USC Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the USC Student Health Fee, meet every USC waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, USC-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a USC health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at the University of Southern California 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.
USC automatically enrolls all full-time degree-seeking students, both domestic and international, in the USC Student Health Fee, administered through Aetna Student Health, and bills it to your account each semester. A waiver is simply how you tell USC: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the Student Health Fee charge.”
If your alternate plan meets USC’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, USC removes the Student Health Fee charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the USC Student Health Fee?
The USC Student Health Fee covers a solid plan. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate, the same premium whether you are an 18-year-old freshman or a 29-year-old graduate student. International students often look for an outside plan because they want:
Strong co-insurance, a low deductible, and the same quality of care as the school plan, without paying the school rate.
Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) compliant, with full in-network access within 50 miles of 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 USC’s MySHR portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
USC waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the USC-sponsored plan, your alternate coverage must meet USC’s minimum criteria. As published by USC Student Health, a qualifying plan must:
General criteria
Must qualify under ACA standards as Minimum Essential Coverage.
Unrestricted access to an in-network PCP within a reasonable distance of campus.
Must cover hospital care at an in-network facility within 50 miles of campus.
Non-emergency medical and behavioral health care available near the USC University Park Campus.
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.
Minimum of $50,000 per year for medical evacuation coverage.
Minimum of $25,000 for repatriation of remains coverage.
The Kimber difference
Every Kimber Health USC World Elite 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 Los Angeles area, built to check every one of these boxes.
USC waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the MySHR portal by the deadline below. If you miss it, you remain enrolled in, and billed for, the USC Student Health Fee for the semester.
Find your deadline early, choose a qualifying plan, and submit. Acting early gives you the most time to save.
How the USC waiver process works
USC Student Health Fee 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.
USC Student Health Center and Keck Medicine providers. No deductible applies. You pay 0–10% of covered services.
Any doctor or hospital in the Aetna PPO network. Insurance covers 80–90% of costs after the deductible.
Providers outside both networks. Coverage is limited — always confirm your provider is in-network before a visit.
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 — USC World Elite Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | USC Student Health Fee On-Campus |
USC World Elite Plus Recommended |
USC World Elite 250 | USC World Elite 450 Most Popular |
| Annual premium | $3,787 |
$2,208 (17–24y) $2,581 (25–27y) |
$1,789 (17–24y) $2,281 (25–27y) |
$1,500 (17–24y) $2,004 (25–27y) |
| In-network provider | Aetna | Aetna PPO | Aetna PPO | Aetna PPO |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $450 | $0 | $250 | $450 |
| Co-insurance | USC Keck: 100% Physician / 90% other provider services In-Network: 80% |
USC Keck: 100% Physician / 90% other provider services In-Network: 90% |
USC Keck: 100% Physician / 90% other provider services In-Network: 80% |
USC Keck: 100% Physician / 90% other provider services In-Network: 80% |
| Student health center | $0 copay for standard medical and counseling appointments | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Urgent care | $50 copayment | $50 copayment | Deductible then $50 copayment | Deductible then $50 copayment |
| Emergency services | $200 copay then plan pays 90% | $200 copay per visit | Deductible + $200 copay/visit waived if admitted |
Deductible + $200 copay/visit waived if admitted |
| Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3) | $15/$40/$75 | $5/$40/$60 | $5/$50/$75 | $15/$40/$75 |
Data from USC Student Health Fee and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at enroll.kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24)
Compared with the USC on-campus SHIP annual total of $3,787, here is what you save for the most common student age group:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| USC World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,208 | $0 / USC Keck: 100% Physician, 90% other / In-Network: 90% | ~$1,579 |
| USC World Elite 250 | $1,789 | $250 / USC Keck: 100% Physician, 90% other / In-Network: 80% | ~$1,999 |
| USC World Elite 450 | $1,500 | $450 / USC Keck: 100% Physician, 90% other / In-Network: 80% | ~$2,287 |
Comprehensive, not just cheap
USC World Elite Plus has a $0 deductible and 100% USC Keck co-insurance, meaning you pay nothing for eligible in-network care at USC Keck facilities, while still saving roughly ~$1,579 per year compared to the USC Student Health Fee. Even at the World Elite 450 tier, you keep a fully USC-qualifying plan and save nearly $2,287 annually. That is rent, groceries, and textbooks.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same USC-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 aren’t subsidizing older ones.
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-filed and federally approved.
USC World Elite Series plans are filed and approved at the federal level, meeting USC’s Minimum Essential Coverage requirement without question.
Get money back after you graduate
Because Kimber plans are 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| USC World Elite Plus | $2,208 | ~$552 | ~$1,656 |
| USC World Elite 250 | $1,789 | ~$447 | ~$1,342 |
| USC World Elite 450 | $1,500 | ~$375 | ~$1,125 |
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 USC 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 USC’s waiver rules require).
- Coverage across all 50 states, new city, new campus, same coverage.
- Step-by-step waiver guidance, we walk you through USC’s MySHR submission so there is no guesswork.
TB testing and your Kimber Health plan
USC requires incoming students to complete TB (tuberculosis) screening as part of its new student health requirements. International students, especially those coming from regions where TB is more prevalent, are often required to complete additional TB clearance steps before they can fully access USC Student Health services.
You can review USC’s TB screening requirements in detail at sites.usc.edu/new-student-health-requirements.
What this typically includes
Initial screening tests required by USC are covered under your Kimber Health plan’s preventive care benefits.
If your initial screening requires a follow-up chest X-ray or physician evaluation, your plan covers that too.
All Kimber Health USC World Elite plans cover Student Health Center visits at 100%, which is where USC typically administers TB screening.
Getting your TB clearance done early with active coverage means no last-minute gaps between arriving on campus and meeting health requirements.
Note: Specific coverage details, including what is classified as preventive vs. diagnostic for TB testing, may vary by plan. Always confirm with Kimber Health or review your policy documents to understand what applies to your situation. This is general guidance and not a guarantee of coverage for any specific test or procedure.
USC waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at USC?
Can I waive USC health insurance with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the USC Student Health Fee plan?
What is the USC waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the USC waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, USC-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the USC Student Health Fee?
Ready to waive and save?
Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps USC international students explore affordable, USC-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com/usc →
