MassHealth Premium Assistance (MHPA)
for Student Health Insurance Plans (SHIP)
Beginning fall 2017, MassHealth rolled out a Premium Assistance (MHPA) Program for students eligible for their College or University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
Beginning fall 2020, the MHPA program is no longer available. This page is a helpful resource summarizing the communications emailed and mailed to current Premium Assistance participants. Please review all of the information available to you to ensure you understand the changes that will impact how you access and use your MassHealth benefits.
Important information is outlined below and linked on the left side of this page.
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April-May |
Your college or university will email you notifying you of the end of the program. |
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April-May |
University Health Plans (UHP) will email you with important information about the end of the program. |
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May-June |
MassHealth will mail you important information about the end of the program and the transition back to a MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO). |
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Early Summer |
Per the UHP communication, verify your MassHealth is active by calling MassHealth Customer Service. |
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August |
BCBS Policy Ends: The last date of coverage under the SHIP varies from school to school. Refer to your school specific page for your policy end date. You will be assigned an ACO if your MassHealth is still active. You have 90 days to review and make changes to your assigned plan. Notify doctors and pharmacies of your new insurance. If you have prior authorizations, contact your doctor to initiate the prior authorization process with your new insurance company. |
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October |
End of 90 day ACO plan selection period. |
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If I am no longer eligible for MassHealth, what are my options? |
You may be eligible for a subsidized health plan through the Massachusetts Health Connector or you may be able to purchase a health insurance plan through the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector. Go to https://www.MAHealthConnector.org or call 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765) to learn more. If you are eligible for your college or university SHIP you may purchase the SHIP. You may be eligible to enroll as a dependent on your parent’s insurance plan. Please discuss this option with your parents and/or their health plan administrator. If you are employed, you may be able to enroll in your employee benefits program. Please contact your employer to learn more. |
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Am I eligible to waive my school’s SHIP? |
Refer to your school specific page for waiver requirements and deadlines. In general, MassHealth plans that are not MassHealth Limited, Health Safety Net or Children Medical Security, and plans through the Massachusetts Health Connector that are not catastrophic plans, are eligible for a Massachusetts school waiver form. |
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Who do I contact if I have questions? |
If you have questions about your MassHealth eligibility or transitioning to an ACO, call MassHealth Customer Service (800-841-2900). If you have questions about the end of the MHPA program, contact MHPA Customer Service (855-273-5903). If you have questions about your school’s waiver process, view your school specific page. If you still have questions, call University Health Plans (800-437-6448). |
Important update
To continue to the MassHealth Choices website click HERE.
MassHealth is here to help you.
Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), you may be on hold longer than normal when you call MassHealth. You can use this website instead, or until you reach MassHealth:
- To learn about your choices, go to Learn
- To find a provider or compare health plans, go to Compare
- To use the online enrollment form for most enrollment changes instead of calling MassHealth, go to Enroll
- For additional information about COVID-19, go to Mass.gov