International Student Health Insurance Program (ISHIP) is the UW health insurance plan for many international students. Use this page as a quick resource hub to understand what ISHIP is, how to get started, and what to do when you need medical care.
ISHIP basics | Getting started | Using care | Mental health | Quick links
ISHIP basics
ISHIP stands for International Student Health Insurance Program. It is the UW health insurance plan for many international students. The insurance company for ISHIP is LifeWise, and UW’s on-campus clinic is Husky Health Center.
Getting started with ISHIP
Many F-1 and J-1 international students with a UW-issued I-20 or DS-2019 are required to have UW health insurance while studying at UW. Always check the official ISHIP website for your specific situation.
Students usually enroll in ISHIP when they register for classes. The ISHIP charge is added to the tuition statement and is paid with tuition.
Students may be able to choose quarterly coverage or annual coverage. Annual coverage may be helpful for students who want continuous coverage through the academic year.
After coverage begins, students should watch their UW email for information from LifeWise. The LifeWise welcome email helps students set up their LifeWise account.
Your LifeWise insurance card is mailed to the local address listed in MyUW. You can also use the LifeWise mobile app to access a digital insurance card.
Tip: Update your local address in MyUW after you arrive so your insurance card can be mailed correctly.
Husky Health Center has a helpful guide to common insurance terms you will encounter, as well as other tips for navigating insurance and healthcare while at UW.
What to do if you are sick
The right place to go depends on how serious your situation is. If you are not sure what to do, call Husky Health Center during business hours or use official nurse/medical advice resources.
Where should I go?
As a UW student, you have access to many kinds of health care providers on campus through Husky Health Center and UW Medicine. You are also able to visit other care providers, but should carefully check to understand if they are “in-network” or “out-of-network” providers. Contact Lifewise to find out if a provider is considered in-network. Review the ISHIP rates and coverage here.
- In-network provider: A health care provider, clinic or facility that has a contract with your health insurance company. You will pay less out-of-pocket when you visit an in-network provider. Also known as “contracted provider.”
- Out-of-network provider: A health care provider, clinic, or facility that does not have a contract with your health insurance company. You will likely pay much more out-of-pocket when you visit an out-of-network provider and will be required to pay for otherwise covered preventive services (i.e., birth control, vaccines).
Note: Rows highlighted in gold provide 24/7 or emergency support. For life-threatening emergencies or immediate danger, call 911.
| Types of Care | When to Use the Care | Contact / Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | For life-threatening emergency or illness, such as severe injury, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or immediate danger. | Call 911 |
| Primary Care Doctor | For non-life-threatening situations, such as fever, cold, pain, preventive care, or general health concerns. | Make an appointment: 206-616-2495 |
| Urgent Care | For urgent but not life-threatening situations, such as a sprained ankle, minor cuts needing care, or a high fever. Walk-in care may be available. | Example: UW Medicine Urgent Care at Ravenna 206-525-7777 Check LifeWise network |
| 24-hour Free Nurse Line | Get health advice, such as medicine recommendations, and support anytime from an experienced nurse. | Call 24/7: 800-841-8343 |
| After-hours Medical Advice | Use this if you are not sure whether you need urgent care, an appointment, or another type of medical support after regular hours. | Community Care Line: 206-520-7511 |
| Common Cold or Minor Symptoms | For mild symptoms, students may choose to buy over-the-counter medicine. Always read medicine labels carefully. | Pharmacies near campus may include Bartell Drugs, CVS, Safeway, QFC, or Walgreens. |
| Health Insurance by LifeWise | Your ISHIP health insurance covers preventive care, some dental, vision, and other services. | ISHIP office: stdins@uw.edu LifeWise customer service: 800-971-1491 |
| Husky HelpLine | Free same-day, online mental health and crisis support. | Call 24/7: 206-616-7777 |
Mental health and urgent support
Health care includes mental health. If you need support, UW has counseling, crisis, and well-being resources available for students.
Note: CIRCLE coaching is helpful for non-urgent support and resource navigation, but it is not a replacement for emergency care, crisis support, or clinical counseling.
Reminder: CIRCLE provides this page as a resource guide. For insurance coverage, billing, waiver, or benefit questions, always follow the official UW ISHIP and LifeWise websites.