UPenn Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the University of Pennsylvania Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP), meet every UPenn waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, UPenn-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a UPenn health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at the University of Pennsylvania 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.
UPenn automatically enrolls all full-time students in the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP), administered through Aetna, and bills it to your student account. A waiver is simply how you tell UPenn: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the PSIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets UPenn’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, UPenn removes the PSIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the UPenn PSIP?
The UPenn PSIP is a solid plan backed by Aetna. But at $5,018 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 Philadelphia 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 UPenn’s Student Health waiver portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
UPenn waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the UPenn PSIP, your alternate coverage must meet UPenn’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 UPenn Philadelphia 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 UPenn plan is ACA-comparable, with a U.S.-based insurer, a U.S. claims address, and in-network access to providers across the greater Philadelphia area, built to check every one of these boxes.
UPenn waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the UPenn Student Health waiver portal by the deadline below. Missing this deadline means you remain enrolled in, and billed for, the UPenn PSIP for the semester.
August 31st 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 UPenn waiver process works
UPenn PSIP 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 UPenn plans use the UnitedHealthcare Options PPO network.
| School Plan | Kimber Health — UPenn Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | UPenn PSIP On-Campus |
Kimber Elite Recommended |
Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
Kimber Core Most Popular |
Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium | $5,018 |
$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 | Aetna PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $400 | $0 | $180 | $600 | $1,500 |
| Co-insurance | 100% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | 100% for most basic services | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Urgent care | $35 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit | $50 copay/visit |
| Emergency services | $100 copay/visit | $300 waived if admitted |
$250 waived if admitted |
$300 waived if admitted |
$250 waived if admitted |
| Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3) | $20/$50/$75 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from UPenn PSIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24)
Compared with the UPenn PSIP annual total of $5,018, here is what you save for the most common student age group:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. UPenn PSIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimber Elite Recommended | $1,997 | $0 / 100% | ~$3,021 |
| Kimber Premium | $1,310 | $180 / 80% | ~$3,708 |
| Kimber Core Most Popular | $975 | $600 / 80% | ~$4,043 |
| Kimber Basic | $920 | $1,500 / 80% | ~$4,098 |
Comprehensive, not just cheap
Kimber Elite has a $0 deductible and 100% co-insurance, offering more comprehensive out-of-pocket protection than the UPenn PSIP, while saving you roughly ~$3,021 per year. Even at Kimber Basic, you keep a fully UPenn-qualifying plan and save over $4,098 annually. That is rent, groceries, and textbooks.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same UPenn-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 UPenn-qualifying.
Kimber UPenn plans are ACA-comparable and built to meet UPenn’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 | ~$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.
Why UPenn 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 UPenn’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 UPenn Student Health waiver portal so there is no guesswork.
- Options for every budget, four plan tiers from Kimber Basic to Kimber Elite, so you choose the right balance of premium and out-of-pocket costs.
UPenn waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at UPenn?
Can I waive UPenn PSIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the UPenn PSIP?
What is the UPenn waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the UPenn PSIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, UPenn-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the UPenn PSIP?
What is the difference between Kimber Basic, Core, Premium, and Elite?
Ready to waive and save?
Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps UPenn international students explore affordable, UPenn-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com/upenn →
