UMASS-Boston
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2025-2026 Policy Year
The University of Massachusetts – Boston (UMass Boston) is pleased to present you with information about our 2025-2026 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The plan is ACA compliant and includes access to Blue Cross Blue Shield's national PPO network of providers. Students do not have to select a primary care physician and referrals are not required.
| Important Information Regarding Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 Health Insurance Charges |
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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 all eligible students for the 2025-2026 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).
- All matriculating international students regardless of credit hours will be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan.
Part-time study, independent study, internet classes and television (TV) courses may not fulfill the eligibility requirements. Online only students, non-matriculating students, certificate program students and students who are enrolled in less than the required credits are not eligible for the SHIP.
Please note: Students who withdraw from UMass Boston, drop all their classes, or lose enrollment eligibility within the first 31 calendar days of the academic semester are not eligible to remain enrolled for the SHIP. Students graduating or separating from the university after fall term are not insured after December 31st.
Coverage Periods, Costs and Deadlines
The annual insurance fee will be split into two charges.
Important: In order to remain insured for both fall and spring semesters, students must be registered for both semesters and must maintain eligbility. Students who are not registered for spring or are not registered for enough credits for spring semester will be removed from the SHIP as of January 1, 2026.
| Coverage Period | Insurance Fee | Waiver/Enrollment Deadline | |
| Annual (charged in two installments) | 08/01/25–07/31/26 | $3,312.44 | October 1, 2025 |
| *Fall Only Installment | 08/01/25-12/31/25 | $1,383.10 | October 1, 2025 |
| *Returning Spring Installment | 01/01/26-07/31/26 | $1,934.34 | not eligible to submit form |
| New Spring Student | 01/01/26-07/31/26 | $1,934.34 | March 1, 2026 |
The 2025-2026 policy year “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.
Waiver Process
Students who have other comparable coverage that meets all insurance requirements may waive the SHIP by submitting the waiver form in the navigation menu on the left-hand side of this page before the posted deadline.
Before waiving make sure to compare the cost, coverage, and benefits of the SHIP to your existing plan. Most students with out-of-state managed care plans or HMOs are not eligible to waive coverage as those types of plans do not provide students with access to non-emergent care in the Boston area. Your health insurance plan must meet the below requirements to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan:
- Your plan must provide access to doctors, specialists, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, and mental health/behavioral health providers in Massachusetts, specifically the UMass Boston campus area.
- Please note, if you are enrolled in an out-of-state Medicaid, HMO, or EPO your coverage may not be sufficient in Massachusetts. Many out-of-state plans do not provide comprehensive benefits outside of the home service area, and urgent or emergency-only coverage in Massachusetts is NOT sufficient and does not meet the SHIP waiver requirements.
- MassHealth Limited, Health Safety Net, and Children’s Medical Security Plan do not meet the insurance requirements and are not accepted.
- Your plan must be a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US.
- Travel insurance, health share plans and short-term limited duration plans are not accepted.
- Provide coverage for the entire policy year (8/1/25-7/31/26) 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
- International students must also have coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation.
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.
Students who miss the fall waiver deadline will be enrolled for coverage and are responsible for the insurance charge on their bill. The spring waiver form is available for new spring students only.
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. Please see below for the Qualifying Event Enrollment Process.
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 must submit the online enrollment form located in the navigation menu on the left-hand side of this page. Students who enroll AFTER the effective date will have coverage retroactive back to the effective date of the plan. Enrollment activation may take 2-3 business days.
If a student elects’ coverage under the SHIP in the fall, coverage will automatically continue in the spring semester, if the student maintained eligibility for the plan for spring coverage. Students graduating or separating from the university after fall term are not insured after December 31st. Returning spring students with questions regarding eligibility to cancel coverage for spring semester will need to University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com or 1-833-251-1126 to determine eligibility.
Dependent Enrollment: Enrolled students may choose to enroll their dependents by submitting the dependent enrollment form located in the navigation menu on the left-hand side of this page. The above posted enrollment deadlines apply to dependent enrollment. Dependents who were not enrolled prior to the enrollment deadline will not have the opportunity to enroll at a later date unless they experience an eligibility qualifying life event. The spring enrollment form is available for new spring students and their dependents only.
International Students
All matriculating international students regardless of credit hours will be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. No action is required to enroll. 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 Student Health Insurance Plan.
If you are covered by a health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the United States, and your plan meets all insurance waiver requirements (see above waiver process section for requirements), please complete the waiver form located in the navigation menu on the left-hand side of this page. 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 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.)
Qualifying Event Enrollment Process
Coverage may be purchased for students who waived the SHIP and/or eligible dependents after the initial enrollment period only if one of the following qualifying events has occurred during the Policy Year: 1) involuntary loss of other creditable coverage; 2) birth; 3) marriage; 4) adoption of a child; or 5) entry into the United States. Please contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1126 for eligibility if you have a qualifying event not listed.
The Qualifying Event Enrollment Form can be found in the navigation menu on the left-hand side of this page. To enroll, you must submit an enrollment form, a letter from your prior insurance company documenting your loss of coverage, and payment within 60 days of the qualifying event. If all items are received by the deadline coverage will be effective as of the first day without coverage under your prior plan.
Important Contact Information
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Questions on the Enrollment/Waiver Process, Update your Address, Help with Qualifying Life Event Enrollment or General Plan Questions |
University Health Plans (UHP) |
| Questions on your Student Bill |
Bursar’s Office |
| Specific Questions Regarding Benefits and Claims |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts |
| Questions or Concerns for Non-Emergent Medical Care |
University Health Services
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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. Delta Dental offers UMass Boston students and their dependents a Delta Dental Total Choice PPO dental insurance plan option. Students may enroll in these plans on a VOLUNTARY basis; they are not required to have dental insurance. You can view the option for dental insurance by selecting “Massachusetts Delta Dental Plans”, under Optional Plans, 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; they are not required to have vision insurance. You can view the option for vision insurance by selecting “VSP Vision Care Plan”, under Optional Plans, on the left-hand side of this page.
