Emerson College
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2022-2023 Academic Year
Massachusetts requires students enrolled at least 75% of full time, who are not enrolled solely in short-term courses or an online program, to be covered by health insurance. Therefore, students required to have insurance (matriculated undergraduate students enrolled in 9 or more credits and graduate students enrolled in 6 or more credits) are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Emerson Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
Matriculated undergraduate and graduate students who are less than 75% of full-time, and not in a short-term or online program, may submit a voluntary enrollment form to enroll in the SHIP via the link on the left side of this page.
Please Note: Health insurance charges are automatically removed when undergraduate and graduate students drop to fewer than 9 or 6 credits, respectively, within the first 45 days of the coverage period. Students must submit the voluntary enrollment form through University Health Plans by the deadline if they would like to remain enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan.
Plan Change for 2022-2023: The out-of-pocket maximum will increase to $2,500 in-network and $5,000 out-of-network. The prescription drug copayments will move to a 5-Tier Plan: Tier 1: $15 copay, Tier 2: $30 copay, Tier 3: $50 copay, Tier 4: 30% coinsurance, Tier 5: 30% coinsurance. Use the Prescription Info link on the left to determine your medication’s tier.
Coverage & Cost
The Student Health Insurance Plan is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and administered by University Health Plans. Please click "benefit information" in the navigation menu to the left for complete details on the policy.
| Annual Students | New Spring Students | |
| Coverage Dates | 08/1/2022 - 7/31/2023 | 1/1/2023 - 7/31/2023 |
| Undergraduate Cost | $2,777 | $1,622 |
| Graduate Cost | $4,133 | $2,413 |
| Late Waiver Deadline | September 30, 2022 | February 15, 2023 |
Waiving Health Insurance
International Students
The Massachusetts student insurance regulation does not consider insurance carriers outside of the United States or coverage by foreign National Health Service programs comparable to a qualifying student health insurance program.
International students may choose to waive the Emerson College Student Health Insurance Plan if they have alternate health insurance with a U.S.-based carrier that meets Commonwealth of Massachusetts SHIP standards (Please read all waiver requirements listed below). If you are already covered by a U.S.-based insurance carrier and you have ascertained that your coverage is comparable, you have the right to waive the required student insurance by submitting a waiver by the deadline. Please contact University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com or 833-251-1726 to receive the paper waiver form. A review of your waiver and insurance coverage will be completed before your waiver is approved/denied.
Please review insurance plans carefully before purchasing a plan and waiving the Student Health Insurance Plan.
Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Domestic undergraduate and graduate students may waive the Student Health Insurance Plan and charge by submitting an online waiver form confirming comparable coverage by the designated deadline. An insurance waiver must be completed at the start of each academic year for continued exemption.
- Health Insurance Waiver: Online Form accessible in the navigation menu on the left-hand side of this page.
- Check your account online to see if your insurance has been waived.
Contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1726 if you have trouble accessing the waiver.
The deadline to submit a waiver form is February 15, 2023. Students who use their Emerson-provided health insurance at any point are not eligible to waive afterward.
Waiver Requirements
The following are guidelines you should review before submitting a health insurance waiver:
- U.S. students with comparable coverage under another major medical insurance plan may submit a waiver.
- Veterans’ benefits that provide access to Veterans’ Administration healthcare facilities, TRICARE, and the U.S. Family Health Plan, a military coverage, are all acceptable to submit a waiver.
- Students who have out-of-area HMOs (for example Kaiser Permanente, Empire of NY, and others) may not have comparable coverage as these types of plans only provide coverage for emergency care or when provided by a network of clinicians not available in the Emerson campus area.
- Health and substance abuse must be covered as any other illness or injury. Injuries or illnesses that occur as a result of alcohol, illegal drugs, or self-harm must be covered as any other illness or injury.
- A student can waive the insurance charge if they are enrolled in a subsidized health plan through the Health Connector or MassHealth, excluding MassHealth Limited, the Health Safety Net, or the Children's Medical Security Plan. Students with MassHealth must apply for the MassHealth Premium Assistance (MHPA) program through the waiver form, or they can jeopardize their MassHealth benefits.
