Health Insurance

According to the Texas A&M University System regulation, international students on F-1 &  J-1 visa are required to hold insurance that meets the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements as well as provides repatriation and medical evacuation.International Students are defined as students who are not United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States. International Students are REQUIRED to maintain approved health insurance coverage continuously while enrolled and attending a Texas A&M System institution, unless the student provides proof of coverage that meets the Texas A&M University Systems waiver requirements.

• If you don’t have insurance, there is NO ACTION to take. You will be automatically enrolled in the System Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through AHP, and the charge will be applied to your student account.
• If you have your own insurance, follow the instructions below to submit evidence of your alternate health insurance coverage.

The Spring 2025 Semester Waiver will go live December 12, 2024. 

Waiver Guidelines

International students who are not employed in graduate assistant positions entitling them to coverage under the system employee group health insurance program (SHIP) must be automatically enrolled in the SHIP. This requirement will be waived for international students under the following circumstances:

• Student is sponsored by the United States If the health plan does not include medical evacuation and repatriation, a rider must be purchased providing coverage at equal limits to the SHIP.
• Student is 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 medical evacuation and repatriation, a rider must be purchased providing coverage at equal limits to the SHIP.
• Student is 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.
• Student is enrolled in only distance learning
• Student is involved in intercollegiate athletics and coverage for all medical insurance is provided through a policy as part of the current sports accident medical policy approved by System Risk Management.
• The insurance coverage must be in effect on or before January 1st, 2024.

Waiving Insurance Instructions

1. Have an electronic copy of your current insurance card, Policy Document in English (including benefits and exclusions), and proof of Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage (if you have this coverage) available.
2. Go to https://tamusa.myahpcare.com.
3. Select the 'Waiver' tab> Select the link to continue
4. Login to the waiver system by using the following:
   • Login-your Texas A&M- San Antonio Student ID Number
   • Password-the password you chose when you registered.
   • If this is a new account, the student will select the “New Student Registration” link and be taken to a form to their demographic information.
5. Once the registration page “Register” button is selected (and all the required fields are entered), it will take you to the waiver system home page (dashboard page).
   • Also at this point, the waiver system will send an auto-generated registration email reminding that the waiver process is not completed yet, along with the steps to complete your waiver submission.
6. Select the ‘WAIVE’ button under the “I Already Have Insurance”
7. You will be required to attach your insurance information and other documents:
8. A scanned copy of the front and back of your current/alternate health insurance ID card indicating you are a covered member
9. A scanned copy of your complete policy benefit document, including exclusions & limitations and dependent coverage.
10. Select the ‘Submit Waiver’ button at the bottom of the waiver The waiver system will send an auto-generated submitted email of the successfully completed the waiver process.

If you do not submit a waiver OR if you missed the waiver deadline to be approved, then you will be automatically enrolled in the System Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through AHP, and the charge will be applied to your student account.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Policy provides the Essential Minimum Benefits required by the PPACA with no annual limits.
• Policy annual deductible of no more than U.S. $500 (except for employer plans).
• Repatriation expenses in the amount of no less than $25,000.
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the insured to the insured’s home country of no less than $50,000.
• Policy contains no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
• Policy covers 100% of Preventive Care as defined by the PPACA.

ID CARDS:

ID cards will be available online and students will be able to print those cards once they are notified. Students who were enrolled in coverage for a previous semester will not get a new ID card. New ID cards can be ordered by calling AHP Customer Service or go directly to Blue Access for Members (BAM).

SPOUSE AND CHILDREN: If you need to add your spouse or children to your health insurance health plan, you may contact the Academic Health Plan directly at (877) 624-7911.

1. Follow this link to the Texas A&M University-San Antonio My AHP Care website,
   Note: Graduate Assistants, use this link: Texas A&M University System – Graduate Student Employees | Home (myahpcare.com) 
2. Then you will click on Find Group and Member ID,
3. You will be redirected to a page with your Member ID and Group # (be sure to write that down),
4. Then you will follow this link to the BlueCross BlueShield of Texas page,
5. Click on Sign Up or Log In, you will then be redirected to a page where you will click on Register Now,
6. Follow the steps on registering/ creating an account,
7. Once everything is registered, you will be able to download your digital card.

Dental and Vision Plans

• If you wish to enroll in the AHP Dental or Vision plans, visit https://tamusa.myahpcare.com/products to learn more and then log into your AHP account to add Dental or Vision coverage during their open enrollment periods.  Dental and Vision plans are an additional cost. 
• You may call AHP at 1-877-624-7911 for assistance with enrollment.  

https://tamusa.myahpcare.com/products

Please do not forward any insurance documents to The Office of International Affairs. We are not equipped to assess insurance benefits or coverage.You must deal directly with AHP Customer Service at:

Contact Academic Health Plan (AHP) at:
Academic Health Plans, Inc.
3500 William D. Tate Ave. Suite 200 
Grapevine, TX 76051
tamuwaiver@ahpcare.com
Phone: (877) 624-7911 
   Fax: (817) 479-2101