University Standards for Adequate Insurance

If a student’s health insurance plan meets or exceeds the following University standards, they are eligible to opt out of T-SHIP and use their current plan.

1. The plan is provided by a company licensed to do business in the United States, with a U.S.-based claims payment office and a U.S. telephone number.
2. The plan will be active for the duration of the academic year or until the student’s academic program ends.
3. The plan provides coverage for health care where the student is attending classes (whether on a Tulane campus or elsewhere).
4. Benefits must include:

• unlimited annual and lifetime benefits (i.e. there is no policy maximum).
• routine care in the New Orleans area.
• urgent, emergency and follow-up care in the New Orleans area.
• coverage for club sports. (This requirement does not apply to NCAA competitive sports).
• coverage for the entire academic year while attending Tulane.
• pharmacy benefits.
• mental health benefits.
• coverage of pre-existing conditions without a waiting period (for example, heart disease, renal failure, cancer, etc.).

Please note that these standards have not changed from the previous academic year but have been reworded for clarity.

Additional standards for international students

International students in F-1 status sponsored by Tulane University and all international students in J-1 status sponsored by Tulane University must meet additional standards for adequate insurance.

These plans must also include:

• no less than 90% coinsurance and a maximum deductible of $250.
• comprehensive plan information provided in English.
• direct payment to providers.
• medical evacuation benefits of at least $50,000.
• repatriation benefits of at least $25,000.

Common plans that do not meet standards

Please note that the following plans do not typically meet standards for adequate insurance:

• Kaiser Permanente
• most state-specific HMO and PPO plans
• Tufts Health Plan
• Fallon Health Plan
• Out-of-state Medicaid plans

Students with Louisiana Medicaid plans

The Student Health Center is not an approved Medicaid provider; therefore, students with Louisiana Medicaid plans may need to plan ahead and locate healthcare providers outside of the Health Center.

Learn more about services available to students with Medicaid.