[Intl-stu] Important insurance changes

[International Students]

The ISSO hosted two international student forums last week and we wanted
to follow up with these meetings this week to announce some important
changes to the insurance requirements for international students.

 

The Texas A&M System has developed an agreement with the System
insurance provider, AIP, that will include a mandatory enrollment for
international students in the AIP plan.  

 

So what will this proposed mandatory enrollment mean to international
students?

*         Students will be covered by the A&M System approved insurance
company, AIP.  Please visit www.tamuinsurance.com, select our
university, and the plan is the Basic 50K International Insurance plan.


*         Under the mandatory enrollment agreement, the A&M System
insurance premiums will be an estimated $46 a month or an estimated $274
each fall and spring semester and you will be charged for the insurance
through your student account with your tuition and fees.  Students will
be required to pay each semester premium, an estimated $274 each fall
and spring semester, by the 20th class day for each fall and spring
semester or classes will be dropped.  

*         Tentatively, the mandatory enrollment will begin in Fall 2010
for NEW students, and CURRENT (all) students will be enrolled by Spring
2011.  

*         Once mandatory enrollment has begun the insurance holds on
student's accounts will be eliminated.  You will no longer have the
registration hold on your account once mandatory enrollment begins in
Spring 2011.    

*         Students will be covered for the entire year which will in
many cases help eliminate the pre-existing clause that insurance
companies have that prevents or limits coverage for pre-existing
illnesses or ailments.

*         Students will only be able to opt out of the mandatory
enrollment for two reasons (please see below).

 

So how will this new mandatory insurance work?

*         An estimated $274 per semester (fall/spring) premium will be
assessed on all international students accounts (with their regular
tuition and fees).  Summer coverage is provided and only new students
will pay a pro-rated premium for the summer semester.  You will no
longer be required to pay for the insurance by credit/debit card as the
premiums will be included with your tuition and fees.  You will
automatically be billed with the rest of your tuition and fees but the
semester premium, $274 each fall and spring, MUST be paid by the 20th
class day for each fall and spring semester or classes will be dropped.


*         The ISSO will ensure that students are enrolled each semester
by submitting information to the insurance provider.

*         Our plan is to begin the mandatory enrollment for NEWLY
ADMITTED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS in Fall 2010.

*         ALL CURRENT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS will be enrolled in Spring
2011.  

*         The ISSO will be conducting  more student forums to allow
feedback on this subject or any other concerns or issues during the
Summer and Fall semesters. 

 

 

Who will be able to opt out of the mandatory enrollment?

*         Students with a government scholarship (sponsored students)
that includes insurance that meets the university minimum requirements
will automatically be opted out of the mandatory insurance requirement.

*         Students with graduate assistantships will be automatically
opted out of the mandatory insurance requirement once their GA insurance
is effective.

 

 

Please contact the ISSO if you have any questions or concerns.  As
stated above, this plan will be tentatively begin for NEW students in
the Fall 2010 and CURRENT (all) students for Spring 2011, but there are
a number of details we are still working through for the new
requirement.  

 

John Mark Jones, Director

International Student Services

Texas A&M University-Commerce

PO Box 3100

Commerce, TX 75429

Phone (903)886-5097

Fax (903)468-3200

 

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