Health Insurance for International Students

The SUNY United Healthcare (UHC) insurance plan is mandatory for all international students (F-1 visa) enrolled at Monroe Community College.  It is very comprehensive insurance coverage for medical and mental health needs you may have during your studies.

All International students are automatically enrolled in the SUNY UHC insurance plan prior to the start of each academic year. The insurance plan will be automatically billed to your student account, alongside your tuition and college fees.  Students are automatically enrolled and billed for 12 months of coverage in the fall semester starting in August. (Students who start at MCC in the spring semester will be billed for 8 months of coverage starting in January. The next academic year, they will be billed in fall semester for 12 months of coverage.)

Insurance Coverage

Health care in the United States is some of the best in the world, but it can be extremely expensive without insurance.  The State University of New York system (SUNY) that MCC is part of, requires all international students to have health insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements for sickness, accidents, medical evacuation and repatriation in effect for the duration of their F-1 student status. 

The Global Education & International Services office will enroll you in the SUNY UHC insurance plan prior to your arrival in the United States. The plan will take effect on August 15 each year and last until August 14 of the next year.  (For new students starting in spring semester, the plan will take effect on January 15 and last until August 14.)

United Healthcare offers an app and an online portal that you can use to download a copy of your insurance card. You will also receive a printed copy of your insurance card at international student orientation upon your arrival to MCC. Current students can access their UHC account by visiting the United Healthcare portal (https://myaccount.uhcsr.com).

Once logged in to the UHC portal, you can:

  • Print your insurance ID card
  • View the UnitedHealthcare Member Guide
  • Review your health insurance plan benefits

Locate medical care providers, mental health care providers, hospitals, and pharmacies that are covered by your insurance plan across the U.S. and worldwide

Insurance Waivers

The UHC insurance plan is mandatory for all international students (F-1 visa) enrolled at MCC per SUNY policy.  In rare circumstances, students can request a waiver only if their own pre-existing insurance plan meets the following criteria:

  • Must be headquartered in the United States
  • Must be compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
  • Must be equal or great to the SUNY UHC plan with no maximums or benefit limits
  • Must include medical evacuation and repatriation with no benefit limits

If you believe you have a pre-existing insurance plan that meets or exceeds the requirements, please contact the Global Education & International Services office (mccglobaleducation@monroecc.edu) to request a link to the broker’s online waiver form.  You will need to submit details about your policy to the broker. The broker company (Haylor Freyer & Coon) will review your request and determine if you qualify for a waiver. If they determine you meet the requirements, then your student account will have the insurance charges removed. 

Please note that Medicaid/Medicare plans do not qualify for a waiver.  Approved waivers of the UHC insurance plan are not common, and waivers that are denied cannot be appealed (unless you have not supplied sufficient information).