Health Insurance

 

NMSU requires all F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents to have medical health insurance.

  • F-1 and J-1 students/scholars physically present in the the U.S. and enrolled in classes or paticipating in an J-1 exchange program at any NMSU system campus, are required to have the NMSU student health insurance coverage. The coverage is administered through Aggie Health and Wellness Center. However, some students may qualify for NMSU insurance waivers. See more information below.
  • F-2 and J-2 dependents are required to have health insurance. However, they may purchase non-NMSU plans.

 

Why NMSU Health Insurance?

  • Medical care in the U.S. is expensive!
  • Health insurance offers vital financial protection.
  • NMSU offers high quality medical coverage through GeoBlue medical plan that is affordable
    • Fall 2022 New and continuing students: $936
    • Spring 2023 Continuing students: *$936
      • *Note:This amount is for continuing students only. If you are a newly admitted student, click here.
  • GeoBlue uses the Blue Cross PPO Provider Network and is the largest provider network nationwide. As of August 1st the suite of benefits have been enhanced by including coverage for immunizations, higher coverage levels for prescription drugs, and a very convenient telemedicine service called TeleMD!
  • Your health insurance will be valid throughout the academic year (provided that you made the payment before the deadline), giving you a peace of mind
    • Fall semester, new and continuing students the coverage is from August 1 to January 31
    •  Spring semester, continuing students the coverage is February 1 – July 31
  • The NMSU student health insurance plan is comprehensive and can easily be used at the Aggie Health & Wellness Center (AHWC), conveniently located on campus at 3080 Breland Dr.
    • Tip: AHWC serves as your first point-of-contact for general medical care, psychological services, and medications/prescriptions. They can treat many conditions or refer you to another doctor or specialist, if necessary.
  • When using in-network providers, most medical services are paid at 100% (less copay and out-of-pocket costs)
    • Tip: You can locate contracted providers on GeoBlue Member website at www.geobluestudents.com. Always consult with AHWC first and check with the doctor or medical facility directly to confirm that they are still a member of the network before you receive treatment.
  • Until the health insurance requirement is met every semester, F-1 and J-1 students will not be able to register for classes and possibly risk falling out of visa status.

 

Health Insurance for Dependents

All dependents must purchase coverage from VISIT® International Health Insurance Plan. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Make sure purchase coverage for the entire semester.
  • You can choose the duductible of your choice (i.e. $500, $250, $100, or $0).
  • Select the $100,000 medical option only.
  • After receiving the insurance, please email isss@nmsu.edu the proof of insurance converage along with your Aggie ID number.

Students on OPT

Students on OPT and their dependents are not required to have health insurance. Please check with your employer to see if they will offer health insurance with the employment.

However, if the student would like to have coverage through Relation Insurance Services after graduation, he/she must complete the OPT Enrollment Form and submit one of the required documents listed below within 30 days from loss of coverage of the previous insurance termination date:

  • A copy the second page of the I-20 which lists OPT dates OR;
  • A copy of the Employment Authorization Card OR;
  • An official letter from the school stating your OPT dates

You can purchase insurance in an increment of 3 months or a maximum of 1 year.

Return the OPT Insurance Enrollment Form (found on the Forms and Requests page), required document, and payment to Relation Insurance Services within 30 days from the loss of coverage of your previous insurance termination date (must be postmarked by the application deadline date).

View OPT Insurance Enrollment Form

 

Student Health Insurance Waiver

In order to waive the mandatory student health plan you must meet the following criteria:

  • You have coverage on a Government sponsored plan
  • You are a dependent on a US based employer sponsored plan
  • You have $25,000 of repatriation of remains coverage and $50,000 of Medical Evacuation coverage

If you believe your coverage meets these guidelines, please email your proof of insurance and medical plan summary to Angela King at angela.king@relationinsurance.com

For Fall, the deadline to apply for insurance waiver is August 31.

For Spring, the deadline to apply for insurance waiver is January 31.

Failure to obtain the insurance waiver by the deadline will result in student being charged for NMSU insurance and the student is liable to pay for the insurance.

 

Exemptions from the NMSU Student Health Insurance Fee

Click the waived category that applies to you to carefully read about the actions required:

Actions required: Even though sponsored students have insurance through their embassies, sponsored students must submit their financial guarantee paperwork to ISSS (isss@nmsu.edu) no later than 31 August for Fall and 31 January for Spring. If ISSS receives your financial guarantee paperwork after 31 August for Fall or 31 January for Spring, you may have to pay for the international student health insurance fee for the entire semester – even if you receive a financial guarantee – because the insurance company may not issue a refund.

Actions required: Dependents of NMSU employees who are already covered by NMSU insurance must contact ISSS (isss@nmsu.edu) to submit proof of insurance so that they will not be charged for NMSU health insurance fee and ISSS can lift their insurance hold on their student account. The deadline to submit the document is 31 August for Fall and 31 January for Spring. Failure to submit the documents every semester before the deadline will result in the student being charged for NMSU insurance.

Actions required: Students who adjust status and receive a Green Card (Permanent Resident status) must submit a copy of their Green Card to ISSS (isss@nmsu.edu) so it can be determined whether the international student health insurance fee can be removed from your student account. Depending on when you present the Green Card to ISSS will affect how much of a refund you will be entitled to receive, if any. For example, you may only receive a partial refund, or no refund at all. At that time we will also terminate your I-20/F-1 status. If you have already received your Green Card, but have not notified ISSS, please do so right away. If you do not notify ISSS, it may not be possible to remove the international student health insurance fee from your account.

With a Green Card, the student no longer meets the eligibility definition of the Relation Insurance Services plan, so the coverage will terminate. Coverage terminates effective the date of the green card issue date.