To qualify for a waiver, your health insurance plan must meet the requirements listed below.
- Plan must cover routine, non-emergency care as well as emergency care provided in the NY metropolitan area
- Plan must cover treatment for pre-existing conditions (with no waiting periods or exclusions)
- Plan must provide essential health benefits as defined by the Affordable Care Act (ACA)* (see details below)
- Plan has a claims administrator based in the U.S., a U.S. telephone number and address for submission of claims, and the insurance policy must have been issued in the U.S.
- Plan includes coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation expenses
- Required for all F1 visa students
- Required for all other students ONLY when they will be studying / traveling / doing research outside of the United States during the current academic year
- Coverage must be active from the day the student arrives on campus through July 31, 2026 or the end of their academic/collegiate sport program (whichever comes first)
- Plan must have an annual-of-pocket maximum limits of < $7,900 for individual insurance plans or < $15,800 for family insurance plans
In addition to the criteria noted above, all alternate insurance plans must include the following benefits as required by ACA:
- Outpatient care (ambulatory patient services)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization (treatment for inpatient care)
- Inpatient and outpatient mental health services and addiction treatment
- Prescription drug coverage
- Laboratory services
- Rehabilitative services and devices
- Inpatient mental health care
- Preventive services, wellness services, and chronic disease treatment
- Maternity and newborn care
- Pediatric services
*The policy is consistent with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the American College Health Association’s Standards for Student Health Insurance Benefits Programs. The underwriter and administrator of the MC-sponsored student health insurance plan also handles student health information in connection with the operation of those plans. Treatment of such information is governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the requirements of applicable New York State law.