- International students are required to have U.S.-based health insurance. Foreign carriers with U.S.-based satellites are still considered foreign insurance and do not qualify for the health insurance waiver. International students who believe they have U.S.-based health insurance that is filed and approved in the U.S. and compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may submit a paper waiver form with a copy of their insurance card and plan documents. Please call University Health Plans at 833-251-1726 to receive the paper waiver form. A review of your waiver and insurance coverage will be completed before your waiver is approved/denied.
Full information about the insurance requirement can be found at the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance website and by viewing the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Plan Regulations.
Loss of Coverage Regulations
Because Massachusetts state law requires any student participating in at least 75% of the full-time curriculum to have continuous medical insurance, Emerson is responsible for ensuring its students have continuous medical coverage.
If a student waives insurance at the beginning of an academic year, then loses coverage, he or she must notify University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com or 833-251-1726 to purchase health insurance through Emerson. Prorated plans are available.
Premium Refund Policy
If you withdraw from school within the first 45 days of a coverage period, you will not be covered under the Student Health Insurance Plan and the full premium will be refunded, less any claims paid. (This refund policy will not apply if you withdraw due to a covered Accident or Sickness.)
After 45 days, you will be covered for the full period, and no refund will be allowed.
Exception: A Covered Person entering the armed forces of any country will not be covered under the Policy as of the date of such entry. In this case, a pro-rata refund of premium will be made for any such person upon written request received by University Health Plans within 90 days of withdrawal from school.
Student Health Plan
- Late Waiver Form
- Voluntary Enrollment Form
- Qualifying Event Enrollment Form
- Provider Search
- Worldwide Providers &
Travel Assistance - Update Mailing Address
Optional Plans
Additional Information
- Center for Health and Wellness
- Counseling Center
- Health Connector Participant Info
- Insurance Info for Graduating Students and Dependents
Insurance members need their insurance ID number to access their insurance benefits and account via Blue Cross Blue Shield's website. Your ID number will be provided via email at the beginning of the plan year.
The following changes have been made to the 2022-2023 policy:
- Out of Pocket Maximum will increase to $2,500 in-network and $5,000 out-of-network for combined medical and prescription expenses.
- The prescription drug copayments will change to a 5-Tier Plan:
- Tier 1: $15 copay
- Tier 2: $30 copay
- Tier 3: $50 copay
- Tier 4: 30% coinsurance
- Tier 5: 30% coinsurance
The SHIP changes can have an impact on your out-of-pocket costs if you need prescriptions that will require you to pay 30% of the medication's cost up to the out-of-pocket maximum. We encourage students impacted by the change to compare all other insurance options to the Emerson SHIP.
The following changes have been made to the 2022-2023 policy:
Out of Pocket Maximum will increase to $2,500 in-network and $5,000 out-of-network for combined medical and prescription expenses.
- The prescription drug copayments will change to a 5-Tier Plan:
- Tier 1: $15 copay (generic)
- Tier 2: $30 copay (preferred brand)
- Tier 3: $50 copay (non-preferred brand)
- Tier 4: 30% coinsurance (preferred specialty)
- Tier 5: 30% coinsurance (non-preferred specialty)
The SHIP changes can have an impact on your out-of-pocket costs if you need prescriptions that will require you to pay 30% of the medication's cost up to the out-of-pocket maximum. We encourage students impacted by the change to compare all other insurance options to the Emerson SHIP.
The following changes have been made to the 2022-2023 policy:
Out of Pocket Maximum will increase to $2,500 in-network and $5,000 out-of-network for combined medical and prescription expenses.
- The prescription drug copayments will change to a 5-Tier Plan:
- Tier 1: $15 copay (generic)
- Tier 2: $30 copay (preferred brand)
- Tier 3: $50 copay (non-preferred brand)
- Tier 4: 30% coinsurance (preferred specialty)
- Tier 5: 30% coinsurance (non-preferred specialty)
The SHIP changes can have an impact on your out-of-pocket costs if you need prescriptions that will require you to pay 30% of the medication's cost up to the out-of-pocket maximum. We encourage students impacted by the change to compare all other insurance options to the Emerson SHIP.