As of January 1, 2019, the Affordable Care Act eliminated the Individual Mandate, which requires Americans to purchase a minimum level of health insurance coverage. There will no longer be a penalty for not having a minimum level of health insurance coverage. Due to the change in the Affordable Care Act, RTS no longer requires all full-time students (with one exception mentioned below) to show proof of major medical insurance.
The exception to this policy is that international students receiving financial aid are still required to show proof of major medical insurance coverage for all dependents listed on form I-20. For international students, proof of major medical insurance must be shown to the appropriate campus staff member by the first day of classes for the fall and spring semesters.
Be advised that even with the recent adaptations to the Affordable Care Act, RTS strongly encourages students to obtain health insurance due to the high costs of medical care.
If a student does not elect to have health insurance coverage while enrolled in seminary, they understand and agree that any medical bill or liability is not the responsibility of RTS, and is a personal cost. Students are responsible for all policies that are provided in the student handbook, which is accessible on the RTS website.
Although RTS is unable to offer a student plan, we do want to assist students in their search for a viable health insurance option. We encourage you to explore all your options and choose the best plan for your situation. The following list are the general categories of coverage to consider:
- Parent’s Insurance Plan: Students age 26 and under may have the option to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they turn 26 (regardless of student or marital status).
- The Federal Marketplace: Federal Marketplace or State Medicaid
- Coverage through a spouse’s employer: If a student’s spouse is employed and has access to health insurance, then that may be a viable option to consider.
- Other Insurance Carriers: Look for insurance carrier sites such as Blue Cross, Aetna, and United Healthcare.
- Individual Broker or Consultant: Students may also be able to find an individual broker or consultant who can help them choose the best plan available for themselves as well as for their families.
RTS has provided a number of links below which are organized by campus for options to consider. While RTS accepts all of these options, it does not mean that RTS endorses any of them.