Student Health Benefit Plan
Massachusetts requires college students to have comprehensive health insurance.
UMass Amherst’s Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) coverage for the 2012 – 2013 academic year is offered through Consolidated Health Plans.
Students with comparable coverage may waive the SHBP using an online tool. Those covered by Commonwealth Care and international students are not eligible to waive SHBP coverage. For more information, see the waiver eligiblity section below.
What does the SHBP offer?
The SHBP meets or exceeds state requirements, with coverage and benefits specific to college students. Go to the Consolidated Health Plan website and select UMass Amherst from the drop-down menu for comprehensive plan information.
The SHBP family plan provides coverage for a covered student's spouse, same-sex domestic partner and/or unmarried dependent children under age 26. To purchase the SHBP family plan and enroll eligible family members, the student must be enrolled in the SHBP and have paid the Student Health Fee. A marriage certificate is required to enroll in the SHBP family plan.
What if I already have insurance?
The bigger question is … will your family’s existing plan meet your needs and state requirements? For example, your plan may have a high deductible that must be met before benefits begin or it might not pay for prescription drugs or provide coverage when you are away from home or traveling abroad. And some plans do not meet the state’s minimum threshold for coverage. Compare your plan to the SHBP to see which choice makes the most sense for you.
How do I enroll?
If you’re taking 5 or more credits, you don’t have to do anything. You’ll be automatically enrolled in the SHBP and the charges will appear on your tuition bill.
Students wishing to purchase the family plan, those taking fewer than five credits per semester, program fee students and those enrolled in a degree-seeking program through Continuing and Professional Education or University Without Walls must come to UHS Patient Services before the end of the Add/Drop period to register. Students taking online classes are not eligible to enroll.
To purchase the SHBP family plan and enroll eligible family members, the student must be enrolled in the SHBP and have paid the Student Health Fee. A marriage certificate is required to enroll in the SHBP family plan.
What does it cost?
Student Health Fee, Student Health Benefits Plan and Student Family Plan costs per semester:
Fall 2012: 08/01/12 – 01/19/2013
• Student Health Fee: $327.00
• Student Health Benefits Plan: $1,377.50
• Student Family Plan: $4,091.00
Total Fall 2012: $5,795.55
SPRING 2013: 01/20/13 – 07/31/13
• Student Health Fee: $327.00
• Student Health Benefits Plan: $1,377.50
• Student Family Plan: $4,091.00
Total Spring 2013: $5,795.55
For Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) rates or other questions, contact UHS Patient Services, (413) 577-5192.
Coverage dates
The SHBP provides coverage on an annual basis; effective dates for the 2012 – 2013 coverage period are August 1, 2012 through July 31, 2013.
ID cards
Once you’ve enrolled in the SHBP, you'll receive an ID card. Keep this card with you and show it when you go for medical care.
If you need care and haven't received your card yet, go to the Consolidated Health Plans website to to download a temporary card.
Waiver eligibility
UMass Amherst may elect to allow students to waive participation in the SHBP.
Audits are performed; students whose waivers are rejected during an audit will have an opportunity to correct the information submitted. Waivers not accepted by the university will be recharged to the tuition bill.
If you waive coverage for the Fall semester, it is automatically waived for the Spring semester; you do not need to submit a second waiver request. Only new or transfer students need to submit the online waiver request for the Spring semester.
Waiver guidelines:
U.S. students with comparable coverage under another major medical insurance plan, including Commonwealth Choice, can waive the SHBP.
Closed network plans, which provide coverage through a closed network of providers not reasonably accessible in the area where the student attends school, are not eligible for SHBP waiver.
Veterans' benefits that provide access to Veterans' Administration healthcare facilities, and the U.S. Family Health Plan, a military coverage, are both acceptable.
Mass Health plans are acceptable; however, enrollment is subject to state eligibility. Subscribers who have been disenrolled based on their student status should contact UHS Patient Services to enroll in the SHBP.
Commonwealth Care plans are not eligible for SHBP waiver; this includes the Health Safety Net Plan. This policy is determined by the state Division of Health Care Finance and Policy. Subscribers who have been disenrolled based on their student status should contact UHS Patient Services to enroll in the SHBP.
International students are required to maintain SHBP coverage.
Waiving SHBP
SHBP online waivers for new and transfer students starting at UMass in the Spring, 2013 semester can be completed beginning December 14, and MUST be completed before midnight on March 9, 2013.
If you do not waive within this time period, you will remain enrolled in the SHBP through July 31, 2013 and the full charge for the plan will be assessed on the semester tuition bills. No exceptions can be granted.
Online waivers must be completed annually.
Waivers submitted during the fall semester apply to the entire academic year. Only students beginning at the university in the spring semester have the option to waive for that semester.
- Go to www.spire.umass.edu;
- Select the Health Waiver page link;
- Click the Online Waiver Site link; and
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Complete and submit the waiver form.
or - Go to www.chpstudent.com;
- Start by Selecting UMass Amherst from the drop down box;
- Next click on the “Waiver” tab located in the center of the page;
- Enter your Student ID and Date of Birth, click “Continue”;
- Complete all information as directed; and “Submit”;
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Your request will NOT be completed until you:
- Check the box confirming that your information is correct;
- Provide your electronic signature; and
- Click the Submit button.
A confirmation e-mail is sent within minutes of successfully completing the waiver request. Print and save this e-mail as proof of you waiver. If you don’t receive a confirmation e-mail, please call Consolidated Health Plans customer service, (800) 633-7867, for assistance.
