OPT Insurance FAQ
Who is eligible for the Student Medicover OPT plan?
You are eligible if you are an international student on OPT or STEM OPT.
Is health insurance required during OPT?
OPT students are not always required by federal law to carry health insurance. However, medical care in the U.S. can be very expensive, and many schools strongly recommend maintaining coverage during OPT. Having health insurance helps protect you from unexpected medical bills. If you live in a state with an individual health insurance mandate, you may be required to have active coverage.
When should I enroll?
You should enroll as soon as you have applied for OPT and have a start date. The earliest coverage start date can be your official OPT start date, helping you avoid any gaps in coverage.
My OPT I-20 is ready, but I haven't received my EAD card yet. Can I enroll in the coverage now?
Yes, as long as you have a valid OPT I-20, you may enroll in our OPT health insurance plans (the coverage effective date cannot be earlier than your OPT start date).
What are the minimum and maximum days of coverage?
The minimum coverage period for Prime 100, Prime 500, and Basic is 90 days, while for Supreme and Elite, it is 180 days. The maximum coverage period for one policy year is 365 days.
Do I need to submit an insurance waiver to my school for my OPT coverage?
No, you do not need to report your insurance coverage to your school office after you graduate.
During the coverage period, my employer started providing health insurance. Can I request a refund/partial refund for the plan I purchased?
Refunds or partial refunds are not available once your coverage has started. Please consider this when choosing your coverage period.
I am looking for some coverage bridging the grace period. What are my options?
Please contact us to learn more about coverage for the grace period.
Comprehensive Wellness Support
2 MIN
Average
Response Time
97%
Student
Satisfaction
Starting at only $2.27/day
Affordable, high-value coverage
Flexible Enrollment Period
Enroll for as little as 90 days
24/7 Virtual Doctor Visits
Service provided by HealthiestYou
Global Emergency Services
Service provided by Student Medicover
Insurance Claim
One-On-One Assistance
Stress Relief APP
Service provided by Calm
PPO Network, Nationwide Coverage
The UHC Choice Plus PPO network spans all 50 states and
includes over one million providers and pharmacies, so
students can access quality care wherever they go.
Real experiences from real students
see why over 450,000 international students choose Student Medicover for their alternative health insurance.
"Wow, I’ve been using the Student Medicover Prime 100 Plan for a year, and it’s amazing! I had over $11k in claims, but only paid $1.7k to the hospital. Feels like I paid just 10%! Huge relief!".
"My face swelled up badly after accidentally eating a peanut pie at a party. The Student Health Center had no appointments, so I found an in-network urgent care center through the SM website. The walk-in was quick and easy — a total lifesaver!"
"Huge shoutout to their customer service—Emma was amazing! She even called CVS to check the stock for me, saving me so much time!"
"The medical insurance for international students is great. lt's much lower than the insurance provided bythe university. l visited an urgent care for UTl several weeks ago. l received two lab tests and one injection.All l will pay is just around 30 bucks. The bill is much better than l expected."
"Their customer service team always got my back when I need it🙌. First time going to the doctor in the U.S., I was confused, but Taylor was 10/10 and explained everything. Claim takes some time, but overall, very good!"
