March 6, 2007
Dear New K-State Student:
Congratulations on your admission to Kansas State University ! We look forward to welcoming you to the campus and assisting you with your needs. Our goal is for your first semester at Kansas State University to be a rewarding experience.
One of the critical issues facing new international students is the need to have adequate health insurance. The United States does not provide universal health care coverage. Physicians, clinics and hospitals charge the patient for their services. Most residents of the United States must purchase health insurance from a private company. Not having adequate insurance can cause a person to suffer severe financial burdens. Due to the high costs of medical care, nearly all major research universities in the United States have made it mandatory for foreign students to be covered by health insurance, and K-State is now taking this step.
International students who enroll as first-time students in Fall 2007 at Kansas State University are required to have health insurance. We require only enrolled students, not spouses or children, to have health insurance. However, we strongly recommend that you purchase health insurance for your dependents. The intent of the insurance requirement for international students at Kansas State University is to provide adequate health care coverage for them during and between academic terms.
Our goal is to make this process simple for you. You will be able to purchase the state-approved health insurance policy for students at the beginning of the semester. Trained staff in the Office of International Programs in 304 Fairchild Hall will be available to assist you with purchasing an insurance policy. The Kansas Board of Regents, which governs public higher education in our state, has selected a policy that provides adequate coverage against costs associated with unexpected accident or illness at a reasonable premium. You may also purchase policies from other companies as long as they meet the minimal coverage standards set by the Board of Regents. If you have an existing policy, you may bring it to an insurance coordinator in my office, and he or she will review it to determine if it meets the Board of Regents standards.
You should know that if you do not provide evidence of health insurance at the minimal standard, an administrative “hold” will be placed on your student record. This “hold” could lead to disenrollment from classes, which could affect your visa status. An insurance coordinator will work with you so that this kind of action is not necessary.
If you have any questions, please contact the insurance coordinator at ininsure@ksu.edu.
Sincerely yours,
Kenneth M. Holland
Associate Provost for International Programs