Health Insurance
Every international student must carry health insurance for their entire stay at UNM!
It is your responsibility to stay covered the whole time you are in the U.S.!
- Requirements
- Undergraduates and Graduates Without Assistantships
- Exchange and Guest Students
- Athletic Scholarship Students
- Sponsored Students
- Graduate Assistantship Students
- Dependents
- Terminology
- Short-term Insurance
Requirements
UNM international students must be covered by one of the following types of health insurance:
Undergraduates and Graduates Without Assistantships
If you do not have U.S. health insurance through a graduate assistantship, athletic scholarship, government financial sponsor or U.S. employer, you MUST buy UNM international student health insurance. The insurance can be purchased one semester at a time or annually and RENEWED until you complete your UNM program (including summers). Not renewing your insurance on time will result in a registration hold and will reset your 6-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, so do not let your insurance lapse! New and continuing students can enroll on the UNM International Student Insurance website. for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions Plan. The health insurance plan begins on August 1 for fall and January 1 for Spring/Summer. Students continuing studies in Spring semester MUST purchase Spring/Summer coverage unless they are completing their UNM program in Spring. Please READ through the plan carefully to find out what the insurance does and does NOT cover! This insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months!. New students should take care of any routine medical needs BEFORE coming to the US and bring any prescriptions for at least 6 months. Current students should seek care and prescriptions for current conditions before ending any current health plan. If you have an existing illness or if you want more than the coverage provided in this plan, you may need to purchase additional insurance.
Exchange and Guest Students
If you are coming to UNM for one semester or one academic year as an Exchange or Guest Student, you MUST buy insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions for your exchange program. The insurance must be purchased for the duration of your exchange program. If you are staying more than one semester at UNM, you MUST enroll twice but at the same time, once for each coverage period (e.g., Fall and then do it again selecting "Renew" for Spring). You MUST enroll through the UNM International Student Insurance website BEFORE you arrive in the U.S. Please READ through the plan information carefully to find out what the insurance does and does NOT cover! This insurance does not cover pre-existing conditionsfor the first 6 months, so you should take care of any routine medical needs BEFORE you come to the US and bring any current prescriptions with you for your entire exchange program (or at least for the first 6 months)! If you have an existing illness or if you want more than the coverage provided in this plan, you may need to purchase additional insurance.
Athletic Scholarship Students
Sponsored Students
Graduate Assistantship Students
Dependents
Spouse and dependents in the U.S. cannot be covered by the UNM international student insurance. Below are our recommendations for those individuals: FOR SPOUSE: New Mexico Insurance Pool: This is a group plan for people not covered by other insurances. Cost depends on total household income, age and other factors. The below free insurance brokers can help with sign-up. Married students and dependents cannot enroll in Marketplace insurance until they become tax residents (after 5 years in F or J immigration status). FOR CHILDREN: MEDICAID: Medicaid is available without work requirements for anyone under 19 years of age. Once your child enrolls in an Albuquerque Public School, you can get support from the school district to enroll your child in Medicaid. More information can be found here: https://www.aps.edu/student-family-and-community-supports/accountability-medicaid-operations/medicaid-enrollment You may need to provide a passport, visa, I-94 and I-20/DS-2019 form at the time of enrollment. Medicaid is free for pregnant women and children. However, accepting Medicaid may have an impact on a future visa application as it may be viewed as an indication of insufficient funds for living in the U.S. Free Health Insurance Brokers for NM Health Plans (BewellNM and NM Insurance Pool) Sign-Up: Peng Mak Idalia Campos 505-440-3717 505-615-3918 pmmarketplace@gmail.com icampos@unm.edu Contact the brokers as soon as possible after arrival in New Mexico or you may not qualify.
Terminology
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit: The amount of money the insurance company will pay your family if you die or the amount they will pay you should you lose body parts in an accident. Congenital Defects: Medical problems you are born with. Co-payment/Co-insurance: The percentage of costs for services, which you must pay (e.g., if the company pays 80%, your "co-insurance" is 20%). Deductible: The amount you must pay for treatment of an injury or illness before the insurance company will begin to pay any costs. Exclusions: Illnesses or services the insurance company will not pay for. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): A type of Health Benefit Plan under which the Members receive all medical services through a specific group of Participating Providers. In-network provider: a hospital, doctor, urgent care or other medical facility that has a contract with your insurance company leading to a reduced price for care Inpatient Care: Services provided while staying for a period of time in a hospital or medical facility. Limitations: Limits on the amount the company will pay or the services they will pay for. Medical Evacuation Benefits (Medevac): The amount the company will pay if you need to be transported long distance for health care. Medical Expense Benefit/Out-of-pocket Maximum: Services and amounts the company will pay for your medical coverage. (Also called your "Payment Limit") Out-of-network provider: a hospital, doctor, urgent care or medical facility that does not have a contract for reduced prices with your insurance company - meaning you typically will pay more. Outpatient Care: Medical services provided while you are not staying in a hospital or medical facility (e.g., at a doctor's office). Policy: Specific contract or agreement between you and the insurance company, in which you pay to receive certain benefits. Pre-existing Conditions: Illnesses or injuries you had before your policy began. Premium: Monthly or yearly fee or cost which you pay to the insurance company for medical coverage. Primary Care Physician (PCP): A doctor selected by the member to be the first physician contacted for any medical problem. The doctor acts as the member's regular physician and coordinates any other care the member needs, such as a visit to a specialist or hospitalization. Provider: A licensed health care facility, program, agency, physician or health professional that delivers health care services. Referral: A written recommendation by a physician for a Member to receive care from a specialty physician or facility. Repatriation Benefit: The amount the company will pay to transport your body back to your home country if you die. Right of Subrogation: The insurance company has the right to sue others for your injuries even if you don't agree
Short-term Insurance
Many students need to buy a short-term travel medical plan to cover them until the U.S. health insurance policy starts. You can research short-term plans on the Internet or try one these:
