Health Insurance

New international degree seeking students must pay their health insurance before registering for classes. The health insurance charge for the 2009-2010 academic year is $969. If you are arriving in the spring 2010 semester, the charge is $599. Exchange students who are not seeking a degree, but will only be here at SCSU for a short period of time are also required to purchase SCSU university health insurance. However, your costs vary depending on your program of study. Therefore, check for these costs in your welcome packet.

For all international students, both degree seeking and exchange students, this insurance will expire on August 14, 2010. You are required to renew this policy on July 15 of every subsequent year you plan to be at St. Cloud State University. Please read on for more information concerning health insurance for international students.

Check out this important information about Health Care and Insurance

Continuing F- 1 Students: Payment of Health Insurance & Pre-Registration - July 15th is an important date!

All F-1 continuing international students may pre-register for fall semester courses in April of the spring semester. We require that annual health insurance for all continuing F-1 international students be paid by July 15th in order to maintain their pre-registered course schedule for the fall semester.

Students who have not paid their health insurance by this date may have their pre-registered courses dropped on July 16th and holds will be placed on registration until the health insurance is paid.

This procedure ensures that health insurance coverage be maintained for all continuing international students, and is a collaborative effort of St. Cloud State University's Business Services, Health Services, Records & Registration, and the Center forInternational Studies.

The United States does not have a national health care system available to nonimmigrant students; therefore, the cost of medical care is the responsibility of the student. Since the cost of medical treatment in the United States is so high (the average hospital stay of three days could easily cost over $1000), St. Cloud State University (SCSU) requires that all new and transferring international students enrolled at SCSU purchase the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Student Health Plan. This mandatory program exists for the protection of international students and provides a health plan against financial hardship resulting from the need for medical attention.

New and transferring students must meet this requirement regardless of any other health coverage before they will be permitted to attend classes. This policy was established by the Minnesota Colleges and Universities System Director of Student Life, St. Paul, MN. Exceptions are only permitted by complying with the criteria as outlined below.

It is the student's responsibility to insure health insurance payments are made to the SCSU cashier. The Cashier's window is located in the Administrative Services Building. Payments by mail should be sent to:

Cashier's Office
St. Cloud State University
720 4th Ave S, AS 123
St. Cloud, MN 56301

You may also call (320) 308-4012 with your credit card number. When doing either of these options, please include your first and last name, and your student I.D. number or your social security number.

A single insurance payment is made for an entire year, which ends August 14. Students beginning school in fall semester will pay the full year's premium before registering for classes. New students beginning spring semester will pay spring and summer insurance premiums respectively before registering for classes. Students transferring, graduating or leaving SCSU before summer term will obtain a refund for unused premiums by completing a departure form to be sent to the insurance company. All refunds must be initiated by the student by visiting the Center for International Studies. Reimbursement for early departure can be arranged on an individual basis.

Note to students: This policy statement is for your use in communicating with your Embassy. It is suggested that you include it when you mail your letter to the embassy officer.

Exemption Letter from the Embassy Official Responsible for International Students

A letter must be sent to the Center for International Studies at St. Cloud State University to the attention of the international student advisor.

The letter must be signed by the Embassy officer responsible for that country's international students studying here in the United States

The Embassy officer must:

• verify the existence of a health insurance policy for the particular named student studying in the United States, including coverage for hospital stays, laboratory tests and emergency room care.
• the verification must include the health carrier's name and policy number
• acknowledge that it is her/his responsibility to notify St. Cloud State University in the event that the student named is no longer covered under the terms of the policy or that the policy has been materially altered or discontinued.

The letter from the Embassy officer also must verify that the health insurance policy covers repatriation, should that need arise.

The letter described above must be typed on the official letterhead stationery of the Embassy in Washington, D.C., having been sealed by the appropriate Embassy officer.

The letter must be presented to the Center for International Studies by the fifth (5th) day of classes or an exemption can not be granted until the following semester.

It is the students responsibility to stay in continual contact with their Embassy or consular Officer and keep informed of any changes in your health insurance coverage while studying at St. Cloud State University.

SCSU reserves the right to require all students from a particular country to purchase the SCSU student health plan, if, in SCSU's sole discretion, that country or its Embassy is unable or unwilling to provide comparable, consistent, comprehensive and timely coverage and payment.

For further information, please contact the Center for International Studies.