Virginia Tech Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the Virginia Tech Student Health Insurance Plan (VT SHIP), meet every VT waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, VT-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for less.
What is a Virginia Tech health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at Virginia Tech 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.
Virginia Tech automatically enrolls all registered international students in the VT Student Health Insurance Plan (VT SHIP), administered through Aetna, and bills it to your account. A waiver is simply how you tell Virginia Tech: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the VT SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets Virginia Tech’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, the university removes the VT SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the Virginia Tech SHIP?
The Virginia Tech VT SHIP is a solid plan backed by Aetna. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate regardless of age. At $3,993 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 Virginia Tech’s waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the Blacksburg 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 Virginia Tech waiver process so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
Virginia Tech waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the VT SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet Virginia Tech’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 Blacksburg 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 Virginia Tech 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 Blacksburg and New River Valley area. Note: Kimber plans are not ACA-compliant in the traditional sense, but are structured to meet Virginia Tech’s waiver requirements.
Virginia Tech waiver deadline
Submit your 2026–2027 waiver request before the deadline below. Submitting early avoids any risk of remaining enrolled and billed for the VT SHIP.
August 31st 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 Virginia Tech waiver process works
Virginia Tech 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, 25–27, and 28–29. Verify your exact rate at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
| School Plan | Kimber Health — Virginia Tech Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | Virginia Tech SHIP Yearly |
Kimber Elite Recommended |
Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
Kimber Core Most Popular |
Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium | $3,993 (all ages) |
$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 | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO | UnitedHealthcare PPO |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $450 | $0 | $180 | $600 | $1,500 |
| Co-insurance | 80% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Urgent care | $25 copay per visit | $50 copay per visit | $50 copay per visit | $50 copay per visit | $50 copay per visit |
| Emergency services | $300 copay waived if admitted |
$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) | $15/$45/$75 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from Virginia Tech SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24)
Compared with the Virginia Tech SHIP rate of $3,993, here is what you save for the youngest age bracket:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. Virginia Tech SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimber Elite Recommended | $1,997 | $0 / 100% | ~$1,996 |
| Kimber Premium | $1,310 | $180 / 80% | ~$2,683 |
| Kimber Core Most Popular | $975 | $600 / 80% | ~$3,018 |
| Kimber Basic | $920 | $1,500 / 80% | ~$3,073 |
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 ~$1,996 per year (ages 17–24) compared to the Virginia Tech SHIP rate. Even at Kimber Basic, you keep a fully VT-qualifying plan at a fraction of the school’s cost.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same VT-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 Virginia Tech’s requirements.
Kimber Health’s VT plans are structured to closely align with the university’s waiver criteria. While not traditional ACA-compliant plans, they are built to meet Virginia Tech’s specific 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 Virginia Tech 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 Virginia Tech’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 Virginia Tech 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.
Virginia Tech waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at Virginia Tech?
Can I waive the Virginia Tech SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the Virginia Tech SHIP?
What is the Virginia Tech waiver deadline for 2026–2027?
Where do I submit the Virginia Tech SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, Virginia Tech-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the Virginia Tech SHIP?
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 Virginia Tech international students explore affordable, VT-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com →
