Auto-Enrolled International Student Health
The MSU student health insurance plan (SHIP) offers health coverage for students and their eligible dependents through Aetna. If you are an international student, you are enrolled automatically in the SHIP plan. Through the health plan, you have access to quality health care through hospitals, physicians and affiliated health care professionals in the Aetna provider network. Locate a provider through the Aetna website.
Important Notes: Under current regulations, F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars are required to enroll in the MSU SHIP plan. Only a limited number of international students are eligible to submit a waiver. Please refer to the Health Insurance Waiver page to review waiver eligibility requirements.
Students automatically enrolled in SHIP should not create their own AHP account—MSU sends their enrollment to AHP directly. Once added, students will receive an email from AHP/Care26 with a link to log in or create credentials to access the account.
Eligibility and Enrollment/Waiver Information
Health Enrollment and Waiver Periods
|
Enrollment Period |
Effective Date | Termination Date | Open Enrollment and Waiver Dates |
| Fall 2025/2026 | August 16, 2025 | February 15, 2026 | July 14, 2025 - September 30, 2025 |
| Spring I 2025/2026 | January 1, 2026 | August 15, 2026 | December 1, 2025 - March 15, 2026 |
| Spring II 2025/2026 | February 16, 2026 | August 15, 2026 | December 1, 2025 - March 15, 2026 |
| Spring III 2025/2026 | May 11, 2026 | August 15, 2026 | April 13, 2026 - July 10, 2026 |
| 1st Year Early Arrival COM | June 1, 2026 | August 15, 2026 | April 13, 2026 - July 10, 2026 |
International students are automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan. International students may enroll eligible dependents in the corresponding enrollment period the primary policy holder (student) is enrolled in.
Eligible dependents of students enrolled in the SHIP plan:
- Spouse/Other Eligible Individual
- Children (must be under the age of 26)
- Stepchildren (must be under the age of 26)
For more information on AHP Administration & Aetna Plan Design Details, visit the Health Plan Design and Administration page.
A limited number of international students students can currently waive out of the SHIP plan through the waiver process. Please review the international student waiver criteria and process to notify HR that you meet the waiver criteria. You may contact HR at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu & 517-353-4434 or 800-353-4434.
Important Note: Students must submit a waiver request to AHP each semester. A previously approved waiver does not guarantee a future waiver approval.
Access the waiver system through Academic HealthPlans (AHP).
Health insurance coverage for the Spring 2025 semester begins on January 1, 2025 (for students without a prior fall 2024 enrollment). MSU students entering the United States before January 1 should buy early arrival health insurance coverage to ensure they have access to health care the entire time they are inside the country. Early arrival coverage costs $8 per day and can be purchased for any number of days.
To purchase the early arrival coverage, please create an account through Academic HealthPlans (AHP). Your student category will be “International Early Arrival.” If you already have a Spring 2025 insurance record in AHP, please contact the MSU HR Solutions Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu so your account can be corrected to allow the Early Arrival purchase.
Please visit the OISS website for more detail https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/health-wellness-and-safety/us-health-care-insurance/. Contact ihealth@msu.edu with any questions or concerns related to early arrival insurance requirements.
If you need to enroll or make changes to your coverage due to a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), you must complete a qualifying event enrollment through Academic HealthPlans (AHP) within 30 days of the event date. For additional information, please visit the Health Plan Rates and Qualifying Life Events page.
Health Insurance Marketplace plans: Plans that meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements can be purchased through your state’s Marketplace. You can visit the Health Insurance Marketplace or call (800) 318-2596 to see if you qualify for subsidies on ACA plans or free or low-cost coverage. Local help is available, too.
Through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): You can get no- or low-cost health coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan’s Medicaid) or MI Child (Michigan’s CHIP), depending on your age and income.
You can apply at Michigan’s MI Bridges portal to see if you qualify for Michigan’s Medicaid or CHIP programs. Michigan’s Medicaid program includes the Healthy Michigan Plan, which covers all the federal essential health benefits, plus other services, at an affordable price.
Short-term health plans: You can get 185-day plans that aren’t ACA-compliant. Check out the eHealthInsurance website for more information on this health plan option.
Job-based health plans: If you work, your employer may offer health insurance.
Your parents’ health care plan: You can be added to your parent’s plan during the annual Open Enrollment Period (or during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify). As long as you’re under age 26, it doesn’t matter if you live with your parents or if you graduate, get married or have a child.
