MassHealth Premium Assistance (MHPA)
for Student Health Insurance Plans (SHIP)

Beginning fall 2017, MassHealth rolled out a new Premium Assistance (MHPA) Program for students eligible for their College or University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you have MassHealth, are in an eligible aid category, and your College or University participates in the MHPA program, you are required to participate in the program. As with any new program, there are important changes to how you access your benefits. Please review the below information about this program.

This program is for MassHealth members. MassHealth or Massachusetts Medicaid, are not plans purchased or subsidized through the Massachusetts Health Connector. If you are not sure what type of insurance you have, ask your parents, guardian or insurance provider. A good way to identify if your plan is a MassHealth product, is to look for the 12-digit MassHealth ID on your insurance card. If you have one of the below Managed Care Organization (MCO) ID Cards, you are required to apply for this program.

Tufts Health Together
Atrius Health
Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization
Boston Children’s ACO
Cambridge Health Alliance

MassHealth ID is below the Tufts ID#

BMC HealthNet Plan
Community Alliance
Mercy Alliance (Trinity Logo)
Signature Alliance
SouthCoast Alliance

MassHealth ID is below BMC ID# or at the bottom of the card

Berkshire Fallon Health Collaborative
Fallon 365 Care
Wellforce Care Plan

MassHealth ID is at the bottom of the ID card

Be Healthy Partnership

MassHealth ID is ID # on the  card

My Care Family

MassHealth ID is below the NHP ID#

Community Care Cooperative (C3)

MassHealth ID is the MassHealth Member ID

Partners Health Choice

Steward Health Choice

MassHealth ID is below the Member ID#

MassHealth PCC

Is the MHPA for SHIP mandatory?

If you are eligible for your school’s health insurance program, your participation is required or you may jeopardize your MassHealth benefits. Please watch the below video for information about the program, your eligibility and how to apply.

Will there be any changes to my MassHealth coverage if I am approved?

You will retain your MassHealth eligibility; however, the SHIP will replace your MCO or ACO. The SHIP is your primary insurance plan and MassHealth is your secondary. For more Information about how the SHIP and MassHealth work together, please watch the below video. You can also learn about how to use the coverage and how benefits are coordinated by the viewing the below documents.

What's next?

As a MHPA participant, there is important information you need to know as you approach the end of the policy year. Please watch the video below to learn about the steps you need to take to avoid an interruption to your insurance coverage.

Once approved for the MHPA Program, you will receive numerous communications from both MassHealth and BCBS. Samples of each letter can be found below. For a brief explanation of each letter, hover over the thumbnails.

For questions about letters from MassHealth, please contact MassHealth Premium Assistance customer service at 855-273-5903.

For questions about letters from BCBS, please contact BCBS member services at 888-753-6615

MassHealth Letters

Managed Care Organization (MCO) Notice

Managed Care Organization (MCO) Notice

This is a letter to confirm you are not losing your MassHealth coverage; however, your MCO is being replaced by your college or university’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This change only affects you as the student. Your family members and/or dependents are not affected by this change.

To view a sample of this notice, please click here

SHIP PA Acceptance Letter

SHIP PA Acceptance Letter

This is a letter to confirm you have been approved for the MHPA Program and therefore enrolled in your college or university’s student health insurance plan; which is being paid for by MassHealth. You will receive this letter after you have been enrolled in the BCBS SHIP. It is important to note that you are not responsible for the cost of the BCBS SHIP. MassHealth will make payment directly to your school or insurance carrier on your behalf and the insurance charge will be removed from your student account.

To view a sample of this letter, please click here

Third-party Liability (TPL) Letter: over 18 years old

Third-party Liability (TPL) Letter: over 18 years old

This is a letter to confirm you have been enrolled in the BCBS SHIP. You remain enrolled in MassHealth and retain your MassHealth eligibility. If you were previously enrolled in a Managed Care Organization, the BCBS SHIP replaces your MCO as of the SHIP effective date.

It is important to always present both your BCBS and MassHealth ID cards to all providers, including your pharmacist, as your college or university’s student health insurance may have copays, deductibles and/or a coinsurance associated with the plan. When you see a BCBS and MassHealth provider, MassHealth pays the SHIP copays, deductibles and/or coinsurance on your behalf; you are not responsible for these out of pocket costs. If you see a provider in the BCBS network who does not take MassHealth you may be charged the copay, deductible, and/or coinsurance because this provider does not bill MassHealth. You can be reimbursed for in-network, out of pocket expenses for MassHealth covered services if you submit a claim form.

To view a sample of this letter, please click here

Third-party Liability (TPL) Letter: under 18 years old

Third-party Liability (TPL) Letter: under 18 years old

This letter is the same as the TPL Add Letter (over 18 years old), but is sent to the parent or guardian of the student if they are under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, check with your parent or guardian to ensure that they have received this letter, understand the program and the changes to your MassHealth coverage. It is important to note, your participation in the MassHealth Premium Assistance Program does not affect your family member’s MassHealth coverage.

To view a sample of this letter, please click here

MHPA Claim Form

MHPA Claim Form

This form is intended to be used by any student who is required to pay out of pocket for the BCBS cost share (copays, coinsurance deductibles, etc.) due to a provider’s billing policies and/or network participation. The form must be submitted to MassHealth Premium Assistance along with a copy of the BCBS Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or other proof of the services received and the costs incurred.

To view this form, please click here

BCBS Letters

Evidence of Coverage (EOC) Letter

Evidence of Coverage (EOC) Letter

This is a letter to confirm you have been enrolled in the Blue Cross Blue Shield SHIP and provides you with the monthly cost of the plan. You are not responsible for the monthly premium as MassHealth pays the annual insurance cost on your behalf. This letter is mailed after you have been enrolled in the BCBS SHIP. For additional information about your school’s SHIP, please go to your school specific page at www.universityhealthplans.com.

To view a sample of this letter, please click here

Social Security Number Request Letter

Social Security Number Request Letter

This letter is mailed by BCBS requesting your SSN for tax purposes. Your college or university does not provide your SSN to BCBS when you are enrolled in the SHIP. Therefore, if you file taxes in the United States, you should comply with this letter and report your SSN to BCBS. If you are an international student and do not file taxes in the US, you do not need to respond to this request.

To view a sample of this letter, please click here

SHIP Premium Assistance
for MassHealth Members