Your Student Health Toolkit · Waiver Edition

The New School Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)

How to waive The New School Student Health Insurance Plan (The New School SHIP), meet every waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, The New School-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for less. Applies to students across all New School divisions, including Parsons School of Design.

Academic Year 2026–2027 F-1 / J-1 students The New School SHIP Waiver The New School Health Insurance Waiver Undergraduate & Graduate Students

Important: The New School bills The New School SHIP at $4,716/year ($4,859/year including dental and vision) for the 2026–2027 coverage period. If you qualify for a waiver, you can remove that charge entirely.

International students at The New School have saved with Kimber Health, and every student who enrolled in an eligible plan and submitted on time has had their waiver approved.

The basics

What is a New School health insurance waiver?

If you are an international student at The New School 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.

The New School automatically enrolls all registered international students in The New School Student Health Insurance Plan (The New School SHIP), administered through Aetna, and bills it to your account. A waiver is simply how you tell The New School: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove The New School SHIP charge.”

If your alternate plan meets The New School's requirements and you submit before the deadline, the university removes The New School SHIP charge from your student account.

In plain terms: The New School asks, “Are you already covered?” You answer, “Yes, here’s proof.”

The motivation

Why do international students waive The New School SHIP?

The New School SHIP is a solid plan backed by Aetna. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate regardless of age. At $4,716 a year, that charge adds up quickly. International students often look for an outside plan because they want:

🩺

Coverage just as comprehensive

Strong co-insurance, a manageable deductible, and the same quality of care as the school plan, without paying the school rate.

✅

A plan that meets The New School's requirements

Closely aligned with The New School's waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the Manhattan campus and a U.S.-based insurer.

💰

More affordable premiums

Built around the actual profile of international students, not a flat campus rate that ignores age and individual needs.

🗺️

Clear guidance on the process

Step-by-step help navigating The New School waiver process so the submission is done correctly the first time.

A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.

The checklist

The New School waiver requirements (2026–2027)

To waive The New School SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet The New School's minimum criteria. A qualifying plan must:

General criteria

✓

Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC)

Must qualify under ACA standards as Minimum Essential Coverage.

✓

In-network access near campus

Unrestricted access to in-network physicians and hospitals within a reasonable distance of the Manhattan campus.

✓

Coverage for mental health services

Mental health and behavioral health benefits comparable to physical health coverage.

✓

Prescription drug coverage

Must include prescription drug benefits with reasonable cost-sharing.

Additional requirements for international students

✓

English-language documentation

Plan must be written in standard English, with all benefits clearly expressed in U.S. dollars.

✓

U.S. claims payment office

All claims must be processed and paid directly to U.S. providers from a U.S. office.

✓

Medical evacuation coverage

Must include medical evacuation benefits for coverage while outside the U.S.

✓

Repatriation coverage

Must include repatriation of remains coverage as part of international benefits.

The Kimber difference

Every Kimber Health The New School plan is designed to closely align with ACA standards, with a U.S.-based insurer, a U.S. claims address, and in-network access to providers across the greater New York City area. These plans are purpose-built to meet The New School’s specific waiver requirements for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.

Don’t wait

The New School waiver deadline

Submit your 2026–2027 waiver request before the deadline below. Submitting early avoids any risk of remaining enrolled and billed for The New School SHIP.

Waiver Deadline

September 8, 2026

Coverage Period

Aug 20, 2026 – Aug 19, 2027

September 8th comes up faster than most students expect, especially with orientation, housing, and visa requirements all happening at once. Enrolling early means one less thing to stress about.

The how-to

How The New School waiver process works

Choose a qualifying plan. Pick coverage that meets every The New School requirement above: closely aligned with the university’s waiver standards, in-network access near the Manhattan campus, mental health and prescription coverage, and for international students: English documentation, a U.S. claims office, and medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.

Log in to The New School's insurance waiver portal. Go to The New School's student health insurance waiver portal and follow the instructions to submit your waiver request.

Complete and submit the waiver form. Enter your alternate plan details. When you enroll with Kimber Health, we walk you through each required field so the submission is correct the first time.

Wait for approval. Once approved, The New School SHIP charge is removed from your student account. Check your The New School student account billing statement to confirm. Approval typically takes a few business days.

Less portal panic. When you enroll with Kimber Health, we provide step-by-step guidance through The New School waiver process so the submission is far less stressful.

The numbers

The New School 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.

Deductible A one-time amount you pay out of pocket each year before your insurance starts covering costs. Once you hit it, your plan kicks in and pays its share.

Co-insurance 100% co-insurance = you pay nothing for eligible in-network care.

Co-pay Fixed amount per visit, e.g. $50 copay for an urgent care visit.

Kimber uses age-based pricing. Rates below are shown for ages 17–24, 25–27, and 28–29. Verify your exact rate at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.

	School Plan	Kimber Health & Other Options
Feature	The New School SHIP Yearly	Essential Plan 4 Income-based	Kimber Elite Recommended	Kimber Premium Strong coverage	Kimber Core Most Popular	Kimber Basic Most affordable
Annual premium	$4,716 (all ages) $4,859 incl. dental & vision	$0 premium if qualified	$1,997 (17–24y) $2,774 (25–27y) $3,092 (28–29y)	$1,310 (17–24y) $1,628 (25–27y) $1,989 (28–29y)	$975 (17–24y) $1,365 (25–27y) $1,456 (28–29y)	$920 (17–24y) $1,299 (25–27y) $1,365 (28–29y)
In-network provider	Aetna	Emblem Health	UnitedHealthcare Options PPO	UnitedHealthcare Options PPO	UnitedHealthcare Options PPO	UnitedHealthcare Options PPO
Maximum insured amount	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Deductible	$150	$0	$0	$180	$600	$1,500
Co-insurance	85%	100%	100%	80%	80%	80%
Student health center	100%	Not specified	100%	100%	100%	100%
Urgent care	$50 copay after deductible	$0 copay	$50 copay per visit	$50 copay per visit	$50 copay per visit	$50 copay per visit
Emergency services	85%	$0 copay	$300 copay waived if admitted	$250 copay waived if admitted	$300 copay waived if admitted	$250 copay waived if admitted
Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3)	$20/$75/$100	$1/$3/$3	$10/$20/$40	$10/$20/$40	$10/$20/$40	$10/$20/$40

