Health Insurance & Medical Resources

Health Insurance Requirement

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, as medical costs are very high.

All students at Rice University are required to have health insurance coverage and show proof of coverage through the enrollment/waiver process before the semester deadline. In addition, all Rice-sponsored F-1 and J-1 visa international students are subject to the Rice International Student Health Insurance Policy that requires F-1 and J-1 students to enroll in:

1) Aetna (Rice's Student Health Insurance Plan) or
2) Wellfleet (Rice's Approved Alternate Health Insurance Plan for International Students on F or J visas)

Failure to properly enroll or waive will cause a student to be automatically enrolled and charged for the Rice Aetna plan without the option for modifications.

Exempt or Non-Exempt

For health insurance enrollment and waiver purposes all Rice students are categorized as Exempt or Non-Exempt from the Rice International Student Health Insurance Policy.

Click HERE to see if you are an EXEMPT or NON-EXEMPT student to complete your enrollment/waiver application.

Open Enrollment Period

Fall 2022: July 1, 2022 - August 26, 2022
Spring 2023: December 10, 2022 - January 13, 2023

  • Coverage will start August 1st (Fall) or January 1st (Spring).
  • Students who do not expect to arrive in the United States before the start of classes will not be required to participate in open enrollment and will not be required to have health insurance until they arrive in the United States. When they move to the United States they will be required to enroll in the Aetna Student Health plan or the Alternative SAS plan. Both plans will be available for enrollment as a Qualifying Life Event based on the date of their arrival to the United States. The premiums will be prorated based on the date of enrollment.
  • Students in the United States but not in the Greater Houston area before the start of classes will be required to participate in the open enrollment process and must have health insurance that meets our waiver requirements with the exception of having non-emergency coverage in the Houston area. We will track students who meet the requirements other than the Houston area coverage. When they arrive on campus they are required to change their health insurance plan. They will be auto-enrolled in the student plan and the premiums will be prorated based on the date of arrival.
  • All students located in the United States who do not take action during Open Enrollment will be auto-enrolled for the annual plan.

The Wellfleet enrollees are not required to apply for a waiver. The OISS and Student Insurance Office receive an official confirmation of your enrollment directly from Wellfleet. The Student Insurance Office remove the pre-billed Aetna amount from your account in about a week after your enrollment.

Please contact Marjorie Cerejo if you have questions/feedback regarding health insurance. You may schedule a zoom meeting (https://calendly.com/marjorie-rice/meeting-with-marjorie-cerejo) or write an e-mail to marjorie@rice.edu.

Health Plan Options

Aetna - Rice Student Plan (click for details)

Short Brochure and Summary Flyer

Click here for Short brochure and Summary flyer

Current Rates

Click here for Current Rates

How to Enroll

  1. Visit http://studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu
  2. Click Menu, Enroll or Waive, then "Click here to Enroll or Waive during Open Enrollment"
  3. You will be redirected to Aetna's website
  4. Upon submission, your enrollment will be complete
  5. You will pay your insurance premium on your student bill

ID Card

Click here for instructions on how to Print your ID Card. To request a card, contact Aetna's customer service at 877-375-7908.

Filing a Claim

Click here to File a Claim

Find a Doctor

Click here to Find a Preferred Provider (In-Network Doctor)

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for Aetna FAQ's

Contact Aetna

For plan specific and network provider questions, please contact Aetna Student Health directly at 1-877-375-7908 or click here to visit the website.

If your doctor's office is closed and you do not know whether your condition is life threatening, you can call one of the Nurse Health Lines listed below. This is a free service available 24/7. You will be able to speak to a trained Nurse that can advise you on the best place to seek treatment based on your symptoms.
Aetna Nurse Health Hotline: 1-800-556-1555 (ONLY available to students enrolled in the Aetna insurance plan)

Memorial Hermann Nurse Health Line: 713-338-7979 or Toll Free at 1-855-577-7979

Rice Student Health Center: 713-348-4966

Wellfleet - Alternate Insurance Plan for Students

Plan Information

Click here for Benefits at a Glance, Certificate of Coverage and Benefit Summary.

