SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

2022-2023 Academic Year

Dear Student:

As you prepare for the 2022-23 academic year, we urge you to consider your health insurance coverage a top priority. It is important that students have access to comprehensive medical care while enrolled at Suffolk University. According to Massachusetts law (Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage Institutions of Higher Education) and Suffolk University policy, every institution of higher education shall require all full-time and part-time students enrolled in at least 75% of a full-time program to participate in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. To read the details of this regulation, click here. This mandate includes all undergraduate, graduate, and law students enrolled in at least 75% of a full-time academic program. Therefore, all eligible students are automatically enrolled in the Suffolk University Student Health Insurance Plan (“SSHIP”) for coverage effective August 20, 2022 - August 19, 2023. To opt out, students must submit the SSHIP Online Waiver Form before the waiver deadline, each academic year, verifying comparable qualifying health insurance provided by a U.S. based insurance carrier. All eligible students who choose to waive SSHIP in subsequent years must re-submit the SSHIP Online Waiver Form each academic year before the waiver deadline. If the SSHIP waiver is not submitted by the deadline, then enrollment in SSHIP and the corresponding charge on the student account cannot be reversed.

PLEASE NOTE:  All international students must purchase the SSHIP except for:

• Those international students whose sponsoring institutions have a signed agreement with Suffolk that complies with the University’s health insurance waiver requirements.
• International students with a plan for which their health insurance company's primary home office is based in the United States AND the policy provides comparable coverage to the SSHIP.

All out-of-state students with insurance plans that do NOT provide emergency and non-emergency coverage for treatment with Massachusetts medical and mental health providers must purchase the SSHIP.

Student Health Insurance Policy Periods, Costs, and Deadlines

The “Essential Health Benefits” categories covered by SSHIP include:If you are considering waiving the SSHIP, please take note that some insurance plans in the market are restrictive and may leave students essentially uninsured while at school. This could result in the student incurring substantial out-of-pocket costs for medical care. We have provided some information to consider when reviewing comparable coverage that is accessible to in-network providers in the Boston area. The SSHIP is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and administered by University Health Plans. The SSHIP includes a national PPO providing access to emergency and non-emergency care across the United States. There is no dollar cap on health benefit coverage and there are no deductibles when seeing an in-network provider. You can view full details of the SSHIP by clicking “Benefit Information” in the left-hand side navigation menu.

• Ambulatory patient services, including outpatient day surgery and related anesthesia
• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
• Laboratory Services
• Emergency Services
• Prescription Drugs
• Preventive and wellness and chronic disease management
• Hospitalization
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
• Maternity and newborn care.

Please take the time to review the SSHIP benefits in order to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs while enrolled at Suffolk University. If you have any questions regarding the SSHIP, please contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1113 or via email info@univhealthplans.com.