A note on Essential Plan 4: This is a New York State of Health public program with $0 premiums for those who qualify. Eligibility is based on income and immigration status, and most international students on F-1 or J-1 visas do not meet the criteria. Students can confirm their own eligibility here: kimberhealth.com/en/plan/essential-plans.

Data from The New School SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com and with The New School before enrolling.

What that means in savings (ages 17–24)

Compared with The New School SHIP rate of $4,716, here is what you save for the youngest age bracket:

Plan	Annual premium (17–24y)	Deductible / co-insurance	You save vs. The New School SHIP
Kimber Elite Recommended	$1,997	$0 / 100%	~$2,719
Kimber Premium	$1,310	$180 / 80%	~$3,406
Kimber Core Most Popular	$975	$600 / 80%	~$3,741
Kimber Basic	$920	$1,500 / 80%	~$3,796
Essential Plan 4 If eligible	$0	$0 / 100%	~$4,716

Comprehensive, not just cheap

Kimber Elite has no deductible and 100% co-insurance, meaning you pay nothing for eligible in-network care, while still saving roughly ~$2,719 per year (ages 17–24) compared to The New School SHIP rate. Even at Kimber Basic, you keep a fully New School-qualifying plan at a fraction of the school’s cost.

The honest answer

Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?

Lower price, same The New School-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.

✅

Designed to meet The New School's requirements.

Kimber Health’s The New School plans are purpose-built to closely align with the university’s waiver criteria, meeting The New School's specific qualifying standards for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.

The bonus most students miss

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	~$982
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.

Student wins

Why The New School students choose Kimber Health

$100M+

saved by students

115+

countries represented

Google

★★★★★

out of 5

Trustpilot

★★★★★

4.9

out of 5

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 The New School'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 New School waiver process 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.

Quick answers

The New School waiver FAQ

Do international students have to have health insurance at The New School?

Yes. The New School requires all registered international students to maintain adequate health insurance and automatically enrolls and bills you for The New School SHIP unless you submit a waiver with a qualifying plan.

Can I waive The New School SHIP with an outside plan?

Yes, as long as your plan meets The New School's waiver requirements: coverage comparable to The New School SHIP, in-network access to providers near the Manhattan campus, mental health and prescription coverage, and for international students: English-language documentation, a U.S. claims office, and medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.

Is an outside plan as comprehensive as The New School SHIP?

It can be just as comprehensive, or more. Kimber Elite has no deductible and 100% co-insurance, meaning you pay nothing for eligible in-network care. Always compare deductible, co-insurance, and benefits, not just premium.

What is The New School waiver deadline for 2026–2027?

The waiver deadline is September 8, 2026. The coverage period runs from August 20, 2026 to August 19, 2027. Submitting early is strongly recommended.

Where do I submit The New School SHIP waiver?

Through The New School's official student health insurance waiver portal. Log in and complete the form with your alternate plan details.

Is Kimber Health a real, New School-qualifying option?

Yes. Kimber Health is a licensed U.S. broker. Kimber plans built for The New School students are purpose-built to closely meet the university’s waiver requirements, qualifying under The New School's specific criteria for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans. We provide step-by-step guidance through the waiver process.

How much can I save by waiving The New School SHIP?

Students aged 17–24 typically save between roughly $2,719 and $3,796 per year compared to the $4,716 The New School SHIP rate, depending on the plan chosen. Students aged 25–27 save between roughly $1,942 and $3,417 per year.

What is the difference between Kimber Basic, Core, Premium, and Elite?

All four plans are designed to meet The New School's waiver requirements. Kimber Basic, Core, and Premium use UnitedHealthcare Options PPO and offer progressively lower deductibles at higher premiums. Kimber Elite offers the most comprehensive benefits: no deductible, 100% co-insurance, and the lowest out-of-pocket costs when you need care most.

Ready to waive and save?

Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps The New School international students explore affordable, The New School-qualifying coverage with confidence.

Get started at kimberhealth.com →

Disclaimers: This guide is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. The New School SHIP rate shown ($4,716/year, or $4,859/year including dental and vision; coverage period August 20, 2026 to August 19, 2027, waiver deadline September 8, 2026) reflects the figures provided by Kimber Health internally and should be verified against The New School's official published rate and policy documents before publishing. Kimber Health premiums shown reflect current age-banded rates (17–24y, 25–27y, 28–29y); actual rates vary by age and are subject to change. Essential Plan 4 is a New York State of Health public program shown for comparison only; eligibility is based on income and immigration status and should be independently verified, as most international students do not qualify. All rates, deductibles, co-insurance figures, and coverage details are subject to change. Waiver requirements and deadlines can change at any time. Always verify the current requirements and dates directly with The New School's student health insurance office before submitting. The waiver portal link in this guide must be replaced with The New School's official, current waiver portal URL before publishing. Coverage details, benefits, and exclusions vary by plan; please review the full policy documents or consult a licensed insurance agent for your specific needs. Waiver approval is at The New School's sole discretion. Savings and refund figures are estimates that depend on your plan, age, coverage period, and cancellation or graduation date, and whether you have used your plan. Kimber Health is a product of NYWPG.