Current Rates

Wellfleet current rates as of May 2022 (all charges subject to change)
Insurance For: Annual 8/1/2022 - 7/31/2023 Fall 8/1/2022 - 12/31/2022 Spring 1/1/2023 - 7/31/2023
Student only $1,693/year $710 $983
Spouse $1,693/year $710 $983
Each child $1,693/year $710 $983
3 or more children $5,079/year $2,130 $2,949

Please note that the doctoral subsidy is only applied if a doctoral student enrolls in the Rice Aetna plan. For information on the doctoral student health insurance subsidy, please click here.

How to Enroll

  1. Fall enrollment will be available June 30, 2022 until August 26, 2022
  2. Visit https://www.studentinsurance.com/Client/895
  3. Click on "Enroll" to complete your enrollment application
  4. For students arriving late for the Fall 2022 semester; please contact Paul Fisher at paul@psihealthplans.com, or Nancy Braun at nancyb@psihealthplans.com to request the enrollment form and the premium quote. The insurance carrier will require a copy of your I-94 showing the date of your arrival in the U.S.

How to Create an Account

Student Resource - https://www.studentinsurance.com/Docs/Resources/4759_4807_Wellfleet_Student_Use_Manual_2019.11.21.pdf

ID Card/User Manual

Students are able to log into their secure online account at https://www.studentinsurance.com/Client/895. In the portal, students can print their ID cards. User manual available online.

Filing a Claim

Click here to File a Claim and view the Claim Status

Find a Doctor

Click here to Find a Preferred Provider (In-Network Doctor)

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here for Wellfleet FAQ's

Contact Wellfleet for eligibility, benefits and claims questions/status

Wellfleet: customerservice@wellfleetinsurance.com
PO Box 15369 Springfield, MA 01115-5369
Customer Service Phone: 877-657-5030 (M-Th 8:30am - 7:00pm EST; Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm EST)

Direct Contact for Rice University:
Paul Fisher – Phone: 877-626-0360; email paul@psihealthplans.com
Nancy Braun – Phone: 877-626-0360; email nancyb@psihealthplans.com

Enrollment Issues: Pinnacle Student Insurance: 877-626-0360

Benefits and Claims Issues: customerservice@wellfleetinsurance.com

Office of International Students & Scholars:
Email: oiss@rice.edu
Phone: 713-348-6095

Additional Services Included in your Wellfleet plan

CareConnect - Behavioral Health Hotline 888-857-5462

24/7 telephone access to professional assistance by licensed mental health professionals for concerns like drug abuse, alcohol-related concerns, transition and/or adjustment issues, stress related to coursework and careers, cultural diversity issues, eating disorders and body concerns, anger management issues, suicidal r homicidal ideations, relationship problems. 24/7 telephone access to professional assistance by licensed mental health professionals for concerns like drug abuse, alcohol-related concerns, transition and/or adjustment issues, stress related to coursework and careers, cultural diversity issues, eating disorders and body concerns, anger management issues, suicidal or homicidal ideations, relationship problems.

24 Hour Nurseline 800-634-7629

Phone-based, reliable health information response to health concerns and questions. Assistance in decisions on the appropriate level of care for an injury or sickness. This program is not a substitute for doctor visits or emergency response systems. It does not answer health plan benefit questions. For health plan benefit questions call 800-633-7867.

Emergency Medical and Travel Assistance

Program that will arrange emergency medical and travel assistance services, repatriation services and other travel assistance services when you are traveling. If you are travelling and need assistance in North America, call 877-305-1966 or when in a foreign country, call collect at +1 715-295-9311.

Vision Discount Program – Davis Vision Discount Program

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.

Low cost Dental / Vision Options (These are all discount programs, not insurance)
Aetna enrollees click here. Wellfleet enrollees can also use the services, except the Vital Savings on Dental Discount program which must be purchased.
Wellfleet enrollees click here. Davis Vision Discount program is included in your Wellfleet plan. Careington Dental Discount program is available for purchase as a separate dental plan.

Additional Important Notes

**Meningitis vaccine requirement:

All new and returning students (including transfers) under the age of 22 must complete the meningitis vaccine requirement 10 days prior to moving on campus. Students who fail to meet this requirement will not be allowed to move into on-campus housing or take on-campus classes. 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 Wellfleet alternate insurance plan meet the legal visa requirements for J-1 visa holders.

For new students:

ALL new undergraduate students and graduate students, including business school students, are required to submit a properly completed Health Data Form to Student Health.

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.
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 Wellfleet) have an effective annual term from August 1- July 31 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. Atlas Insurance is an example of 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 $241 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.

Additional Resources