Health Insurance/Medical
Health Insurance Requirement
Medical costs in the United States are very high. All students at Rice University are required to have health insurance coverage, and show proof of coverage before registering for classes. All non-immigrant visa holders and their dependents are required to carry insurance for the duration of their program. Health insurance is necessary for everyone in the United States.
Note: All Rice-sponsored F-1 and J-1 international students must enroll in either 1) Aetna (Rice's Student Health Insurance Plan) or 2) SAS (Rice's Approved Alternate Health Insurance Plan Option for Internationals).
Health Plan Details:
1) Aetna - Rice's Student Health Insurance Plan
2) SAS - Rice's Approved Alternate Health Insurance Plan Option for Internationals
Estimated Annual Insurance Charges:
| Aetna - Rice Plan (Student) as of May 2013 (all charges subject to change) |
| Student only |
$2,062/year |
| Spouse |
|
| Each child |
|
| SAS - Alternate Insurance Plan Option (Student) as of May 2013 (all charges subject to change) |
| Student only |
$1252/year |
| For spouse |
$4860/year |
| Each child |
$1977/year |
Please note that the doctoral subsidy is only applied if a student enrolls in the Rice Aetna plan. For information on the doctoral student health insurance subsidy please click here.
Plan Enrollment:
For the enrollment process - click here
To enroll in one of the approved plans available to Rice internationals please click below:
1) Aetna - Rice's Student Health Insurance Plan
2) SAS - Rice's Approved Alternate Health Insurance Plan Option for Internationals - Select " Internationals Students"
if you prefer to pay by check and mail your SAS enrollment form, click here.
Additional Important Notes:
- **Meningitis vaccine requirement: All new undergraduates (including transfers) must complete the meningitis vaccine requirement 10 days prior to moving on campus. Rice must have received evidence of vaccination no later than Tuesday, July 31st. Students who fail to meet this requirement will not be allowed to move into on-campus housing. For more information about the requirement, please click here.
- For Rice University J-1 student visa holders: When you register with the OISS, you will be required to show proof that you have purchased one of the approved health insurance plans for you and your family. Failure to maintain adequate health insurance can, by law, result in the termination of your J-1 status. The Rice Aetna plan or the approved SAS alternate insurance plan meet the legal visa requirements for J-1 visa holders.
- For new students: The Health Data Form must be completed and mailed to the address below before June 1st (for undergraduate students) or July 1st (for graduate students). The form should be completed in your home country, as medical check-ups in the U.S. can be very expensive.
The address is:
RICE UNIVERSITY STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE
6100 MAIN ST. MS#760
HOUSTON, TX 77005
USA
- Interim insurance for new students - Rice health insurance plans (Aetna and SAS) have an effective annual term from August 15 - August 14 of the following year. If you will be arriving early or beginning your program in the summer, you will need to secure alternate insurance that will cover you until your school plan becomes effective. You are free to select the insurance company of your choice for this interim period. However, we do recommend Atlas Insurance as a good option, as it meets the minimum requirements for specific visa categories, such as the J-1, and has the flexibility of enrolling for the number of days that you need. For more information, please visit: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/travel-medical-insurance/
- For all students: A Health Service Fee of $238 per semester is also required by Rice University. This fee pays for your use of the campus health center service only. It is entirely separate from the health insurance which helps pay for hospital or physician bills off campus, and does not offer service to dependents.
Dental and eye examinations: The health insurance charges listed above do not include routine dental and eye examinations, nor charges for dental work and eyeglasses. The normal charge for a full dental exam is about $100. Dental work is quite expensive. Eye examinations cost about $100. Glasses can cost $125 or more. It is highly recommended that you have your eyes and teeth cared for before coming to Rice.
Additional Resources:
International Health Insurance Requirement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Graduate Health Insurance FAQ
Helpful Tips for Using Health Insurance
Chinese Medical Terminology Dictionary - This medical terminology handbook has been created to assist you when you go to the doctor in the U.S. This terminology handbook was designed to translate the most common symptoms and complaints in both Chinese and English, to assist the patient - doctor communication. Please feel free to print out a copy to take with you to the doctor.
Spanish Medical terminology dictionary