Learn how F1 students in high-cost US states can get medical insurance waivers, meet school requirements, and access the cheapest health insurance options for international students in the USA. Includes 2025 cost breakdowns and waiver strategies.

Medical Insurance Waivers for US F1 Students in Expensive States

Why F1 Students in Expensive States Need Insurance Relief

Healthcare in the United States is expensive—brutally expensive, especially in states like California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida. International students (F1 visa holders) often face:

University insurance plans costing $2,000–$6,000 per year
Mandatory enrollment policies
Strict waiver rules
Limited off-campus insurance options

For Nigerian students and other international students, this financial pressure can be overwhelming.

The good news? Many universities allow F1 students to request a health insurance waiver if they can show proof of an alternative plan that meets their criteria.

In this guide, I break down exactly how F1 students can get medical insurance waivers, which schools allow them, the cheapest alternatives, and what coverage must be included.

I’ll also share my personal insights from advising African students navigating the US healthcare maze.

Understanding F1 Visa Medical Insurance Waiver Requirements

Keyword: F1 visa medical insurance waiver requirements

There is no federal rule requiring F1 students to buy health insurance. However, universities have the authority to require it—and they do.

To waive the school plan, your alternative insurance must meet these common requirements:

Minimum Coverage

At least $100,000 per accident or illness
Emergency medical evacuation: $50,000–$100,000
Repatriation of remains: $25,000

US Provider Network

Must have a network of doctors & hospitals within the state you’re studying in.

ACA (Affordable Care Act) Compliance

Some states (California, New York, Massachusetts) require ACA-compliant plans.

Dates of Coverage

Must match university semester dates.

Deductible Limits

Many schools require deductibles below $500.

Claims Processing

Must support English language filing, US-based claims office, and 24/7 assistance.

NO Travel Insurance

Universities reject pure travel insurance—must be health insurance tailored for F1 students.

Official guidelines sample:

👉 https://www.uhcsr.com
👉 https://www.anthem.com/student-advantage/

From my experience working with Nigerian students, the biggest waiver failures come from choosing low-quality travel insurance. Schools immediately reject them.

States Where Insurance Is Very Expensive — and Waivers Are Critical

Top High-Cost States for F1 Students

California (UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley)
New York (NYU, Columbia)
Massachusetts (Harvard, MIT, BU)
New Jersey (Rutgers)
Washington (UW Seattle)
Florida (UF, FIU, Miami)

University plans in these states average $3,000–$4,500 per year, with some costing over $6,000 (e.g., NYU).

This is why international students aggressively seek waivers.

Universities That Allow Insurance Waivers for F1 Students

Not every school allows waivers—but many do.

Schools That Commonly Allow Waivers

University of California system (some campuses)
Rutgers University
University of Florida
University of Houston
University of Illinois
Arizona State University
University of Texas at Dallas
Northeastern University
University at Buffalo (SUNY)

Schools That Rarely Allow Waivers

Boston University
NYU
Columbia University
UC Berkeley (restricted)
University of Southern California
Harvard University
MIT

Check your school policy directly.
Example: UC waiver guidelines
👉 https://studenthealth.ucla.edu/insurance-waivers

Cheapest Health Insurance for International Students USA (2025)

Keyword: cheapest health insurance for international students USA

Here are real, legitimate options that schools usually accept:

ISO Student Health (ISOA)

Cost: $500–$900 per year
Very popular among Nigerian students.
Covers:
✔ $100k per injury
✔ Evacuation
✔ Repatriation
✔ Mental health
✔ Doctor visits

👉 https://www.isoa.org

IMG Student Health Advantage

Cost: $600–$1,200 per year
Strong US provider network.
👉 https://www.imglobal.com

PSI Student Insurance (VisitorSecure/Atlas)

Cost: $450–$750 per year
Schools accept it for waiver due to strong coverage options.
👉 https://www.psiservice.com

ExchangeGuard (EIIA)

Cost: $800–$1,300 per year
Good for F1 + OPT.
👉 https://www.travelinsure.com

GeoBlue Student Plan (Premium)

Cost: $1,200–$2,200 per year
More expensive but ACA-compliant.
👉 https://www.geobluestudent.com

US Student Health Insurance Comparison Table

Keyword: US student health insurance comparison

Plan	Annual Cost	Meets Waiver?	Best For	Website
ISOA	$500–$900	Yes (most schools)	Budget students	isoa.org
IMG	$600–$1,200	Yes	Strong network	imglobal.com
PSI	$450–$750	Yes	Cheapest option	psiservice.com
GeoBlue	$1,200–$2,200	Yes (ACA)	Premium coverage	geobluestudent.com
University Plan	$3,000–$6,000	Always	Required at strict schools	campus portals

How to Apply for a Medical Insurance Waiver (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Review Your University’s Waiver Requirements

Find this on the student health website.

Step 2: Choose a Replacement Insurance Plan

Select ISOA, IMG, PSI, or GeoBlue.

Step 3: Purchase the Plan

Download:

Insurance confirmation
Policy certificate
Benefits summary

Step 4: Upload Documents to the School Portal

You’ll submit:

Policy number
Insurance card
PDF of coverage summary

Step 5: Wait for Approval

Processing time: 3–10 days.

Step 6: If Denied

You can:

Provide additional documents
Switch to a higher-coverage plan
Request an appeal

Why Some F1 Students Are Rejected for Waivers

1) Buying travel insurance (schools reject it)

2) Missing coverage requirements

3) High deductibles

4) Non-US providers

5) No US claims office

6) Wrong coverage dates

7) ACA non-compliance in strict states

In my experience advising African and Nigerian students, travel insurance is the #1 reason waivers get denied.

Cheapest Way for Nigerian Students to Get Waivers Approved

Here’s the best strategy:

Step 1: Pick ISOA or IMG

These are widely accepted.

Step 2: Choose at least $100k medical coverage

Most schools require this.

Step 3: Add mental health coverage

Some schools make it mandatory.

Step 4: Select US provider network option

Improves acceptance rates.

Step 5: Provide extra documents proactively

Schools love full documentation.

FAQs

Q1: Can F1 students waive university health insurance?

Yes—if your school allows waivers and your alternative insurance meets all requirements.

Q2: What is the cheapest health insurance for F1 students?

ISOA, PSI, and IMG offer the lowest-cost plans accepted by most universities.

Q3: What are the F1 visa medical insurance waiver requirements?

Coverage must include $100k minimum, emergency evacuation, repatriation, and US-based claims support.

Q4: Does travel insurance qualify for waiver?

No. Almost all universities reject travel plans.

Q5: Why is insurance mandatory in expensive states?

States like California and Massachusetts require strong coverage due to high healthcare costs.

Conclusion: Waivers Are Possible — If You Know the Right Strategy

F1 students in expensive states do not have to accept costly university insurance plans. With the right alternative plan, proper documentation, and a clear waiver strategy, you can save thousands of dollars annually.

This guide gives you everything you need to navigate:
✔ waiver requirements
✔ cheapest insurance options
✔ comparison tables
✔ step-by-step procedures

And as I’ve seen repeatedly, Nigerian and African students succeed when they prepare early and choose the correct plan.