Pratt Institute Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the Pratt Institute Student Health Insurance Plan (Pratt SHIP), meet every Pratt waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, Pratt-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for less.
What is a Pratt Institute health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at Pratt Institute 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.
Pratt Institute automatically enrolls all registered international students in the Pratt Institute Student Health Insurance Plan (Pratt SHIP), administered through UnitedHealthcare, and bills it to your account. A waiver is simply how you tell Pratt Institute: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the Pratt SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets Pratt Institute's requirements and you submit before the deadline, the university removes the Pratt SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the Pratt SHIP?
The Pratt SHIP is a solid plan backed by UnitedHealthcare. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate regardless of age. At $3,359 a year, that charge adds up quickly. 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.
Closely aligned with Pratt Institute's waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the Brooklyn campus and a U.S.-based insurer.
Built around the actual profile of international students, not a flat campus rate that ignores age and individual needs.
Step-by-step help navigating the Pratt waiver process so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
Pratt waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the Pratt SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet Pratt Institute'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 Brooklyn 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 Pratt Institute 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 Brooklyn area. These plans are purpose-built to meet Pratt Institute’s specific waiver requirements for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.
Pratt waiver deadline
Submit your 2026–2027 waiver request before the deadline below. Submitting early avoids any risk of remaining enrolled and billed for the Pratt SHIP.
September 18th 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.
How the Pratt waiver process works
Pratt 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.
| School Plan | Kimber Health — Pratt Institute Plans | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | Pratt SHIP Yearly |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
World Elite 250 Most Popular |
World Elite 450 Most affordable |
| Annual premium | $3,359 (all ages) |
$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 | UnitedHealthcare | UnitedHealthcare | UnitedHealthcare | UnitedHealthcare |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $250 | No deductible | $250 | $450 |
| Co-insurance | 100% office visit 80% special services |
100% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | 100% | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Urgent care | $75 copay | $50 copay | $65 copay | $50 copay |
| Emergency services | $150 copay then 80%, waived if admitted |
$200 copay per visit | $200 copay per visit | $200 copay per visit |
| Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3) | $20/$40/$80 | $5/$40/$60 | $5/$50/$75 | $15/$40/$75 |
Data from Pratt Institute SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com and with Pratt before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24)
Compared with the Pratt SHIP rate of $3,359, here is what you save for the youngest age bracket:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. Pratt SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$899 |
| World Elite 250 Most Popular | $1,909 | $250 / 80% | ~$1,450 |
| World Elite 450 | $1,621 | $450 / 80% | ~$1,738 |
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 ~$899 per year (ages 17–24) compared to the Pratt SHIP rate. Even at World Elite 450, you keep a fully Pratt-qualifying plan and save close to ~$1,738 per year.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same Pratt-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 Pratt Institute's requirements.
Kimber Health’s Pratt plans are purpose-built to closely align with the university’s waiver criteria, meeting Pratt Institute's specific qualifying standards for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.
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 Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute'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 Pratt waiver process so there is no guesswork.
- Options for every budget, three plan tiers ranging from World Elite 450 to World Elite Plus, so you choose the right balance of premium and deductible.
Pratt waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at Pratt?
Can I waive the Pratt SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the Pratt SHIP?
What is the Pratt waiver deadline for 2026–2027?
Where do I submit the Pratt SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, Pratt-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the Pratt 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 Pratt Institute international students explore affordable, Pratt-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com →
