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International Student Health Insurance Policy

Description

Substantive revisions have been made to this existing policy. The policy specifies the requirement that all international students are required to have health insurance.


Posted on: 2/11/2026
Closes on: 2/17/2026 4:30:00 PM

Primary Documents



Comments


Are “summer break” and “summer term” being used synonymously in this policy? “Summer break” is defined, but “summer term” is not. If “summer term” refers only to the time span during which summer courses are in session, it's unclear what would be required of a student who, for example, spends Session 1 outside of the United States but returns by the start of Session 2 classes.

This policy could also be clarified with more specificity in the second sentence of Section 1. Are students required to purchase insurance for a given month if they spend some part of that month in the United States, or only if they spend the entire month in the country?



Commentor: Rachel Mazzara
Submitted on: 2/11/2026 1:40:55 PM
On behalf of: Individual Faculty

"The period between the day after Spring Commencement through the Saturday directly
preceding the first day of the Fall term" When you say “between,” then you say between X and Y, not between X through Y. You can say from X through Y, or you can say between X and Y inclusive, if you want to make that clear.

"All International Students are required to purchase and maintain health insurance for the
duration of their study at ETSU. Students are required to maintain health insurance
coverage for every month they intend to be in the United States." What's the point of the second sentence? Does it add anything that the first didn't say? If they stay in the States after their study at ETSU, you can't police whether they have insurance during that period anyway, can you?

"International Students sponsored by the government of their home country (e.g. Saudi
Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM)) that hold sufficient health insurance will not be
required to purchase additional health insurance through ETSU’s contracted vendor
upon submission of proof of insurance." Don't you want to say how they can find out if their existing insurance is sufficient?

"Students on F-1 visas who choose to depart the United States during the summer break
will not be required to purchase health insurance for the summer term. Students must
send their I-94 departure record to have the requirement removed." Must send it where?



Commentor: Theresa McGarry
Submitted on: 2/11/2026 1:04:16 PM
On behalf of: Individual Faculty