Emerson College
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2023-2024 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). An enrollment form is not required.
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 students drop to fewer than 9 undergraduate credits or 6 graduate credits 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.
Emerson Paris College of Art Global BFA: Students in the Paris College of Art Global BFA are enrolled in a CIGNA Global plan designed to meet their international insurance needs. CLICK HERE to be directed to information about the Cigna Global Plan.
Coverage, Cost & Benefits
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 left navigation menu for complete policy details.
| Annual Students | New Spring Students | |
| Coverage Dates | 08/1/2023 - 7/31/2024 | 1/1/2024 - 7/31/2024 |
| Undergraduate Cost | $2,777 | $1,622 |
| Graduate Cost | $4,133 | $2,413 |
| Waiver Deadline | October 2, 2023 | January 29, 2024 |
New for 2023-2024:
-
A new $0 copay benefit is available for Limited Service Clinics (LTC) like Minute Clinic. To find an LTC, use the provider search on the left and type in Clinics, Limited Services.
- If you take certain high-cost specialty medications subject to 30% co-insurance, you may be eligible for PillarRx. PillarRx uses manufacturer coupons to cover some or all of the member out-of-pocket costs. To view the list of eligible medications, log in to your MyBlue account, under My Medications, select Cost-Share Assistance, and then choose See Eligible Medications
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 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 request to waive the required student insurance by submitting a waiver by the deadline. Please contact University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com 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 for continued exemption at the start of each academic year.
- 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.
Students who use their Emerson-provided health insurance at any point are not eligible to waive it 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 with 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 unavailable in the Emerson campus area.
- Mental health and substance abuse must be covered as any other illness or injury. Injuries or illnesses resulting from alcohol, illegal drugs, or self-harm must be covered as any other illness or injury.
- A student can waive the insurance charge if 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.
- 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 email University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com to request 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 on 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 complete the qualifying event enrollment form on the left side of this page within 60 days of losing other coverage. Prorated plans are available, and supporting documentation is required.
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 premium refund 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
- Waiver Appeal Form
- Spring Termination Request
- 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.