Frequently Asked Questions for International Students

J-1 students and J-2 dependents are required to have health insurance to maintain legal immigration status in the US.

F-1 students are not required to have health insurance to maintain immigration status, but are required to have health insurance to study at Ohio State.

F-2 dependents are not required to have health insurance to maintain status, but you are strongly encouraged to purchase insurance for any F-2 dependents on your record.

No. To remove dependents, you need to submit a Qualifying Event Request to terminate coverage; if your request is approved, the termination is effective the first day of the *following* term. There will be no pro-rata refund of premium in the middle of the semester.

You can submit a request for Early Arrival Coverage if you meet one of these requirements:

• International, graduate or professional student new to Ohio State.
• Undergraduate students required to arrive early by an Ohio State program.
• Private insurance expired between specific early arrival coverage dates (usually 1 month before school term).

If you select autumn coverage, it begins 7 days prior to the start of the academic term. Spring/summer coverage begins January 1.  Visit Rates, Dates, and Deadlines for specific information. 

For the entire academic year (Autumn, Spring, Summer semesters) as long as you remain eligible (meeting the minimum credit hour requirement). 

For routine care and normal illness, visiting Student Health Services, Counseling and Consultation Service, Ohio State Optometry Clinics, and the Ohio State College of Dentistry Student Clinic will cost you less than other locations.

If those locations are closed or you wish to be seen elsewhere, or if you have different non-routine needs, use the Find a Provider page to search for individuals and locations. (A "provider" can be a doctor or other health professional individual, or it can be a location like a hospital.) Also you can use or print a copy of our one-page overview.

These describe different service types for different needs. Your benefits pay differently for these types.

• Emergency room is for life-threatening or very bad illness or injury. For example: Heart attacks, serious car accidents, bad burns, bad broken bones (bones that break the skin), very high fever, convulsions, or stroke symptoms. An emergency room ("ER") is connected to a hospital. If you have a life-threatening illness or injury, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. 
• Urgent care is for when you need prompt attention but don't have life-threatening illness or injury. For example: injuries, fever that doesn’t go away, sudden pain, broken bones. Urgent Care locations stay open after business hours and on weekends. Urgent care centers cannot admit you for longer-term care. They do not have operating rooms. 
• Office visits are typically for normal illness or for preventing illness or routine care. This can include a physical check-up or visits for a sore throat, immunizations, cough, stomachache, or sprained ankle. 

You can also call the HealthiestYou Telehealth Line (number is printed on your UHCSR member ID card) to speak to a licensed medical doctor regarding diagnosis and treatment of many different acute illness. Someone is available to answer your call at any time of day or night. 

Find a Provider allows you to search by these types of service. 

For additional information about when and where to seek care, visit the Student Health Services Emergencies information page.

The Student Health Benefits Plan will pay for covered services received abroad at the Tier 2 level. You will need to pay in full first and then request reimbursement within 90 days of the day of service. To request reimbursement, please submit a claim via your UHCSR My Account.  Please contact UHCSR at 1-833-789-9300 for further assistance.  

Please note that the travel assistance through UnitedHealthcare Global does not apply in your home country.

Yes.  When seeking care, you will save the most at Ohio State Columbus-campus locations, which we call our Tier One providers.  Our on campus Tier One provider for Mental Health Services is Counseling and Consultation Service.  

Students may also use our next level Tier Two providers:

• OSU Health Plan Network (inside Franklin County)
• UnitedHealthcare Options PPO and United Behavioral Health Networks (outside Franklin County)

Yes.  When seeking care, you will save the most at Ohio State Columbus-campus locations, which we call our Tier One providers.  Our on campus Tier One provider for Dental Services is College of Dentistry Student Clinics.  

Our dental policy partner is Delta Dental of Ohio.  For adult dental, your network locations are Delta Dental PPO/Delta Dental Premier Networks.

Yes.  When seeking care, you will save the most at Ohio State Columbus-campus locations, which we call our Tier One providers.  Our on campus Tier One provider for Vision Services is College of Optometry Clinics.

The Ohio State University has partnered with UHCSR to offer the Student Health Benefits Plan. UHCSR is the insurance carrier, and also administers the medical and prescription benefits.

Hard copy member ID cards are not mailed to members. Members can print a copy of the ID card by visiting the UnitedHealthcare StudentResources policy page.  A hard copy of the ID is available by requesting one from UnitedHealthcare StudentResources (UHCSR).  Additional information can be found on our Member ID card page. 

Carry it with you at all times or have it electronically accessible. Your card identifies to providers that you (and your dependents) have coverage. It includes a unique member identification number and a toll-free phone number to contact member services.

Hard copy member ID cards are not mailed to members. Members can print a copy of the ID card by visiting the Delta Dental of Ohio website.   Additional information can be found on our Member ID card page. 

A network provider is doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who have contracted to provide specific medical care at negotiated prices. Use of a network provider keeps your out of pocket costs down. 

The amount of money you pay to have health insurance. The Student Health Benefits Plan charges a per semester fee which counts as your premium. 

The amount of Covered Medical Expenses that a covered person pays during the policy year before health insurance pays.

A specified dollar amount an insured person must pay for specified charges at the time of service. The co-pay is separate from and not part of the deductible or coinsurance.

The percentage share of what you pay for a covered service. It's often expressed as a ratio. For example, "80/20" means that health insurance pays 80% of the cost and you are billed for 20% of the cost. 

An insurance claim is a request for benefits payment to an insured employee or beneficiary (the claimant). The claim is generally submitted to the insurance company by the provider, the claim is processed based on the benefits, and payment is made to the provider.

Additional information can be found on our Claims Assistance page.

An EOB (explanation of benefits) is a form that explains how the payment amount for a health benefit/health insurance claim was calculated. It also may explain the claims appeal process and provide other information.

Additional information can be found on our Claims Assistance page.

A summary word for what you can expect from your health insurance plan when you have paid your premiums and have that plan. It refers to the fact that your health insurance will pay for covered services as detailed in their Summary Plan Description.