Health Plan Requirements
For Domestic Students:
Domestic Students must be enrolled in a health plan that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA):
NOTE: The following plan(s) will NOT be acceptable for waiver approval:
- Short-term coverage plans
- Financial Assistance plans
- Travel plans or plans that require you to pay for treatment yourself and then apply for reimbursement
For International Students:
All international students entering CalArts are automatically enrolled to have coverage through the CalArts Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which is provided by UnitedHealthCare Student Resources.
International students can enroll in alternative health insurance if they can provide clear evidence that their alternative health insurance plan is either sponsored by either their government or embassy AND meets the waiver requirements to opt out of CalArts Student Health Insurance (please contact healthinsurance@calarts.edu to learn more about this requirement), or meets the following requirements:
- Student are sponsored by the United States government (if the sponsoring agency's insurance meets CalArts Health Insurance waiver requirements); or
- Students are sponsored by a foreign government recognized by the United States or certain international, government-sponsored or non-governmental organizations, and covered under a health plan that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If the health plan does not include insurance coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation, a rider must be purchased providing coverage at equal limits to the SHIP; or
- Students are enrolled in an employer-provided group health plan that is compliant with the ACA. If the health plan does not include medical evacuation and repatriation, a rider must be purchased providing coverage at equal limits to the SHIP; or
- Student are enrolled in only distance learning programs for the academic year; or
- Alternate Coverage must be effective 9/1/23-8/31/24
Note: If purchasing a qualified health plan that meets these requirements (which is consistent for J-1 visas), you must provide written documentation in English (with coverage values in US dollars) from the insurance company certifying that it covers all of the mandatory requirements. This evidence should be provided during the health insurance waiver process that takes place via the online tuition bill payment during the registration process.
Exceptions are rarely provided and may not be given for any of the following reasons, including but not limited to: financial hardship, indicating that you have a better plan or that somebody else was waived from this requirement. International students who wish to be waived from this requirement for the academic year must provide the necessary documentation by August 26 in order to use the insurance on September 1. Final deadline to waive is September 18.
The Institute insurance includes coverage for the following benefits: Office visits, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, alternative services (e.g., chiropractic, acupuncture), outpatient prescription drugs (available at any pharmacy). Please note that the plan is compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.