Insurance After You Graduate
Congratulations ... you're graduating from UMass Amherst! It's an exciting, busy time, with lots to think about and even more to do.
If you're planning to stay in Massachusetts after graduation, add "get health insurance" to your 'to-do' list. It's required by law, and the tax penalties for not doing it add up quickly.
What to do
A lot depends on your current health insurance plan (Massachusetts also requires that all college students have one). If you:
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will be starting a job that offers insurance:
You'll transition to your employer's plan.
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are on your parents' plan:
Under the Affordable Care Act, most young adults can stay on their parent’s family plan until they turn 26. It doesn’t matter whether you’re married, living with your parents, in school, or financially independent. For more information on how to stay insured, call the customer service number for your parents’ insurer and explain your situation.
Learn more about the Affordable Care Act.
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need to obtain insurance on your own:
The Massachusetts Health Connector Young Adult Plans are for you. Health Connector is a state agency that helps Massachusetts residents find health insurance coverage. The Young Adult Plans it offers are only available to people between 18 and 26. Plans are easy to get and you can cancel if you get a job with health benefits.
Click the link above to shop, compare and enroll. Or, call Health Connector, weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 1-877-MA-ENROLL.
Download the Health Connector flyer.
Don't wait!
You can't be without health insurance for more than 63 consecutive days in a calendar year. Otherwise, you may accrue a tax penalty for each month you're uninsured.
