APM 430 Insurance and Student Services Fee Policy

This policy applies to APM 430 undergraduates and graduate international students with start or renewal dates of September 1, 2021 onward.

New Student Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs Policy

UCSF Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs will require that sponsoring departments cover the cost of the following items on behalf of APM 430 international students participating in an initial or renewal program for 90 days or longer*:

  1. SMHW-approved primary care insurance plan (if international student)
  2. Student Mental Health and Wellbeing (SMHW)-vetted supplemental insurance and student services fees (includes fee for direct access to SMHW and select student service units)

Although encouraged, the department is not required to purchase the aforementioned items for domestic APM 430 students. Typically domestic students are already enrolled in ACA-compliant insurance. If a department would like their domestic APM 430 student to have access to UCSF’s SMHW and other select student services:

  1.  the department must cover the costs through their chart of accounts/speedtype at initial hire or upon renewal (checks not accepted),
  2. the student's appointment must be at least 90 days long, and
  3. the student must be independently enrolled in an Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant insurance plan. SAA-GD will not check insurance plans for ACA compliance. This is the responsibility of the student.
NOTE: Visiting Scholars

APM 430 visiting scholars appointed under title code 3299 (CWR015) who are on leave from an academic appointment or other employment are not eligible under this policy. If the supplemental form is completed for a CWR015 scholar, the visitor will not be covered by insurance or student services.

Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs understands that this policy may restrict the ability to bring APM 430 international scholars to UCSF; however, this policy ensures that the University's PRIDE values remain central to the institution’s research enterprise. APM 430 short-term programs play an essential academic function in bringing knowledge, methodologies, and perspectives to the University of California. These visitors in particular allow the University to disseminate knowledge, establish intellectual relationships with other institutions, and foster international exchanges. Providing additional protections in support of these international scholars is an extension of UCSF’s core PRIDE values.

This policy is owned by Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, with the support of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost's Office and Human Resources. The policy proposal was approved by the Graduate Council of the Academic Senate.

Importance of Policy

Specific Vulnerabilities of APM 430 International Students

International APM 430 students are a particularly vulnerable population due to their immigration status, their inability to access U.S. student support services, their often limited access to U.S. health care, and their limited income. In recent years, international APM 430 students have experienced a range of crises.   

Examples (warning: contents below may trigger a strong reaction)
  • Student drugged at a bar woke up at a hospital not knowing what happened
  • Student in a coffee shop when the person next to her was shot
  • Student admitted to psychiatric hospital due to stress in the lab
  • Student exposed to COVID and potentially exposed lab colleagues. Student's travelers insurance did not cover COVID testing or COVID care.

How GEPA Policy Meets Needs

This policy fulfills two critical needs that are not currently being met for international and domestic APM 430 students who opt into the program:  

#ItemNeed Meet

1.

SMHW-vetted primary care insurance plan (international) or ACA-compliant insurance plan (domestic) Ensures preventative, routine and mental health coverage so that non-catastrophic care is provided to visiting students.

2.

SMHW Supplemental Insurance and Student Services Fee

Ensure access to care in the more familiar, trusted environment of UCSF's Student Mental Health and Wellbeing (SMHW). UCSF staff can offer warm handoffs between their respective unit and SHCS for acute needs.

Ensures APM 430 students can utilize select UCSF student support services that enrolled students have access to. Encourages a sense of community.

 

Instructions

Sponsoring departments must submit the Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs APM 430 student supplemental fee form in PeopleConnect for APM 430 student appointments that have new hire or renewal start dates of September 1, 2021 onward. The form must be completed and submitted regardless of whether the APM 430 student is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or an international student. Failure to submit the supplemental form in PeopleConnect may result in a delayed start date.

Step-by-step process for insurance coverage and UCSF student service access

  1. Review APM 430 student requirements and timelines. Students in appointments that are shorter than 90 days in duration are not eligible.
  • In the case of an international student appointment, the department will purchase a SMHW-vetted insurance plan for initial or renewal appointments. Due to the APM 430 vulnerabilities previously listed, Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs policy requires that departments not pass fees onto students.
  • In the case of a domestic student appointment, the student must independently confirm that their primary insurance is Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant and that it will be valid during their UCSF appointment.

2.  Complete the APM 430 student supplemental fee form and attach proof of insurance

3.  Upload completed supplemental form and proof of SMHW-vetted insurance to PeopleConnect

4.  The Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs dean’s office will approve the appointment if the APM 430 request is complete and in compliance with HR's requirements regarding timing

5.  Department responsibilities after an APM 430 student appointment is approved:

  • Support the student with obtaining access to a UCSF email address, which is required for resource access
  • Forward the APM 430 student’s UCSF email address to [email protected] by the program start date
  • Report program delays, cancelations or other changes to student's primary insurance coverage company and to your HR generalist at least three weeks in advance of start/renewal date to avoid the application of non-refundable fees
Questions?