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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS - DARTMOUTH
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2023-2024 POLICY YEAR
 

The University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth (UMassD) is pleased to present you with information about our 2023-2024 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Benefit changes effective August 1, 2023:

  • The out-of-pocket maximum will increase to $9,100 individual/$18,200 family (medical & prescription combined).
  • Prescription: a 30% coinsurance will be applied to specialty drugs.

Comprehensive plan documents are available in the navigation menu on the left side of this page.

Important Information Regarding Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Health Insurance Charges
  • Students will be billed the Student Health Insurance fee based on eligibility each term.
  • The fall insurance fee, $1,156.90 covers the fall term: August 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
  • The insurance fee for returning spring students, $1,577.66 will cover the spring term: January 1, 2024 through July 31, 2024.
  • Families and students are reminded to budget wisely. Students may have a credit/receive a refund in the fall term and owe a balance in the spring term.
  • Student graduating or separating from the university after fall term are not insured after December 31st.
  • The deadline to waive or confirm enrollment is 10/10/2023.  After 10/10/2023, students are automatically enrolled and the charge cannot be waived. 
  • Waiving health insurance in the fall will waive coverage for the entire academic year. 
  • ALL students must waive or confirm enrollment in the University’s health insurance coverage every year.
  • The insurance fee for new spring students, $1,607.66 will cover the spring term: January 1, 2024 through July 31, 2024.

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, eligible students for the 2023-2024 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).
  • Matriculating School of Law students enrolled in 9 or more credits
  • 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 that the covered student actively attends classes. Students taking only on-line classes are not eligible for school insurance.


STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY PERIOD, INSURANCE FEE 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 the required number of credits. 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, 2024.

  Coverage Period Insurance Fee Waiver/Enrollment Deadline
 Annual (charged in two installments) 08/01/23–07/31/24 $2,734.56 10/10/2023
*Fall Only Installment 08/01/23-12/31/23 $1,156.90 10/10/2023
*Returning Spring Installment 01/01/24-07/31/24 $1,577.66 not eligible to submit form
 New Spring Student 01/01/24-07/31/24 $1,607.66 2/26/2024



WAIVER PROCESS

Students who have other comparable coverage that meets the waiver requirements may waive the SHIP by submitting the waiver form by the posted deadline. 

Your health insurance plan must meet the below requirements to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan:

  • Be a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US. Travel insurance and short-term limited duration plans are not accepted
  • Provide coverage for the entire policy year (8/1/23-7/31/24) 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

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.

If a student elects coverage under the SHIP in the fall, coverage will automatically continue in the spring semester as long as the student is registered in the spring.

SHIP coverage will terminate at the end of the fall coverage period if;

(1) The student graduates at the end of fall 2023 semester;
(2) The student does not return as a registered student for spring 2024 semester: or
(3) The student does not maintain sufficient credits in the spring 2024

All adjustments for spring insurance eligibility will be determined after the spring 2024 Add/Drop deadline date.

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 contact University Health Plans regarding qualifying event eligibility.

Students who miss the fall waiver deadline are responsible for the fall insurance charge. Students who miss the fall waiver deadline and return as eligible students for spring semester will be automatically charged the returning spring student insurance fee and will not be provided access to the spring waiver form. The spring waiver form will be available for new spring students only. Returning spring students with questions regarding eligibility to cancel coverage for spring semester will need to University Health Plans at info@univhealthplans.com or 1-833-251-1124 to determine eligibility.


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 may submit the online enrollment form found in the navigation menu on the left hand side of this page.

Dependent enrollment: Enrolled students may choose to enroll their dependents by submitting the dependent enrollment form found in the navigation menu. The above mentioned deadlines apply.


INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All matriculating international students regardless of credit hours will be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan.

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, please contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1124. 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.)


BENEFIT INFORMATION

The student health insurance plan enables students to use services outside Student Health Services. The 2023-2024 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.

Please contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1124 with any questions regarding The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Student Health Insurance Plan.