Incoming F-1 or J-1 international students may have questions about the International Student Health Insurance Plan (ISHIP) offered by the UW. ISHIP is comprehensive medical insurance, which covers an array of minor and major medical conditions and many other things, such as dental and vision care. You can find a complete list of coverages by viewing the Benefit Booklet on the LifeWise website. Here is a list of things you can expect as you approach your first quarter at the…
Federal Law and Health Insurance International students enrolled as J-1 Exchange Visitors, and any J-2 dependents, are required to have sickness and accident insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, for the duration of the J-1 program. This is a U.S. federal law. (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Title 22 Section 62.14) Willful failure to have insurance is a violation of this law and could result in termination of J-1 status. The UW ISHIP requirement may be…
Insurance Rates ISHIP Premiums & Payment Quarterly rates are applied every quarter a student registers for classes. Insurance coverage applies only for that quarter. Annual rates are applied once and insurance coverage applies to the academic year through summer quarter, from September through August regardless of whether you enroll during summer quarter. If you wish to maintain health insurance over summer quarter, even if you will not take classes, you must select the annual insurance through summer option before the…
The information on this page applies to circumstances such as understanding coverage between academic quarters, leaving the UW for OPT employment, or graduation. GAP Insurance Medical gap insurance is a supplemental health plan that acts as a cushion for international students who need coverage when ISHIP is not active – usually Early Fall start or the 2 weeks between Summer and Autumn ISHIP coverage. Students Who May Purchase GAP Insurance New or Early Fall Start Students: International students who are…
Getting Started International students often have many questions about their health insurance while enrolled at the UW. Most questions can be answered by reviewing the information on this website. ISHIP FAQs – Review common questions ISHIP Introduction Video – Watch and learn more Review the New Student Checklist International Student Health Insurance Program – ISHIP International students in an F or J visa status at UW are required by federal and state laws to maintain health insurance while studying in…
Students who purchased ISHIP health insurance coverage at the UW during the 2020 calendar year, whether for just one quarter or for the entire year will receive a letter and rebate check from LifeWise sometime in the next month, assuming that LifeWise has your current address on file. The laws and regulations which govern insurance companies such as LifeWise require that they meet specific medical loss-ratio (MLR) rules or otherwise they must refund excess premiums back to their customers. This…
Before Contacting ISHIP Students are strongly encouraged to review the information on this website and the following FAQs prior to contacting ISHIP. Ninety percent (90%) of the inquiries received via email can be addressed by reviewing the various pages within and ultimately students will be redirected to this website in those instances. Insurance FAQs COVID-19 FAQs LifeWise Talkspace FAQs We believe when it comes to mental health, healthcare is important, but it’s only one part of the equation. Mental health…
Lifewise Portal Account LifeWise will send an email to the student once they are enrolled in ISHIP. The email will provide instructions on how to create an account in the portal of the LifeWise website. Although not required, having a portal account provides various helpful tools and will not impact insurance coverage in any way. The student’s Member ID Number, in lieu of a social security number, is required to create their portal account The student’s Member ID number is…
International Students & ISHIP UW international students who are F-1 or J-1 visa eligible, temporarily living outside their home country, and who are enrolled and actively engaged in a program of study approved by the appropriate UW Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) are eligible and required to enroll in ISHIP each quarter they are enrolled for classes at UW. GAIP Eligible Employee Appointments Graduate Appointee Insurance Plan (GAIP) is insurance provided to students with eligible appointments as teaching assistants, research…
Brochures & Forms Glossary of Medical Terms It is important to understand the terminology which may be used when discussing health insurance and coverage and medical services. Glossary – ENGLISH [PDF] Glossary – ARABIC [PDF] Glossary – HINDI [PDF] Glossary – JAPANESE [PDF] Glossary – KOREAN [PDF] Glossary – SIMPLIFIED CHINESE [PDF] Glossary – TRADITIONAL CHINESE [PDF] Glossary – VIETNAMESE [PDF] Lifewise Benefits Brochure LifeWise Preventative Benefits [pdf] LifeWise Forms A comprehensive list of forms and documents on the LifeWise…