Health Insurance

GEO membership entitles you to an exemption of 95% of the premium for those students who enroll in the Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP). If you are taking more than 5 credits, you will be automatically enrolled in the SHBP. However, if you are in Continuous Enrollment or registered for less than 5 credits, you need to manually enroll in the SHBP by filling out the Enrollment Form and sending it to @email at the beginning of each fall (the coverage will automatically carry over to the spring semester as long as you are enrolled in credits). Find instructions and the form here.

Likewise, if opting for coverage for family members, you must manually re-enroll in family health insurance every fall to receive coverage ‒ do this well in advance (months) ahead of the deadline to avoid gaps in coverage. Instructions and the form can be found here.

See “University Fees” above if you are planning to enroll for less than 5 credits.

Health insurance can be waived if you choose a different plan. Keep an eye out for emails about this at the start of the semester so that you will not be charged for SHBP. 

GEO Wellness Reimbursement

If you're eligible for GEO benefits, you can submit a valid receipt to be reimbursed for up to $225/plan year towards expenses for exercise or fitness programs. You'll use the same online enrollment process as the dental & vision plans, except that you must include a copy of a valid receipt demonstrating your payment of membership fees/fees/tuition to a gym, institution or organization.

Eligible wellness activities are defined as physical activity programming that promotes fitness and stress reduction through exercise. Examples include: a gym membership, yoga, dance, martial arts or aerobics classes, golf fees, ski lift fees, swimming passes, intramural team fees and marathon fees.

Both on-campus and off-campus programs are eligible. Yearly membership fees, monthly service fees and locker/equipment rentals at a gym are eligible; late fees are not. Receipts for enrollment fees or DVD’s for nationally recognized weight-loss programs with an exercise component are also eligible for reimbursement (examples include Weight Watchers, Jillian Michaels, Insanity Workout & P90X). Receipts for only one (1) MOOV Now or Fitbit style personal coaching/tracking/workout program device per eligible employee will be reimbursed per plan year.

Activities that aren't eligible include: massage, acupuncture, healthcare costs, spa treatments, facials and equipment purchases. Family members' receipts are not eligible.

Details on eligible activities here.

Dental & Vision Benefits

These plans are administered through GEO. These benefits are separate from your health insurance, so you must sign up for them every year, by early October. The effective date for the dental and vision plans is typically November 1st of each year.

• Individual dental and vision coverage is free for individuals.
• Family vision coverage is free, but there is a $100 premium for family dental coverage.

Prestigious graduate fellows (those funded on an external grant) are now eligible for union benefits. File your PGF information through this form here and be sure to follow up with Heidi Bauer-Clapp hbauerclapp@grad.umass.edu.

Acupuncture

Believe it or not, the SHBP covers acupuncture. There are two acupuncturists that work in the Specialty Clinic of Health Services. Appointments with them are free and unlimited if you have the SHBP.