at NDSU and will have a gap in coverage because:

• You are in F-1 status and your OPT is starting soon, but your insurance will not begin immediately.
• You are in F-1 status and are receiving a change of status to H-1B and your insurance will not begin immediately.
• Persons in F-1/F-2 status who are remaining in the U.S. during your 60-day grace period before leaving and want insurance.
• Persons in F-1/F-2 status who or are transferring to another school and need gap coverage during this time and want insurance.

The continuation privilege will allow you to purchase up to a maximum of 3 consecutive months, but not longer than the current plan year. This is completely voluntary. You (and your dependents) can enroll for up to 3 months, and you pay for this coverage on your own.

Please note: The Continuation plan is an option to continue coverage under the University’s student insurance plan for up to 90 days for someone who no longer meets the eligibility of the school's plan.  This continuation plan is not an option for a current student of the university, nor is it an option for an international student to purchase coverage on a monthly basis.  International students must meet the insurance coverage criteria that is established by the North Dakota University System - The continuation plan does not meet that criteria. To enroll if you qualify for this gap coverage, please contact UHCSR customer service and ask for a "Continuation Enrollment Form." Enrollment is not handled through NDSU - you must submit the form and payment directly to UHCSR.

I plan to graduate in May or am going home for the summer before classes start in the Fall. Can I get an insurance refund or pay only through May?

No, you are still required to pay the Spring/Summer amount in full. Also, refunds or waivers pro-rated for the summer period are not allowed. The insurance plan is considered non-refundable. If you are eligible to purchase it at the start of the semester, you remain eligible for the insurance throughout the remainder of the plan year (through August 15 of each year) even if you are not enrolled in summer classes.

I will graduate in May and know my insurance is valid through August 15th. Must I still get a referral from the NDSU Student Health Service?

If you graduate or are no longer enrolled at NDSU, you should contact NDSU Student Health Service at 701-231-7331 or via email at ndsu.immunizations@ndsu.edu. They will notify UHCSR that your student status changed and request to remove your referral requirement. If you are not an enrolled student, you are no longer eligible to use Student Health Service on campus so you must go off-campus for your health care needs. It is recommended you verify the provider/facility is in-network with UHC to ensure the best coverage. Your insurance coverage is valid through August 15th if you paid for Spring/Summer coverage on your NDSU student account. Please contact UHCSR Customer Service if your claim is incorrectly denied.

I graduated but I want to remain on the UHCSR plan. Can I keep the plan?

You can ask to have your coverage extended temporarily for up to 3 months after you are no longer enrolled at NDSU. This is called the "Continuation Privilege" and is addressed below. Beyond that, there is no option for you to remain on the plan if you are no longer enrolled at NDSU.

Do I have any other options for insurance after graduation?

Only international students who are enrolled at an institution in the ND University System can have the plan. If you are remaining in the U.S. while on OPT for example, and do *not* have health insurance through your employer, we recommend that you do seek insurance elsewhere (such as through HealthCare.gov). Typically the new insurance company will want proof that you have lost insurance coverage. Please see the "Certificate of Credible Coverage" section on this page for more information on how to obtain this document.

I am *NOT* in F or J visa status. Must I still purchase the required insurance?

No - If you are a student in another visa status, such as the statuses listed below, you are not required to purchase insurance. All international students receive the charge on their account, regardless of visa status. But, if you hold one of these statuses, we will remove the charge. There is no requirement to pay it.

• H-1B/H-4
• TN/TD
• K
• Or any other non-immigrant visa status
• Online-only students with no U.S. visa who are completing their NDSU degree entirely online.

Other Situations

• F or J students who have departed the U.S. permanently or have taken a temporary leave of absence in SEVIS. Eligibility for a charge removal in this situation will vary.

Form

Request this removal by completing the following electronic form. In the electronic form, you will be asked to also submit a copy of your immigration documentation (I-797 approval notice, visa, and/or I-94 record). 

Click here to access the form.

NDUS Policy/Procedure 505 says that I can request a waiver of the insurance if I have comparable coverage. Where can I find more information on this?

If students already are enrolled in existing comparable coverage, a student may request a waiver of the UHCSR insurance policy. Please click here for more information on enrollment into the UHCSR policy, including health insurance waiver deadlines.

What is the intent of this waiver? 

This waiver process is only intended for students who have already existing coverage (usually through a spouse/parent’s U.S. employer, or through their own U.S. employer like if they’re on OPT). Health insurance plans can be very complicated. You must be very careful when deciding to select an alternate plan - There may be additional costs later for you with this other plan, or even limitations on coverage, that you did not anticipate when you enrolled.

Will my plan qualify for a waiver?

We are not able to confirm or deny if a plan meets requirements – that is all the student’s responsibility. You must carefully read the criteria on the NDUS website, plus this  entire page carefully - we have included a few common reasons for denials below.

Even if you have a policy that meets the criteria, almost every student with a waiver also needs to purchase a separate “Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains” policy to make it comparable to the United plan. Typically that is about $100/year for that supplemental plan. Please read the entire NDUS page fully – and pay particular note to the list of “Non-Compliant” plans.

Deadlines

The waiver deadline each semester is the same date as the "Last day to Add classes via Campus Connection/Last day for no-record Drop/Withdraw to Zero Credits @100% refund." This date is different each semester depending on the academic calendar. No exceptions are made after this date. The deadlines are also posted on the NDUS website mentioned above.

Fall 2024 waiver deadline: September 4th; Spring 2025 waiver deadline: January 23rd, 2025.

Please note, J students and dependents will not qualify for a waiver due to the stipulations of NDSU's agreement with the U.S. State Department.

How to Request a Waiver

Read carefully because the process varies, depending on semester.

Fall waiver: Once you are enrolled for Fall, in early August, you'll receive an email from ECI Services to either activate your coverage or request a waiver.  Follow the process in the email to request a waiver.

Spring waiver: After December 20th of each year, log in hereto the ECI Services portal to request a waiver for Spring semester. 

What happens when I'm approved?

If approved, you'll receive an email from ECI Services confirming the approval. NDSU will be notified, and we will remove the charge from your account within a few weeks. Please be patient while we process waiver requests.

Why might my waiver be denied?

Below please find the most common reasons for a waiver denial.

1. Coverage is not active - ECI Services was unable to determine if you had coverage nor what the start date of that coverage is.
2. You have a gap in coverage - You cannot have a gap in coverage between when the previous plan ended, and when your new comparable plan begins.
   • For waivers, your plan always must be active before these dates: August 16 (for Fall waivers); January 1 (for Spring waivers).
3. The deductible is too high - to qualify it must be $500 or less.
4. You missed the waiver deadline - These deadlines are posted on the NDUS website.
5. Plan does not have Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains coverage. Most plans do not.
   • If your plan is denied for this reason only, read the denial email carefully - ECI Services will provide you with instructions on how to purchase this supplemental coverage and the denial will be reconsidered.
6. If it does not meet even one of the waiver criteria listed, or if the plan is listed under the Non-Compliant plans section of this page:ND University System Health Insurance Waiver

I missed the waiver deadline, what can I do?

You are still required to purchase the ND University System required health insurance policy for this period. If you are still enrolled at NDSU during the next waiver cycle, and your comparable coverage remains the same, you can apply for a waiver during the next cycle. This will happen in August (for Fall waivers) and in December to early January (for Spring waivers).