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Health Insurance

South Dakota State law requires all F-1 and J-1 visa holders to possess an approved health insurance policy. In order to comply with state and federal laws governing J-1 visas, you must enroll in and purchase the State of South Dakota Board of Regents health insurance policy for international students each year. You can learn more about the insurance requirements by going to the student health website. 

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES
If you are an athlete, there is a different insurance plan for you that meets both international and athletic requirements. Please work with the athletics department directly to enroll in this plan. If you have a different plan that meets the requirements, you can submit a waiver request before the first day of classes. See Insurance Waiver Info below.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
If you do not sign up for a plan by the Deadline, you will be automatically enrolled by the university in the GeoBlue – Enhanced Plan and that charge will be applied to their university bill. You will then have to pay the higher rate for that semester and then you can change to your desired plan the following semester if you so choose. 

The Office of International Relations will email all new and continuing international students prior to the start of each semester to provide enrollment information. You must check your email regularly, and you are responsible for ensuring you are enrolled in the insurance plan by the deadline. 

SPRING 2023 ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: January 13, 2023
FALL 2023 ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: August 31, 2023
SPRING 2024 ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: January 18, 2024
PLAN DETAILS
INSURANCE WAIVER INFORMATION
Under limited circumstances, the South Dakota Board of Regents may waive this requirement if a student provides adequate proof of coverage. The Health Insurance Waiver Request Form is available on the student health insurance website. You will need to make sure that the South Dakota Board of Regents requirements are being met if you would like to request a waiver. This form will need to be completed and returned by the first day of classes each semester to the Office of International Relations and Global Engagement. Approval for these waivers is not guaranteed. If approval is not granted, you will need to purchase insurance through GeoBlue. The Office of International Relations and Global Engagement will notify students via email about the waiver decision.

REFUNDS OF PREPAID INSURANCE PREMIUMS
If you will be returning to your home country for the summer, you may receive a refund for the months you are home upon proof of a flight itinerary. You should submit the request, along with the flight itinerary, by emailing International@BHSU.edu at least one week (five business days) prior to your scheduled departure. 

Contact Info

Kaitlin Palmer
International@bhsu.edu
Phone: 605-642-6942
Fax: 605-642-6254

International Relations & Global Engagement
Black Hills State University
1200 University St. Unit 9519
Spearfish, SD, USA 57799-9519