Fordham University Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the Fordham University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), meet every Fordham waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, Fordham-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a Fordham health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at Fordham 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.
Fordham University automatically enrolls eligible students in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), administered through Aetna Student Health, and bills it to your student account. A waiver is simply how you tell Fordham: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets Fordham’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, Fordham removes the SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the Fordham SHIP?
The Fordham SHIP is a solid plan backed by Aetna Student Health. But at $5,057 per year (2026–2027 rate), 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-compliant coverage with full in-network access near the Fordham Rose Hill or Lincoln Center 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 Fordham’s Aetna Student Health waiver portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
Fordham waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the Fordham SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet Fordham’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 Fordham Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses in New York City.
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 Fordham plan is ACA-compliant, filed and approved at the federal level, with a U.S.-based insurer, a U.S. claims address, and in-network access to providers across the New York City area, built to check every one of these boxes.
Fordham waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the Aetna Student Health portal by the deadline below. Missing this deadline means you remain enrolled in, and billed for, the Fordham SHIP for the semester.
August 22nd 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 Fordham waiver process works
Fordham 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 Fordham plans use the UnitedHealthcare PPO network.
| School Plan | Kimber Health — Fordham Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | Fordham SHIP 2026–27 rate |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
World Elite 250 Most Popular |
World Elite 450 Most affordable |
|
| Annual premium | $5,057 |
$2,460 (17–24y) $2,832 (25–27y) |
$1,909 (17–24y) $2,544 (25–27y) |
$1,621 (17–24y) $2,197 (25–27y) |
|
| In-network provider | Aetna PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Deductible | $300 | No deductible | $250 | $450 | |
| Co-insurance | 80% | 100% | 80% | 80% | |
| Student health center | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| Urgent care | $20 copay | $50 copay | $65 copay | $50 copay | |
| Emergency services | $200 copay/visit | $200 copay/visit | $200 copay/visit | $200 copay/visit | |
| Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3) | $15/$40/$60 | $5/$40/$60 | $5/$50/$75 | $15/$40/$75 | |
Fordham SHIP data reflects 2026–2027 published rates. Verify current rates at fordham.edu before enrolling. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24)
Compared with the Fordham SHIP 2026–2027 rate of $5,057, here is what you save for the most common student age group:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. Fordham SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | No deductible / 100% | ~$2,597 |
| World Elite 250 Most Popular | $1,909 | $250 / 80% | ~$3,148 |
| World Elite 450 | $1,621 | $450 / 80% | ~$3,436 |
Comprehensive, not just cheap
World Elite Plus has no deductible and 100% co-insurance, meaning you pay nothing for eligible in-network care, while still saving roughly ~$2,597 per year based on the 2026–2027 Fordham SHIP rate. Even at World Elite 450, you keep a fully Fordham-qualifying plan and save nearly $3,436 annually. That is rent, groceries, and textbooks.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same Fordham-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-compliant and Fordham-qualifying.
Kimber Fordham plans are ACA-compliant and built to meet Fordham’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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus | $2,460 | ~$615 | ~$1,845 |
| World Elite 250 | $1,909 | ~$477 | ~$1,432 |
| World Elite 450 | $1,621 | ~$405 | ~$1,216 |
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 Fordham 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 Fordham’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 Fordham Aetna Student Health waiver portal so there is no guesswork.
- Options for every budget, three plan tiers from World Elite 450 to World Elite Plus, so you choose the right balance of premium and out-of-pocket costs.
Fordham waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at Fordham?
Can I waive the Fordham SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the Fordham SHIP?
What is the Fordham waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the Fordham SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, Fordham-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the Fordham SHIP?
What is the difference between World Elite 450, World Elite 250, and World Elite Plus?
Ready to waive and save?
Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps Fordham international students explore affordable, Fordham-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com/fordham →
