UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS - DARTMOUTH
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2026-2027 POLICY YEAR
 

The University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth (UMassD) is pleased to present you with information about our 2026-2027 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Important Information Regarding Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Health Insurance Charges

Students will be billed the Student Health Insurance fee based on eligibility each term. The fall insurance fee, $991.75 covers the fall term: August 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. The insurance fee for returning spring students, $1,346.45 will cover the spring term: January 1, 2027 through July 31, 2027. Families and students are reminded to budget wisely. Students may have a credit/receive a refund in the fall term and owe a balance in the spring term. Student graduating or separating from the university after fall term are not insured after December 31st. The deadline to waive or confirm enrollment is 9/14/2026. Students who do not submit a waiver form by the final deadline are automatically enrolled and the charge cannot be waived.  Waiving health insurance in the fall will waive coverage for the entire academic year.  ALL students must waive or confirm enrollment in the University’s health insurance coverage every year. The insurance fee for new spring students, $1,376.45  will cover the spring term: January 1, 2027 through July 31, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Law requires that all full-time and three-quarter time students attending an institution of higher education in the state of Massachusetts have comprehensive health insurance coverage in the area of the University. To comply with this requirement, eligible students for the 2026-2027 academic year will be automatically charged for and enrolled in the SHIP unless a waiver form is submitted by the waiver deadline.

The following students who are taking at least one class on campus are eligible for SHIP:

• Matriculating undergraduate students enrolled in 9 or more credits
• Matriculating graduate students enrolled in 7 or more credits (Matriculating graduate students taking 6 credits are not automatically enrolled but may contact the Bursar’s Office if interested in enrolling in SHIP).
• Matriculating School of Law students enrolled in 9 or more credits
• All matriculating international students regardless of credit hours will be enrolled in the SHIP.

Part-time study, independent study, internet classes and television (TV) courses may not fulfill the eligibility requirements that the covered student actively attends classes. Students taking only on-line classes are not eligible for school insurance.

POLICY PERIOD, INSURANCE FEE AND DEADLINES

The annual insurance fee will be split into two charges.

In order to remain insured for both fall and spring semesters, students must be registered and maintain the required number of credits each semester. Students who graduate, do not return or are not registered for enough credits for spring semester will be removed from the SHIP as of January 1, 2026.

Coverage Period	Coverage Dates	Insurance Fee	Waiver/Enrollment Deadline
Annual (charged in two installments)	08/01/26-07/31/27	$2,338.20	9/14/2026
*Fall Only Installment	08/01/26-12/31/26	$991.75	9/14/2026
*Returning Spring Installment	01/01/27-07/31/27	$1,346.45	not eligible
New Spring Student	01/01/27-07/31/27	$1,376.45	2/4/2027

WAIVER PROCESS

Students who have other comparable coverage that meets the waiver requirements may waive the SHIP by submitting the waiver form by the posted deadline. 

Your health insurance plan must meet the below requirements to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan:

• Be a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US. Travel insurance and short-term limited duration plans are not accepted
• Provide coverage for the entire policy year (8/1/26-7/31/27) with no break in coverage. 
• Comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and provide minimum essential coverage as defined by the ACA including:
  • Provide an unlimited policy maximum
  • Include coverage for pre-existing conditions
  • Provide emergency and non-emergency care in the area of the University

A new online waiver form must be completed by the deadline each school year. A waiver form completed in the fall semester will be automatically applied to your student account for the spring semester of the same school year. No additional action is necessary in the spring.

Important Note: SHIP coverage will terminate at the end of the fall coverage period if;

(1) The student graduates at the end of fall 2026 semester;
(2) The student does not return as a registered student for spring 2027 semester: or
(3) The student does not maintain sufficient credits in the spring 2027

All adjustments for spring insurance eligibility will be determined after the spring 2027 Add/Drop deadline date.

Students who waive for fall semester will not have the opportunity to enroll at a later date unless they experience an eligibility qualifying life event.

Students who miss the fall waiver deadline are responsible for the fall insurance charge. Students who miss the fall waiver deadline and return as eligible students for spring semester will be automatically charged the returning spring student insurance fee and will not be provided access to the spring waiver form. The spring waiver form will be available for new spring students only. Returning spring students with questions regarding eligibility to cancel coverage for spring semester can refer to the spring termination request form in the navigaton menu on the left side of this page or will need to University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com or 1-833-251-1124 to determine eligibility.

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Eligible students will not be automatically enrolled in the SHIP until after the posted deadline. To expedite the processing of your enrollment in SHIP you may submit the online enrollment form found in the navigation menu on the left hand side of this page.

If a student elects coverage under the SHIP in the fall, coverage will automatically continue in the spring semester as long as the student is registered in the spring.

Dependent enrollment: Enrolled students may choose to enroll their dependents by submitting the dependent enrollment form found in the navigation menu. The above mentioned deadlines apply.

Qualifying Event Enrollment: Students who waived the SHIP and/or eligible dependents during their initial enrollment period may qualify for special enrollment rights if they have experienced one of the following life events. The deadline to submit the Qualifying Life Event Enrollment Form is 60 days from the event date, and supporting documentation is required. 

• Loss of other coverage
• No longer living in the prior plan's service area
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Marriage to the student 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All matriculating international students regardless of credit hours will be enrolled in the SHIP.

If you are covered by an embassy-sponsored health insurance plan and provide the Bursar’s Office with your financial guarantee prior to the waiver deadline, you will not be enrolled in the SHIP.  

If you are covered by a health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the United States, please contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1124 or info@univhealthplans.com. The United States health insurance plan must provide Minimum Essential Coverage as defined by the Affordable Care Act, and include the following benefits in the campus area.

• Unlimited policy maximum
• Pre-existing condition coverage
• Non-emergency medical services
• Mental/behavioral health care
• Pregnancy and maternity coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management
• Repatriation and medical evacuation

Please note, health insurance plans marketed solely to international students are generally not filed and approved in the United States and have limited benefits with coverage periods that do not comply with the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Plan Regulations as well as the University’s health insurance requirements. GBG Insurance, HDL Global Specialty, ISO, PGH (United), PSI, Student Medicover, and Tata AIG are examples of companies (there are others) that do not meet the waiver requirements (these plans are not ACA compliant, are not filed in the US and are not eligible for a waiver.)

BENEFIT INFORMATION

The SHIP enables students to use services outside Student Health Services. “Benefit Information” can be found in the navigation menu on the left hand side of this page. It is your responsibility to understand the nature and scope of benefits and limitations as well as to abide by posted deadlines.

SHIP Questions?
Provider, Benefit and Claims: contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA at bluecrossma.org or (888)-753-6615
Eligibility and Enrollment: University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com or at 1-800-437-644

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Voluntary Dental Plan for Students

Taking care of your teeth is as an important part of taking care of your health. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts offers UMassD students and their dependents the option to enroll in their​​​​​​ Dental Blue Freedom Plan. Enrollment in this plan is VOLUNTARY. Students are not required to have dental insurance.  You can view the option for dental insurance by selecting “Voluntary Student Dental Plan” on the left-hand side of this page.

Voluntary Vision Plan for Students

Students may enroll in the VSP Vision Insurance Plan on a VOLUNTARY basis. Students are not required to have vision insurance. You can view the option for vision insurance by selecting “VSP Vision Care Plan”on the left-hand side of this page.