Mural at MHCC

Health Insurance

All full-time F-1 international students must have comprehensive health insurance. Most international students receive this through the mandatory LewerMark health insurance plan for students in Mt. Hood Community College’s international student program.

Paying for your LewerMark Health Insurance Plan

Each term you attend MHCC, your student account will be charged a health insurance fee. The fee is due at the same time as other fees and tuition. You can pay all tuition and fees online through MyMHCC. From fall 2023 through summer 2024, the cost per term is $417.54. Please be aware that you will stay enrolled in the plan year-round until you complete your studies at MHCC. So even if you are not enrolled full-time for a term (i.e. vacation term) you are still covered, and you will see these charges on your account each term even when under-enrolled. This helps avoid issues that may arise from breaks in coverage. If you would like to not be covered while under-enrolled, contact [email protected]. Please email at least one month before your under-enrolled term. Requests to be removed less than one month before the start of the term may not be granted.

When coverage starts for new students

New students are automatically covered on the LewerMark health insurance plan for up to 30 days before the start of the term.

What the LewerMark plan covers

The plan covers physical and mental health. Full details are available in the plan summary and brochure, which can be accessed through LewerMark's dedicated MHCC website.

Dental and vision are not covered. You can purchase individual plans directly through LewerMark dental and vision coverage.

Dependents are not covered. You can purchase a dependent plan directly through LewerMark Dependent Coverage.

Accessing your insurance card

When the term begins, you can download a digital copy of your insurance card through LewerMark's dedicated MHCC website. To login, you will need your MHCC student ID number and your birth date in MMDDYYYY format (ex. December 12, 1957 = 12151957). You will need to change the password after the first login.

We recommend that you print a copy to keep in your wallet and take a screenshot on your phone. This video walks you through the steps to print your ID card. 

Other insurance coverage and waivers from the LewerMark plan

Many of our international students already have health insurance coverage from another provider. However, many of these plans do not meet the requirements for MHCC and your visa. In most cases, you will need to cancel your current insurance and enroll in the LewerMark plan. You can only waive out of the LewerMark plan in one of these situations:

  • Your parent/spouse works for a US company. That company has insurance and the insurance meets Affordable Care Act requirements. You are also covered by that insurance.
  • You are in a government/exchange student program, such as the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM). This program gives you health insurance.
  • You are currently covered by a parent’s insurance plan from your home country. The plan is equal to or better than the LewerMark plan. The plan is valid in the US. The plan will last while you are studying.

If your current health insurance meets the waiver criteria, contact [email protected] as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after the start of the term. Please include a copy of your insurance card and your plan brochure. We can’t guarantee any waivers. Waiver requests sent more than 14 days after the start of the term may not be considered.

Staying on LewerMark health insurance plan after graduation

Your health insurance will end on the last day of your graduation term. You can, however, ask for extended coverage. Extended coverage lets you stay on insurance for 30 days after graduation. You must ask for extended coverage before you graduate. Contact [email protected] if you want extended coverage.

Please note that If you are planning to transfer, you cannot apply for extended coverage.

Staying on LewerMark health insurance plan while on Optional Practical Training (OPT)

You can stay on the plan while awaiting approval for/while on OPT. You must ask for this before your OPT begins. If you do not ask, you will lose coverage when you graduate. If you choose to leave the plan, you cannot rejoin later. Please discuss your insurance plans with your advisor during your OPT filing meeting.