Waive

If you are an International student and do not want the USC Upstate Student Health Insurance Plan, you must decline or opt-out of coverage by submitting a waiver. You may only opt-out of coverage during the following Waiver Periods:

Fall - 06/09/2025 - 09/15/2025

Spring/Summer - 10/31/2025 - 02/02/2026

Waiver System Resources

International Students:

All International Students enrolled in one (1) or more credit hours will be required to show proof of health insurance as a condition of enrollment. Students must either enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan or waive the plan by showing proof of their own health insurance.

Students enrolled at the University of South Carolina Upstate that wish to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) must submit alternate coverage information through the Academic HealthPlans Waiver System. In order to be approved for a waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet the requirements listed below and be submitted with proof documentation prior to the deadline.

International Students must be enrolled in a health plan that must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Coverage must be active for fall coverage, on or before August 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, and for spring, on or before January 1, 2027, through July 31, 2027.
2. Medical coverage must have an unlimited maximum benefit per policy year per covered person.
3. Contains no exclusions (or waiting periods) for pre-existing conditions.
4. And provide the following coverage benefits:
   • Ambulatory (i.e. Outpatient) patient services
   • Emergency Services
   • Hospitalization
   • Maternity and newborn care
   • Mental health and substance use disorder services
   • Prescriptions drugs
   • Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
   • Laboratory services
   • Chronic disease management

4. Out-of-pocket expenses must not exceed $9,200 (individual) and $18,400 (family).
5. Plan must provide coverage in the South Carolina area.
6. Repatriation expenses in the amount of no less than $25,000.
7. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the insured to the insured’s home country of no less than $50,000.

If the health plan does not include medical evacuation and repatriation, a rider must be purchased providing coverage at equal limits.

NOTE: The following plan(s) will NOT be acceptable for waiver approval:

• Short-term coverage plans are not accepted.
• Financial Assistance plans are not accepted.
• Travel plans or plans that require you to pay for treatment yourself and then apply for reimbursement are not accepted.

Domestic Students and All Graduate Assistants:

Domestic Students and All Graduate Assistants are eligible to enroll on a voluntary basis, as long as the below requirements are met. To enroll voluntarily in the plan, click here. 

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program; and
• Enrolled in six (6) or more credit hours