STUDENT AFFAIRS OP 91.175:    Health Insurance and Repatriation Insurance for International Students

Date:   October 25, 1991

Purpose 

To state mandatory requirements of health insurance and repatriation and medical evacuation insurance for international students enrolled at Mississippi State University, including branch campuses, but excluding all distance students.

Policy

It is the policy of Mississippi State University that all international students, as defined above, be required to purchase stipulated levels of health insurance and maintain repatriation and medical evacuation coverage ensuring repatriation of remains and/or medical evacuation.

Procedure

1.         Health Insurance Requirement

All international students enrolled at Mississippi State University are required to purchase the MSU Student Association Sponsored Student Insurance Plan which is made available through the Longest Student Health Center.  The premium for this plan will be automatically assessed with tuition and other student fees.

2.         Exception for Employer Provided Insurance

Students who are covered by a health insurance plan offered through an employer, either as the employee or the dependent of an employee, may submit written documentation of said coverage before the tenth day of class each term.  Such students will not be required to purchase the MSU health plan, but will be required to purchase repatriation and medical evacuation insurance (see below).  Students who lose employer provided coverage during a term must immediately purchase the pre-approved alternate plan for the remainder of the term.  After the tenth day of class, exceptions for employer provided insurance will not be accepted and students will be required to purchase the MSU Student Insurance Plan.

3.         Repatriation and Medical Evacuation Insurance

All enrolled international students are required to maintain repatriation and medical evacuation coverage. Repatriation expenses for which a student or student’s family is responsible may include costs for embalming, an autopsy, a hermetically-sealed coffin, a wooden shipment box, mortuary services, and shipping costs.  The university will not be responsible for payment of repatriation or medical evacuation expenses.