LIVING IN AUSTIN

Apart from academics, figuring out life in Austin can be difficult. What happens if I get sick? Do I need a driver’s license to get around? How will I find friends? We hope the following information will help guide you as you go beyond the boundaries of UT Austin and broaden your experience in the United States.

HEALTH INSURANCE

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS The UT System Board of Regents requires that all international students in F or J status maintain health insurance for the full duration of their academic program, including summers. The student insurance fee is added automatically to your tuition and fee bill twice yearly. You can get information about the insurance requirements at

GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/ADVISING-SERVICES/ INSURANCE

WAIVING THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

Students that present evidence of alternate medical insurance may be eligible for a waiver of the student insurance fees. In order to determine your eligibility and deadlines and download the appropriate waiver form, please visit

GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/ADVISING-SERVICES/ INSURANCE/WAIVERS

Graduate students who have a 20-hour per week, benefits-eligible assignment as a TA, GRA, or AI will qualify for a waiver. However, the waiver doesn’t include the mandatory, onemonth supplemental early-arrival coverage (for new students only) or the repatriation/medical evacuation insurance for all students. The waiver for graduate students with a benefits-eligible assignment can be processed prior to deadline

at GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/ADVISING-SERVICES/ INSURANCE/WAIVERS

THE STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

1. Newly admitted students in the fall and summer are charged a one-time supplemental insurance fee that begins

August 1 for the fall or May 1 for the summer.

Students and dependents arriving before this period should have their own private insurance. 2. The student insurance plan provider is

BlueCross/BlueShield of Texas, administered by Academic HealthPlans. To view and download the student insurance plan, go to

UTAUSTIN.MYAHPCARE.COM/BENEFITS

INSURANCE ID CARDS

1. You should always carry your insurance card with you and present it when you seek medical care. 2. Annual insurance ID cards are mailed to students’ local addresses after the 12th day of fall classes. New spring admits will also receive their cards after the 12th class day, and new summer admits will receive their cards after the 4th class day. 3. Upon receiving your card, register your

BlueCross/BlueShield of Texas member

account at BCBSTX.COM/MEMBER 4. If you need to seek medical care before receiving your insurance ID card and need to request a temporary ID card, please email the insurance coordinator at

INTLINSURANCE@AUSTIN.UTEXAS.EDU

SEEKING MEDICAL CARE

The most affordable medical care for UT students is through University Health Services (UHS), located in the Student Services Building on Dean Keeton Street. For more information

about UHS, visit HEALTHYHORNS.UTEXAS.EDU. Note: dependents are not eligible to use UHS. A complete, searchable list of medical providers in the BlueCross/BlueShield network is available through your online account found at

If you receive treatment outside UHS, you may be required to pay for a portion of your medical bill. In the event that you are admitted to a hospital, you will need to provide the hospital with your insurance information within 72 hours. If you must pay a medical bill out-of-pocket because you do not have your ID card with you, be sure to keep all receipts. Information about how to file a claim for reimbursement is available at

UTAUSTIN.MYAHPCARE.COM.

HOW TO MEET WITH THE INSURANCE ADVISOR

There is an insurance coordinator on the ISSS staff to assist you with insurance-related matters. Advising is done by appointment only for requests such as purchasing insurance for dependents. Please note that an appointment is not necessary to turn in a waiver form. In order to schedule a meeting with the insurance coordinator, please go

to GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/ADVISING-SERVICES.

TEXAS DRIVER’S LICENSE AND IDENTIFICATION CARD

ISSS recommends that all students obtain either a Texas identification card or driver’s license as another form of government issued identification. Since you will want to keep your passport in a safe place, this is a way to still have official identification with you at all times. Keep in mind that if you leave the Austin area, you will still need to have your original passport and other original immigration documents with you. For instructions on how to obtain a Texas Driver’s

License or ID Card: GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/ LIFE-AT-UT/AUSTIN/DRIVERS-LICENSES.

TEXAS IDENTIFICATION CARD Students who don’t wish to obtain permission to drive in the United States can apply for a Texas identification card. While it is an official ID, it does not permit you to drive a motor vehicle.

TEXAS DRIVER’S LICENSE Students who will be in the United States for longer than 30 days and plan to drive a car should obtain a Texas driver’s license. If you already have a driver’s license from another United States state or foreign country, you may continue to use it up to 90 days after moving to Texas. After that time, you should apply for a Texas driver’s license.

GET INVOLVED

UT AUSTIN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Explore a new interest, connect with other students over a shared hobby, or meet classmates from your home country! UT Austin has over 1,000 registered student organizations representing geographic regions, faith and spirituality, recreational interests, volunteering, and social activities. Some organizations support students with shared professional and educational interests. These can be easily found through your specific college or school. Information is available through Student Activities in the Office of the Dean of Students located in the Student Services Building, Room 4.104 or online.

UTEXAS.CAMPUSLABS.COM/ENGAGE

STUDENT GOVERNMENT UT Austin has three legislative student groups, including the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA), Senate of College Councils, and Student Government (SG). Both the GSA and SG have international student agencies and representatives advocating for international student affairs on campus.

DEANOFSTUDENTS.UTEXAS.EDU/LSO/ ISSS EVENTS The Support Services team of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) organizes a variety of events for our student and scholar populations. Some events are practical in nature and focus on subjects like how to use your health insurance effectively. Other topics explore U.S. culture, including information about local and federal governments. Finally, social events such as ISSS Social Hour, Meet-A-Scholar, and city-wide scavenger hunts are designed to strengthen ties to our international community for fun and mutual support. Keep track of ISSS events by following us on social media or by bookmarking

the events page. UTX.GLOBAL/ISSS-EVENTS

INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION VOLUNTEER

(IOV) PROGRAM Each year, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Global welcome over 1,000 international students to the Longhorn community. The IOV Program provides UT students the opportunity to get involved in International Orientation activities, gain leadership experience, and provide a welcoming environment for new

classmates. GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/LIFE-ATUT/ORIENTATION/VOLUNTEERS.

360 CONNECTIONS The 360 Connections program is an opportunity for first-year undergraduate international students to belong to a smaller community within UT Austin with active support from a Texas Global staff member and a student mentor. Approximately 20 international freshmen meet every other week to participate in a discussion, chat with a guest speaker, or attend a campus or city excursion. GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/

ISSS/LIFE-AT-UT/GET-INVOLVED/360-CONNECTIONS

FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM The Friendship Program provides international students an opportunity to connect with the Austin community. Austin Community Hosts are volunteers who come from a variety of backgrounds and are usually young professionals, members of the UT community, local families with school-age children, or retirees. Students and scholars are paired off with the Hosts and are expected to meet once a month for a reciprocal exchange of traditions, customs, and lifestyles.

GLOBAL.UTEXAS.EDU/ISSS/LIFE-AT-UT/GETINVOLVED/FRIENDSHIP-PROGRAM

GLOBAL LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITY

ISSS partners with University Housing and Dining to place domestic and international students in a residence hall on campus. Whitis Court LLB residents can enjoy the company of other international and internationally-minded students and meet with Texas Global staff throughout the semester to engage in activities promoting cross-cultural communication. This living community is open to exchange, international, and domestic undergraduate UT

students. HOUSING.UTEXAS.EDU/FUTURE/LIVINGLEARNING-COMMUNITIES