Insurance
International Student Health Insurance
Students under an F or J visa are required to carry health insurance that meets the
minimum coverage requirements per Florida Board of Governor's Regulation 6.009 and
All international students studying at USF are required to have adequate health insurance
coverage. Students must complete and submit the Student Health Insurance Agreement
form to remove the SI Hold and to indicate how they will comply with For Fall 2026: The Health Insurance REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED. Do not buy an alternative
policy for the 26/27 academic year until after July 15 and you have read the updated
insurance regulations. Our webpage will be updated by July 15, 2026.
See if you have a Student Insurance (SI) Registration Hold - Release SI holds
Click HERE for a review guide.
To release a Student Insurance (SI) Registration Hold, click on either New Student
or Continuing Student (whichever applicable) for additional instructions.
Newly Admitted Students
- Summer 2026: Complete the to indicate your health insurance plan preference and remove the SI Hold.
- Only insurance coverage for Summer 2026 semester (May 1- August 16) will be considered. Newly purchased insurance coverage that starts in July or August 2026 will not be approved.
- Fall 2026: Complete the to indicate your health insurance plan preference and remove the SI Hold. DO NOT PURCHASE ALTERNATIVE POLICY FOR 2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR AT THIS TIME.
Until they complete this form, students will have an SI hold on their accounts, which will prevent them from registering for classes. The USF Student Health and Wellness Center will remove students’ SI Registration hold approximately one business day after they complete the insurance agreement form. Students may change their preferences by completing a new insurance agreement form and are not necessarily obligated to purchase health insurance on the day they complete this form.
Continuing Students
- Summer 2026: Complete the to indicate your health insurance plan preference and remove the SI Hold.
- Only insurance coverage for Summer 2026 semester (May 1- August 16) will be considered. Newly purchased insurance coverage that starts in July or August 2026 will not be approved.
- Fall 2026: Complete the to indicate your health insurance plan preference and remove the SI Hold. DO NOT PURCHASE ALTERNATIVE POLICY FOR 2026/2027 ACADEMIC YEAR AT THIS TIME.
Until they complete this form, students will have an SI hold on their accounts, which will prevent them from registering for classes. The USF Student Health and Wellness Center will remove students’ SI hold approximately one business day after they complete the insurance agreement form. Students may change their preferences by completing a new insurance agreement form and are not necessarily obligated to purchase health insurance on the day they complete this form.
International students have the option to enroll in the USF Sponsored Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Academic HealthPlans (AHP) OR waive out with an adequate alternative policy before the deadline.
Summer 2026:
To activate your enrollment in the USF SHIP underwritten by Aetna, you will need to
pay the premium directly through your Student Self Service account no later than no
later than May 18, 2026, by the first day of Summer classes. Tuition deferments do NOT include the insurance premium. Tuition deferment cannot
be applied to insurance premium.
- Visit  to review the 2025-2026 SHIP brochure and instructions on how to obtain your insurance card
- If you are working as an eligible GA/RA/TA, click here
USF SHIP features comprehensive coverage exceeding FL-BOG and USF's regulations.
| Policy Period - Policy In effect | Premium - Cost |
|---|---|
| Summer A/C (5/1/26 - 8/16/26) | $1,040.00 |
| Summer B (6/1/26 - 8/16/26) | $502.00 |
Waiving Sponsored Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) with an Adequate Alternate Plan
Summer semester compliance: from April 20, 2026 through May18, 2026 you will have the opportunity to waive/opt
out of USF SHIP. You will need to submit proof of your alternative policy to AHP directly for review
and consideration.
- New Students: monitor your email inbox starting on April 20, 2026 for an email from sender: info4students@mycare26.com. It will be sent 3-5 days after the Agreement form has been submitted. Click on the link provided in the email to activate your Care26.com account.
- Already have a Care26.com account? Just log in or reset password if forgotten.
- Only insurance coverage for Summer 2026 semester (May 1 - August 16) will be considered. No new insurance coverage should be purchased that will start in July or August. No coverage should be purchased for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.
- Allow 2-3 weeks for review/determination. Both AHP and USF must approve your policy before your Student Self Service account is updated and the premium fee removed.
- Please note: returning students cannot have a gap in coverage.
Submit adequate documentation to AHP from April 20, 2026 through May 18, 2026. If you miss the final submission deadline of May 18, 2026, you WILL be required to purchase the USF Sponsored Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for Summer semester to complete the academic year.
Students under an F or J visa
Have your health insurance company complete the USF Insurance Compliance (Waiver) form and submit it to , along with the front and back of your insurance card for review no later than May
18, 2026.
- Returning students cannot have a gap in coverage; you are required to have continuous health insurance coverage.
- Your policy must provide coverage for the entire academic year, even if you are planning to graduate and/or leave the country.
Students under a non-F or J visa
You must submit a copy of the front and back of your health insurance card to for review:
- You must have active health insurance for the entire semester.
Please note: the USF premium will not be removed from your Student Self Service account
unless your policy meets the minimum requirements of the mandate and is officially
approved by AHP and USF.
In the meantime, when paying tuition and fees, subtract the insurance premium from
your total and pay the remaining amount. If left unpaid, the insurance premium fee
on your account will not generate a late fee.
If you are experiencing issues with uploading proof of your alternative policy, please
contact Academic HealthPlans (AHP) at (888) 896-5797 or
- DACA students may attach a copy of their current Notice of Action I-797 to the agreement form
- Sponsored students may attach a copy of their sponsorship letter and/or health insurance card to the agreement form.
Click here for some frequently asked questions.
Click here for commonly used insurance terms.
Telephone: 813-974-2331, option 5
Fax: (813) 974-8910
TAMPA OFFICE HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8AM TO 5PM, ENTRANCE C
PHONE LINES AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 10AM TO 4PM