Health Insurance Requirement and Billing Information

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Health Insurance Requirement and Billing Information

Health Insurance Requirement and Billing Information

Insurance is required for undergraduate students. Massachusetts state law requires that all students have medical insurance. To meet its legal obligations, the College enrolls and bills all eligible undergraduate students for the ��߲��о�� Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan every year.

Do I need to buy the student health insurance?

Yes, if any of these apply:

Your plan does not meet the student health insurance requirements within the ��߲��о�� area. Your plan does not meet the definition of comparable coverage. Examine your current coverage carefully, regarding access and out-of-pocket expenses for nonemergency visits for laboratory testing, diagnostic testing, consultation with a specialist and use of mental health services.
You are an international student.
Your insurance plan is provided through a state funded program outside of Massachusetts.

Who can waive the student health insurance?

U.S. students

U.S. students may waive the insurance if your family insurance meets the Massachusetts state requirements and if the insurance is waived online by the waiver deadline. Note: State and federal health insurance plans (such as Medicaid) do not meet the requirements and cannot be used to waive the student health insurance plan.

If you are receiving need-based financial aid and do not waive the health insurance, you will be responsible for the health insurance premium in addition to the calculated family contribution.

If you waive the College’s health insurance with a health insurance plan that is later found to inadequately cover medical costs, you will not be eligible to waive the health insurance in future years.

International students

International students are required to purchase the student medical insurance offered by ��߲��о�� and may not waive the college health insurance. This is because the short term, temporary medical insurance plans offered to international visitors are not “comparable plans” to the student medical insurance required per Massachusetts state regulations.

The only exception to this policy would be if your family lives in the United States long-term where:

A parent is employed by a U.S. employer or an embassy and has employer-sponsored health insurance that is comparable to the student medical insurance offered at Mount Holyoke, and
The health insurance will cover the student for all routine care while you are at college.

If your family lives and works in the United States, you need to inform Student Financial Services about your comparable health insurance policy before you will be cleared to waive the Student Injury and Sickness Plan.

Have you been covered under Mass Health?

If so, you should not waive the student health insurance, especially in the year you turn 20 years old. Mass Health will not cover students who are eligible for campus health insurance and may drop coverage in the middle of the academic year when you turn 20 or are audited for college enrollment.

Can I add the insurance if I waive it now but need it later?

Yes. If you experience a qualifying event when the student health insurance must be purchased during the academic year, you can add the insurance. The charge will be prorated based on the length of time coverage is provided. You will need to petition to add the health insurance online at .

College health insurance and leaves of absence or study abroad

Yes. If you would like to purchase coverage, please contact Student Financial Services.

If you had the plan for more than 31 days prior to going on leave, your student health insurance plan will remain in effect for the full plan year.

If you enrolled in the plan and go on leave after the fall semester but prior to the beginning of the spring semester, you may choose to either continue your coverage or waive the insurance coverage for the spring semester. If you choose to waive the insurance, you can receive a refund on the insurance premium by requesting, in writing, that the coverage be terminated. You must make this request within 30 days of the end of the fall semester.

Note: If you received grant funding for the health insurance premium, you will not be able to waive the insurance for the spring semester. The spring portion of the grant will be removed from your account, and you will be responsible for paying for the spring insurance premium.

If the leave of absence extends beyond the coverage period of the current plan year, you will not be able to renew the plan.

If you have had the student health insurance plan for at least one year prior to the approved medical leave, you are eligible to enroll for a maximum of two consecutive semesters of medical leave.

Yes. The student medical insurance plan covers you if you are traveling or studying abroad. You are covered for the period for which you have paid the premium. In addition to being covered for medical treatment and services, you are covered for repatriation of remains, emergency medical expense benefit and travel assistance services through Scholastic Emergency Services (SES), the 24-hour worldwide assistance service. All services must be arranged in advance and provided by On Call International. Any services not arranged by SES will not be considered for payment.

When studying or traveling abroad, keep your student health insurance plan identification card with you, and take a copy of the brochure for reference.
When outside of the United States, you will likely be asked to pay for your medical care first and then will need to seek reimbursement. Covered expenses will be reimbursed on a nonnetwork basis.
When you submit claims for reimbursement, you will need to have the itemized bill(s) translated into English and include a letter informing the claims administrator that you are seeking reimbursement for charges previously paid.
Please ensure that your name, ID number, address (to receive your reimbursement check) and the College’s name are on the bill.

If you have waived the student medical insurance plan and participate in a study abroad program you may purchase the Study Abroad Accident and Sickness Insurance Program.

��߲��о�� Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan

Note: Descriptions of coverages or services on this page is for informational purposes only. In the event of any conflict between this page and any other description of the services provided and any insurance policies, the actual insurance policy will control.

2024–2025 Coverage dates: Annual — August 15, 2024 to August 14, 2025 and Spring — January 15, 2024 to August 15, 2025

All eligible students are enrolled and billed for the ��߲��о�� Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan:

The plan offers comprehensive benefits that include hospital room and board, inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, labs, chemotherapy and radiation, inpatient and outpatient mental health services, physician office visits, consultant visits, ambulance and emergency care.
The maximum benefit allowed for each accident or sickness is unlimited.
Services provided by a participating network provider are generally covered at 100%, while services provided by a nonnetwork provider are generally covered at 80%.
The prepaid on-campus health care coverage is included with enrollment in the Student Injury and Sickness Plan.
Please refer to the for complete details about coverage, limitations and exclusions.
More information about student health insurance can be found on the MHC Health Services website.
Student athletes: please refer to the health services website for information about sports injury coverage.

If you have questions on any of the insurance policies described in this material, contact:
Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk
500 Victory Road, Quincy, MA 02171
Telephone: 800-433-7815
Fax: 617-479-0860
Contact:

Health insurance billing 2024–2025

If you are an eligible student, you will be billed $2,721 on your fall tuition bill for coverage, effective August 15, 2024, through August 14, 2025. On-campus student coverage includes the prepaid on-campus coverage.
If you are a student newly enrolled for the spring 2025 semester, you will be billed on your spring tuition bill for coverage, effective January 15, 2025, through August 14, 2025. On-campus student coverage includes the prepaid on-campus coverage.
If you waive coverage, the fees will be removed from your tuition bill.
If you waive coverage and elect the pre-paid on-campus health care, you will be charged $125 per semester, or $250 for the full academic year.
If you are enrolled in the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan and withdraw from the College within the first 31 days of the period for which the coverage is purchased (for any reason other than medical), your participation will be canceled and you will receive a full refund. If you withdraw after the first 31 days of the coverage period, you will remain covered for the period for which premium was received, and no refund will be available. You may not cancel for any other reason.
Questions about billings should be emailed to Student Financial Services.

Insurance/prescription ID card

ID cards are available online through the MyBlue app in the App Store or Google Play. You’ll need your BCBS ID number (not your Social Security number) to create your account. Your BCBS ID number is available by going to the account home section of our website.

Other insurance information

There are two options for additional coverage available for purchase:

Insured students can also enroll their eligible dependent/spouse on the student health insurance plan. Contact Student Financial Services for information.
The College provides medical evacuation/repatriation insurance for all enrolled students traveling on College sponsored educational programs.

Additional information

Descriptions of coverages or services on this page are for informational purposes only. In the event of any conflict between this page and any other description of the services provided and any insurance policies, the actual insurance policy will control.

Contact us

Office of Student Financial Services

The Office of Student Financial Services administers financial aid and student billing.

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