Risk Management & Insurance
RIT's risk management goals are to have the highest possible concern for the safety of its students, faculty, staff and public in combination with maximum protection to prevent financial loss of institutional property. Each member of the university community is charged with a responsibility of reviewing his/her own activity with these risk management goals in mind, and whenever they appear to be in jeopardy, reporting it to management.
University Guidelines
The risk management process involves identifying areas of risk/liability and recommending to management means for eliminating, mitigating, transferring or retaining them. Each member of the RIT community is charged with a responsibility of reviewing his/her own activities. The office of Risk Management & Insurance will help to facilitate this process. For detailed information, click one of the risk topics below. For additional information, contact David Armanini at 585-475-2040.
Student Insurance
Overview
All students must have health insurance while enrolled at RIT. You can either:
- Use your existing insurance, or
- Enroll in the RIT student health insurance plan
International students
All international students are automatically enrolled in the RIT student health insurance plan. Students who have qualifying health insurance may be eligible to waive this coverage. Learn more
What You Need To Do
1. Review your current health insurance
Confirm your current health insurance coverage. Contact your insurance provider to make sure your plan:
- Provides coverage in the Rochester area
- Includes routine and emergency care
- Meets your personal healthcare needs
2. Understand potential gaps
If your insurance plan is based outside the Rochester area, you may experience:
- Limited access to local healthcare providers
- Higher out-of-network costs
- Reduced reimbursement for medical services
Reviewing your coverage before arriving on campus can help you avoid unexpected medical costs.
3. Consider enrolling in student insurance
If your current plan does not provide adequate coverage, you should consider enrolling in the student health insurance plan through Gallagher Student Health.
**Important: Domestic students are not automatically enrolled in the RIT Student Health Insurance Plan and therefore do not need to submit a waiver. International students are automatically enrolled in the plan and may submit a waiver if they meet the waiver eligibility requirements.**
Enrollment Information
Students can purchase a comprehensive student health insurance plan through Gallagher Student Health. Students must enroll during the open enrollment period. If you miss this deadline, you will not be able to enroll again until the next academic year unless you experience a qualifying life event. Qualifying life events include:
- Reaching the age limit of another health insurance plan
- Loss of health insurance due to marriage or divorce
- Involuntary loss of coverage from another health insurance plan
View more qualifying life events
2026-2027 Insurance Rates and Deadlines
Enrollment for the 2026-27 policy opens July 1, 2026. Students must enroll by Sept. 30, 2026, for annual or fall coverage.
New and Returning Student Definitions
New Student
You are considered a new student for enrollment purposes if you are not currently covered by the RIT Student Health Plan. This includes:
- New RIT students who are not currently enrolled in the RIT Student Health Insurance Plan
- Returning RIT students who were not covered by the RIT Student Health Insurance Plan during the 2025-26 academic year
Returning Student
You are considered a returning student if you are currently covered by the RIT Student Health Insurance Plan, with coverage through Aug. 14, 2026.
New Student
|
Annual New Aug. 1, 2026-July 31, 2027 |
Fall New Aug. 1-Dec. 31, 2026 |
Spring/Summer Jan. 1-July 31, 2027 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Enrollment/Waiver Deadline |
- | September 30, 2026 | - | September 30, 2026 | - | February 28, 2027 |
| Student | $3,656 | $1,533 | $2,123 | |||
| Spouse | $3,656 | $1,533 | $2,123 | |||
| Child | $3,656 | $1,533 | $2,123 | |||
| 2+ Children | $7,312 | $3,066 | $4,246 |
Returning Student
|
Annual Returning Aug. 15, 2026-July 31, 2027 |
Fall Returning Aug. 15-Dec 31, 2026 |
Spring/Summer Jan. 1-July 31, 2027 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment/Waiver Deadline | - |
September 30, 2026 |
- | September 30, 2026 | - | February 28, 2027 |
| Student | $3,516 | $1,392 | $2,123 | |||
| Spouse | $3,516 | $1,392 | $2,123 | |||
| Child | $3,516 | $1,392 | $2,123 | |||
| 2+ Children | $7,032 | $2,784 | $4,246 |
Optional Insurance Coverage
Protect Your Personal Property
Your personal belongings are valuable, and it’s important to make sure they’re protected. Because the university is not responsible for the loss of or damage to personal property, we encourage you to review your insurance coverage before arriving on campus.
- Check your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to understand what’s covered and what your deductible would be.
- Explore personal property insurance through Gallagher Insurance to see if additional protection makes sense for you.
Additional Student Insurance Options
- Film and Photo Student InsuranceCoverage for students using film, photography, or production equipment.
- Worldwide Travel AssistanceSupport services and resources available to students traveling internationally
- Trip ProtectonTravel protection coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, or unexpected travel issues.
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RIT offers access to tuition refund insurance through GradGuard. This optional coverage can help protect tuition costs if you need to withdraw from classes due to an unexpected illness or accident.
International Student Insurance
Overview
All international students registered are automatically enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Plan, unless they qualify for an exemption, have an approved waiver, or are covered under an H-1B visa health insurance plan.
Can You Waive the Insurance?
Students who already have adequate U.S.-based health insurance may be eligible to waive (cancel) the RIT Student Health Insurance Plan.
Important restrictions on acceptable plans
Many international insurance plans do not meet RIT requirements. For example, plans will not be accepted if they:
- Are not issued by a U.S.-based insurance company
- Do not meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements
- Have limited provider networks in the Upstate New York region
- Exclude coverage for hospitalization, mental health care, or diagnostic services
Comparable Coverage
To qualify for a waiver, your insurance plan must meet the following requirements:
- Provided by a U.S. based insurer*
- Fully compliant with all aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
- Unlimited annual and lifetime benefits (no policy maximum)
- Coverage must be active for the duration of the academic year or until your program ends
- The maximum yearly deduction cannot exceed $500
- Coverage available at the location where you attend school (Rochester or elsewhere)
- In-Network co-insurance no greater than 25%
- No pre-existing condition limitation
- Unlimited maximum for repatriation benefits
- Unlimited maximum for medical evacuation benefits
* Insurance carriers or their subsidiaries outside the 50 U.S. states or coverage by foreign National Health Services programs are not acceptable under this criterion. Some of these plans may advertise that they are ACA-Compliant and provide a U.S. address; however, many are not filed and approved in the U.S.
How to Request a Health Insurance Waiver
Students who have qualifying U.S.-based health insurance may submit the International Student Insurance Waiver Form. Request must be submitted before the start of the semester, or within the first 30 days of classes. Please be sure to log in to your account to see the button to request the waiver.
- If unusual circumstances prevented you from submitting your request for a waiver by the deadline, submit a Student Late Waiver Request Form
- For help or questions with waiver requests and insurance details, please contact Gallagher Student Health