Welcome to your Health Insurance Homepage
Click on your home campus below to find important information about your International Student Insurance Plan
All international students in F-1 status are automatically enrolled in Peralta’s International Student Health Insurance plan. Wellfleet is the insurance plan administrator and Cigna is the health insurance network.
Download the PCCD Insurance Health Services (PDF) to view contact information for in-network healthcare providers in the Bay Area.
Participating F-1 status students will be charged an “International Student Health Insurance Fee”. The below prices reflect for 2024:
- $195 per month
- $1,365 for the spring/summer sessions
- $390 for the summer session (new students only)
Per the Peralta and Wellfleet/Cigna health insurance policy, only F-1 status students and their dependents are eligible to receive health insurance coverage. Students who lose their status through changes in the non-immigrant category or violation of status will be removed from coverage and forfeit their fees upon notice.
Health Service Programs
Accident Illness Only
Please note that your plan is an “Accident/Illness” plan only. Meaning, you will only receive coverage if you are injured or ill. The plan does not include dental or vision coverage, but you can add this as supplementary coverage. To add dental or vision, visit the links below to enroll and pay for it directly with a credit card. OIE cannot help you add dental or vision coverage on your behalf.
Wellfleet Customer Service
Phone: 1-877-657-5030, TTY: 711; Hours: M-Th 5:30am - 4pm, F 6am - 2pm Pacific Time
Email: customerservice@studentinsurance.com
Health Insurance Workshop
Watch the Health Insurance Workshop Recording that took place on 8/13/2024: Watch Now
Health Insurance Workshop Slides
Health Insurance Topics
Your Health Insurance Member ID will be sent via email from Wellfleet to your Peralta email address.
***If you have not received an email with your Member ID number and Health Insurance card, please contact Wellfleet at (877) 657-5020, TTY: 711***
There are a limited number of reasons international students may waive the mandatory health insurance fee:
- Students who receive health insurance from a parent/spouse who is a US resident
- Students who receive health insurance from their place of employment in the US
- Students with a government letter stating that health insurance has been issued directly from the government in their home country.
Note: F-1 students are PROHIBITED from using United States government-issued insurance such as Covered California, MEDICAL, MEDICARE, or Affordable Care Act.
All waiver requests will be carefully reviewed, however, submitting a request for a waiver does not guarantee that your waiver will be approved.
Each semester, the Health Insurance Waiver must be completed by the Monday before the semester begins (see Academic Calendar). Petitions submitted after the deadline will be automatically denied. Refunds will only be provided to students with approved Health Insurance Fee Waivers. No refunds will be issued after the refund deadline. Also, all F-1 status students must apply for the health insurance fee waiver every semester even if approved in prior semesters.
To apply for the Health Insurance Waiver Form, you will need to access your ISP account.
After completing the waiver request, a Program Manager or ISSS will send you an email providing an acceptance letter, denial notice, or request for additional evidence.
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Each college has its own Health Insurance Plan Summary. Please review this to learn more about your health insurance coverage. Coverage between colleges is the same:
Students may search for Behavioral Health professionals through the Cigna PPO site by following these instructions:
- Visit myCigna PPO Directory.
- Enter your location and range, then click “Search.”
- Select the "Continue as Guest" link. You do not need to log in to myCigna or register as Cigna is only your network provider, not your insurance company
- If prompted, select "Cigna PPO, PPO Tiered" as the plan type.
- Select a provider from the list, and call to make an appointment.
- Always verify the provider is part of the PPO Network before you receive treatment.
CareConnect Behavioral Health: Talk to a Counselor
The CareConnect technology suite provides expert content and a comprehensive set of tools to assist you in every aspect of your life – all in a secure, confidential, and easy-to-use format. Free, confidential mental health support for you and your family members. Call, text, live chat, or email to speak with a licensed clinician 24/7/365.
Post-Completion OPT:
While on Post-Completion OPT you will not be automatically enrolled in the Peralta Health Insurance Plan. You may choose to enroll and pay for the plan separately by visiting your home campus link below and selecting Enroll and then Enroll - OPT Students Only.
Berkeley City College | College of Alameda | Laney College | Merritt College
You must do this within 30 days of the end of my coverage date or you will be ineligible. You also will be responsible for any gaps in coverage.
Pre-Completion OPT:
While on Pre-Completion OPT, you WILL be automatically enrolled into the Peralta Health Insurance plan. You may apply for a Health Insurance Waiver if you believe you meet the conditions for a Health Insurance Waiver.
Students have the option to enroll their dependents in the plan.
To enroll your dependents, visit your home campus link below and select Enroll and then Enroll Dependents. You will be redirected to the Wellfleet Student Portal and will first need to create a new account or log in to your Wellfleet account, if already created. You may then add the dependents within your student account under the Student Options tab.
Berkeley City College | College of Alameda | Laney College | Merritt CollegePlease note that dependents must be added within the first 30 days of each term.
Enrollment Tip
If you need to enroll in classes and you’re waiting for the health insurance fee waiver to be reviewed, please pay the fee first, so you can enroll. Then, if approved for the fee waiver, your health insurance fee will be refunded.
Additional Information
For more information about your health insurance plan, please visit your Health Insurance Portal. This site will answer all your health insurance-related questions. If after reading through these online materials you still have questions please reach out to one of our SEVIS Advisors on the Our Team/Hours page.
