CMU Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the Carnegie Mellon University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), meet every CMU waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, CMU-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a CMU health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at Carnegie Mellon University on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you have likely seen a health insurance charge appear on your student account. The good news: you do not have to pay it.
CMU automatically enrolls all full-time students in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), administered through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and bills it to your account each semester. A waiver is simply how you tell CMU: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets CMU’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, CMU removes the SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the CMU SHIP?
The CMU SHIP is a solid plan backed by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. But at $3,093 per year, it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate regardless of age or individual health needs. International students often look for an outside plan because they want:
Strong co-insurance, a manageable deductible, and the same quality of care as the school plan, without paying the school rate.
ACA-comparable coverage with full in-network access near the Pittsburgh campus and a U.S.-based insurer.
Built around the actual profile of international students, not a one-size-fits-all campus rate that ignores age and individual needs.
Step-by-step help navigating the CMU Health Services waiver portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
CMU waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the CMU SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet CMU’s minimum criteria. A qualifying plan must:
General criteria
Must qualify under ACA standards as Minimum Essential Coverage.
Unrestricted access to in-network physicians and hospitals within a reasonable distance of the CMU Pittsburgh campus.
Mental health and behavioral health benefits comparable to physical health coverage.
Must include prescription drug benefits with reasonable cost-sharing.
Additional requirements for international students
Plan must be written in standard English, with all benefits clearly expressed in U.S. dollars.
All claims must be processed and paid directly to U.S. providers from a U.S. office.
Must include medical evacuation benefits for coverage while outside the U.S.
Must include repatriation of remains coverage as part of international benefits.
The Kimber difference
Every Kimber Health CMU plan is ACA-comparable, with a U.S.-based insurer, a U.S. claims address, and in-network access to providers across the greater Pittsburgh area, built to check every one of these boxes.
CMU waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the CMU Health Services waiver portal by the deadline below. Missing this deadline means you remain enrolled in, and billed for, the CMU SHIP for the semester.
August 21st comes up faster than most students expect, especially with orientation, housing, and visa requirements all happening at once. Getting your plan sorted early means one less thing to worry about.
How the CMU waiver process works
CMU SHIP vs. Kimber Health
Cheaper is only half the story. What matters just as much is how much you pay when you actually use your insurance, and that comes down to your deductible and co-insurance.
Kimber uses age-based pricing. Rates below are shown for ages 17–24 and 25–27. Verify your exact rate at kimberhealth.com before enrolling. All Kimber CMU plans use the UnitedHealthcare PPO network.
| School Plan | Kimber Health — CMU Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | CMU SHIP On-Campus |
Kimber Elite Recommended |
Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
Kimber Core Most Popular |
Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium | $3,093 |
$1,997 (17–24y) $2,774 (25–27y) |
$1,310 (17–24y) $1,628 (25–27y) |
$975 (17–24y) $1,365 (25–27y) |
$920 (17–24y) $1,299 (25–27y) |
| In-network provider | Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield PPOBlue | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $180 | $600 | $1,500 |
| Co-insurance | 100% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Urgent care | $25 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit |
| Emergency services | $125 waived if admitted |
$300 waived if admitted |
$250 waived if admitted |
$300 waived if admitted |
$250 waived if admitted |
| Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3) | $15/$35/$65 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from CMU SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24)
Compared with the CMU SHIP annual total of $3,093, here is what you save for the most common student age group:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. CMU SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimber Elite Recommended | $1,997 | $0 / 100% | ~$1,096 |
| Kimber Premium | $1,310 | $180 / 80% | ~$1,783 |
| Kimber Core Most Popular | $975 | $600 / 80% | ~$2,118 |
| Kimber Basic | $920 | $1,500 / 80% | ~$2,173 |
Comprehensive, not just cheap
Kimber Elite has a $0 deductible and 100% co-insurance, matching the CMU SHIP’s own co-insurance rate, while saving you roughly ~$1,096 per year. Even at Kimber Basic, you keep a fully CMU-qualifying plan and save over $2,173 annually. That is rent, groceries, and textbooks.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same CMU-qualifying coverage. Here is how:
We negotiate on your behalf.
As a licensed U.S. broker, Kimber shops and negotiates across multiple insurers to find competitive rates, then passes those savings directly to students.
We price by age.
University plans charge everyone the same premium regardless of age. Kimber uses age-based pricing, so younger students pay less and are not subsidizing others.
We specialize in international students.
International students often have a lower overall claims profile. A plan built around that reality can be priced more efficiently than a general campus plan.
ACA-comparable and CMU-qualifying.
Kimber CMU plans are ACA-comparable and built to meet CMU’s qualifying standards for international students.
Get money back after you graduate
Because student insurance plans are typically billed lump sum, if you graduate before your coverage period ends, you may be eligible for a refund for unused months, potentially around 25% of your annual premium back.
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | ~3-month refund | Effective net cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimber Elite | $1,997 | ~$499 | ~$1,498 |
| Kimber Premium | $1,310 | ~$328 | ~$983 |
| Kimber Core | $975 | ~$244 | ~$731 |
| Kimber Basic | $920 | ~$230 | ~$690 |
Note: Refund eligibility and the exact amount depend on your plan terms, your cancellation or graduation date, and whether you have used your plan yet. Confirm terms at the time of enrollment.
Why CMU students choose Kimber Health
- Licensed, U.S.-based, and trusted, a real broker with a physical U.S. office, a U.S. claims address, and real human support (exactly what CMU’s waiver rules require).
- Coverage across all 50 states, new city, new campus, same coverage.
- Step-by-step waiver guidance, we walk you through the CMU Health Services waiver portal so there is no guesswork.
- Options for every budget, four plan tiers ranging from Kimber Basic to Kimber Elite, so you choose the right balance of premium and deductible.
CMU waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at CMU?
Can I waive CMU SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the CMU SHIP?
What is the CMU waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the CMU SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, CMU-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the CMU SHIP?
What is the difference between the Kimber Basic, Core, Premium, and Elite plans?
Ready to waive and save?
Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps CMU international students explore affordable, CMU-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com/cmu →
