Health Insurance | Student Affairs

Student Eligibility and Enrollment Information

required-med-insuranceRequired Medical Insurance

Massachusetts State Law requires that all college students be enrolled in a health insurance program that meets the required benefits established by the state.

All matriculating, undergraduate students, enrolled in one or more credit hours; and all matriculating, graduate students enrolled in nine or more credit hours are eligible and will be charged for health insurance.

Please note that all students who withdraw from or drop all of their classes within the first 31 calendar days of the academic semester will not be allowed to be enrolled in the university student health insurance plan.

online-studentsOnline Students

Online courses are not considered eligible for credits. Students enrolled exclusively in online classes only are not eligible for this plan.

international-studentsInternational Students

The University of Massachusetts Lowell requires that all international students must enroll in the university student health insurance plan. The university does not consider foreign insurance or travel insurance as comparable coverage to waive the university health insurance.

If you are covered by an embassy-sponsored health insurance plan and provide a Student Financial Services 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 800-437-6448. 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. ISO, PSI, Student Medicover, Tokio Marine, and NYIS Insurance are examples of companies that did not meet insurance requirements.

Student%20Health%20Insurance%20Plan%20(SHIP)Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

The University Of Massachusetts Lowell offers Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts – Blue Care Elect (PPO) as the student health insurance plan. The plan is administered by University Health Plans. For information about the student health plan, please view the University Health Plans website.

The insurance plan offered through the university is recommended because it covers students on or off campus, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is in effect for a full year. The coverage period is August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023. The insurance fee for the 2022-2023 academic year is $2,303. Spring only is $1,358. View the BCBSMA Summary of Benefits (pdf).

comparable-coverageComparable Coverage

Health insurance is mandatory and is available through the university for those who are unable to prove they have equal or better coverage.

If you belong to any type of managed care plan (ie an HMO or PPO), or other private insurance; check to see if they will cover lab tests and prescriptions ordered by Student Health Services. Many will not so students must be prepared to pay for these themselves and then seek reimbursement from their insurer if that is allowable by the insurer. In addition, per Massachusetts General Law (956 CMR 8.00: Student Health Insurance Program) students living outside of their insurance coverage area while attending UMass Lowell may not waive participation in the School Insurance Plan if your insurance provider only provides coverage (with the exception of services for life threatening emergencies) through a closed network of providers that are not reasonably accessible.

Comparable coverage benefits, subject to change, include:

• Comprehensive coverage of primary and preventive care, emergency services, surgical services, hospitalization benefits, ambulatory patient services and mental health benefits.
• 50,000 maximum aggregate indemnity per illness or injury per year.
• Coverage 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world for a 12-month period with some exclusions, co-payments and deductibles.

If you have comparable coverage under a parent’s insurance plan or other major medical insurance plan; you can waive the student health plan. Note: You cannot waive the student health insurance plan with Mass Health Limited, Health Safety Net or Children’s Medical Security Plan.

The policy must be a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US. International insurance plans, travel insurance, and short-term limited duration plans are not accepted.

The policy must provide coverage for the entire academic year (August 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023) with no break in coverage.

How%20to%20Waive%20/%20Enroll%20in%20the%20Student%20Health%20PlanHow to Waive / Enroll in the Student Health Plan

Students who have comparable coverage, may select to waive the university student health insurance plan. The tentative date for Fall 2022 student billing is August 18, 2022. The waiver option will end on Oct. 14, 2022 for the fall semester; and March 10, 2023 for the spring semester. Information on waiving or enrolling in the university health plan may be found on the Student Financial Services webpage on the Solution Center website.

The waiver process is an official state-required process that is recorded for the state records in the Student Financial Services Office and is subject to audit. The health insurance charge will be removed from the student’s account once the selection form has been validated. This procedure must be completed at the beginning of each school year in case a change in insurance coverage has been made.

Every matriculated student must complete the online Enrollment/Waiver process. All matriculating Graduate students carrying nine or more credit hours per semester are charged for the university health plan and must complete the online waiver process.

Student Health Insurance Contact Information

Questions about the health insurance charge or health insurance waiver should be directed to the Solution Center by phone: 978-934-2000 or email: [email protected].

Questions about a health insurance claim should be directed to University Health Plans by phone: 833-251-1123 or email: [email protected].

Specific benefits questions you have about receiving your insurance card should be directed to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Member Services by phone at 888-753-6615.

To request an insurance member ID, update your address, or ask general plan information, contact University Health Plans by phone 833-251-1123 or email: [email protected].

who-to-seeWho To See for Medical or Mental Health Issues

If you have school insurance, you should be seen at the Wellness Center (978-934-6800) for any medical or mental health problems. Please note that there is a $150 deductible for an emergency room visit, if you are not admitted to the hospital.

Protecting Access to Confidential Healthcare (PATCH) Act

Your right to confidentiality and privacy are important to us. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently enacted new privacy protections to your health care information. Learn more about how the Protecting Access to Confidential Healthcare (PATCH) Act can impact you.