Pace University Health Insurance Waiver: 2026 to 2027

To get a Pace University health insurance waiver, you must show comparable coverage before the deadline, or you stay enrolled in the school plan and pay its premium. For 2026 to 2027, the annual waiver window closed in mid September 2026, and the next window, for students starting in spring, opens November 10, 2026 with a Pace deadline of February 12, 2027. International students' alternate plans must pay at least $250,000 per policy year, have no pre-existing condition exclusions, and include $50,000 each for repatriation and medical evacuation.

This guide sets out Pace's current criteria from its own pages and those of its plan administrator, Academic HealthPlans, explains where waivers usually fail, and shows where private coverage can still help.

Key facts at a glance

• Pace states that all full time undergraduate and graduate domestic and international students must have health insurance and are automatically enrolled in the school plan when they register.
• Pace lists 2026 to 2027 annual rates of $4,288 for domestic students and $2,400 for international students, subject to New York State review.
• The annual plan runs from August 15, 2026 to August 14, 2027, according to Pace.
• Pace lists waiver deadlines of September 18, 2026 for fall, February 12, 2027 for spring, June 8, 2027 for Summer I and July 13, 2027 for Summer II.
• Pace says health insurance waivers must be completed each academic year, covering fall semester through summer sessions.

What are Pace University's health insurance waiver requirements?

The Academic HealthPlans portal for Pace lists the waiver requirements. Your alternate plan must meet every one of them:

• Be active throughout the academic year or the whole duration of your study.
• Cover medical expenses for both accidents and illness of at least $250,000 per policy year.
• Have no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
• Include repatriation of at least $50,000.
• Include medical evacuation to your home country of at least $50,000.

Pace also warns students to confirm that the alternate plan works in New York State at the same level as at home, and suggests asking the insurer specifically about urgent care, wellness visits, sick visits, prescriptions, behavioral health care, advanced imaging and physical therapy. Approval of a waiver does not mean your plan will pay well for every situation; you remain responsible for checking that.

When is the Pace health insurance waiver deadline?

Pace lists these 2026 to 2027 waiver deadlines for both domestic and international students: fall 2026 by September 18, 2026; spring 2027 by February 12, 2027; Summer I 2027 by June 8, 2027; and Summer II 2027 by July 13, 2027. The Academic HealthPlans portal shows slightly different window end dates for international students, including an annual window from June 24 to September 19, 2026 and a spring window for new students from November 10, 2026 to February 13, 2027. Treat the earlier date as your real deadline.

Waivers must be completed every academic year. An approval last year does not carry over.

How do you submit the Pace waiver?

• Domestic students follow the waiver instructions on Pace's Health Insurance Waiver page, which links to the Academic HealthPlans process.
• International students use the waiver process on the Academic HealthPlans website for Pace, where the international criteria, including repatriation and evacuation, are listed.
• Have your policy certificate, benefit schedule and insurer contact details ready before you start, because you need to show the annual maximum, pre-existing condition terms and evacuation limits.
• Save a screenshot or PDF of the confirmation page and any approval email.

Why do Pace waiver requests get rejected?

When you compare typical private plans with Pace's list, a few mismatches come up again and again:

• Pre-existing condition exclusions. Most travel medical plans exclude pre-existing conditions, and many student plans apply a waiting period. In the plan data Ombrela receives, StudentSecure Elite and Select have a 6 month pre-existing condition waiting period and Budget has 12 months. A plan with an exclusion or waiting period does not meet a rule that requires no exclusions.
• Coverage ending too early. A plan bought for nine months does not cover the full academic year through August 14.
• Missing or low evacuation and repatriation. Each must be at least $50,000; home country plans often lack them entirely.
• Limited use in New York. Out of state and home country plans may pay little or nothing for routine care in New York, which Pace specifically flags.
• Late submission. Waivers must be completed before the deadline for your term; after that you stay enrolled and billed.

Is waiving the Pace plan worth it for international students?

For most international students, keeping the Pace plan is the simplest compliant choice. Pace lists the international annual rate at $2,400 for 2026 to 2027, and Pace lists the plan's benefits as low deductibles, more than 1,000,000 preferred providers nationally, access to student clinics, and medical evacuation and repatriation for international students. A private plan must beat it on price while also having no pre-existing condition exclusion, which rules out most travel style plans.

There is also a practical limit on what Ombrela can offer. In the plan data Ombrela receives, the US student plans it lists cannot be purchased from New York, so a student buying with a New York address will often see no eligible options. If you are still abroad and buying with your home address, the quote form checks eligibility against your details and shows what can actually be bought.

Where private coverage still helps Pace students

• Before August 15. The Pace plan starts on August 15. Pace says international students who arrive early for academic reasons may be eligible for a prorated extension, so ask your admissions advisor first; if that is not available, a short plan bought before departure can cover the arrival gap.
• After August 14. Pace says graduates may keep coverage through August 14 or extend it for an additional 3 months by contacting Academic HealthPlans. After that, read our guide to insurance after graduation.
• Visiting family. Parents who fly in for move in or commencement need their own cover; visitor insurance is designed for them.

Your free Pace waiver worksheet

Download our free Pace Waiver Worksheet below. It turns Pace's criteria into a line by line check against your policy, shows where to find each figure in your documents, tracks the deadlines, and records your submission so you can prove it later if a charge appears on your account.

How to get covered

If you keep the Pace plan, no action is needed beyond confirming enrollment. If you need coverage for a gap outside the Pace plan dates, you can compare student health plans on Ombrela and check each plan's dates, maximum and pre-existing terms. For a fuller comparison of school and private plans, read university versus private F-1 health insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students waive Pace health insurance?

Yes, if the alternate plan meets every Pace requirement: at least $250,000 per policy year for accidents and illness, no pre-existing condition exclusions, $50,000 repatriation, $50,000 medical evacuation, and coverage active for the whole academic year. International students submit through the Academic HealthPlans portal, where these criteria are listed. Missing any single requirement means the waiver is denied and the school plan charge stays.

What happens if I miss the Pace waiver deadline?

You remain enrolled in the Pace plan and are billed for it. Pace requires waivers to be completed before the deadline, and the Academic HealthPlans portal lists the later spring and summer windows for new students. If your situation changes during the year, such as losing other coverage, contact Academic HealthPlans to ask what options apply to you.

Does my home country health insurance qualify for a Pace waiver?

Sometimes, but it often fails on details. Many home country plans pay little for care in New York, do not include repatriation or evacuation of $50,000 each, or restrict pre-existing conditions. Ask your insurer for a written statement of the annual maximum, the pre-existing condition terms and the evacuation and repatriation limits, and compare each figure with Pace's list before you submit.

How much is Pace health insurance for international students?

Pace lists the 2026 to 2027 annual rate for international students at $2,400 and the spring only international rate at $1,486, both subject to New York State review. Domestic students pay a higher listed rate. Students in the English Language Institute and Center for Global Business Programs get dates and rates from those departments.

Check your plan against the criteria before the next window opens. Use the free worksheet, and if you need cover outside the Pace dates, compare student plans on Ombrela.