Health Insurance
Massachusetts state law requires that all Boston University students have proof of immunizations and medical insurance that meets benefit levels mandated by the state.
All CELOP students are automatically enrolled in the Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the Student Basic level. If you are enrolled in BU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), all basic services and immunizations are covered only if received at BU Student Health Services. Students not enrolled in BU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) can still receive immunizations at BU Student Health Services, but will be charged on their Student Account.
BU Student Health Insurance Plan Coverage Details
- For a general overview: see section titled, “Coverage Overview” on the Student Health Services website.
- For a detailed summary, visit Aetna Student Health’s website, On their Welcome page for BU Students., select View your insurance plan details and scroll down to page to the Plan Documents and Benefits The most useful documents are the Plan Design and Benefits Summary, the Basic Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC), and the Plus Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) documents (PDF’s). The 2024-2025 plan documents describe SHIP schedule of benefits in effect between August 15, 2024, and August 14, 2025. Student registered for Fall 2024 semester, Spring 2025 semester or Summer session 2025, refer to those plan documents. The coverage period within those dates will depend on which CELOP programs the student has registered for.
- For the student health insurance fee for your CELOP program: see the CELOP Dates and Fees page.
- For insurance coverage dates for your CELOP program: email CELOP at celop@bu.edu
If you are enrolled in the BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you can access your medical insurance ID card by clicking on Aetna Medical ID Card
Waiving the BU Student Health Insurance Plan
Fees for the BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) will stay on your account if you do not submit the online waiver by the waiver deadline or if your insurance plan is denied. Please contact CELOP at celop@bu.edu for the specific waiver deadline date of your program. Students cannot usually waive SHIP after the deadline.
In the Fall, full-time and part-time 12-week students who choose to waive SHIP will waive their insurance for the entire academic year, through Summer semester. New Spring 12-week students who choose to waive SHIP will waive their insurance for Spring through Summer semester. New Summer 12-week students who choose to waive SHIP will waive their insurance for Summer semester only. Students enrolled in short term programs (six weeks or less) who choose to waive SHIP will waive their insurance for the duration of that program only.
Students who wish to waive SHIP are required to complete a student insurance waiver form. Please see “Instructions for Waiving BU Student Health Insurance” below.
Information About Waiver Eligibility
Instructions for Waiving BU Student Health Insurance
Fall & Spring Semester: All accepted students who want to waive BU Student Health Insurance must submit an online insurance waiver request by the insurance waiver deadline. If you miss the insurance waiver deadline, you will need to petition to waive your health insurance. To petition, please send an email to insmed@bu.edu, with your full name, BUID and the reason why you are waiving your health insurance late.
How to submit the Online Insurance Waiver:
Visit the MyBU Student Portal.
- Visit https://www.bu.edu/mybu/and login to the MyBU Student Portal.
- Select “MyBU Dashboard”
- Select “Student Health Insurance”
- Select “Waive SHIP”
- Accept the “Are you sure you want to waive” prompt and you will be redirected to Gallagher Student Health’s website.
- At Gallagher Student Health’s website:
- Under “Profile,” click “Log In” , enter your BU login name and Kerberos password
- Under the My Coverage Options box, select the 2024-2025 Boston University Student Health Insurance Waiver.
- Click the yellow “Waive” button under “Plan Summary.”
- Follow the instructions to complete the form.
- (After filling in your insurance information , select “Save as Draft” and SAVE
- Then, complete and SUBMIT the Insurance Waiver form following the instructions on the page.
- After you submit the waiver form, you will receive an email from Gallagher Student Health with your confirmation number and instructions for your next steps.
- If you receive an email that your waiver has been denied, please follow the instructions provided to correct the issue (i.e., uploading supporting documents).
If you are under 18 years old at the start of any CELOP program, you must submit a signed and dated Boston University Parental Acknowledgement, Consent and Release from Liability Form.
Fall Semester ONLY Adjustment
Full-Time and Part-Time Fall Semester 12-week students who are enrolled in the BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) are charged for a full year of health insurance, Fall Semester through Summer Semester. Fall students who will be attending Fall semester only, can adjust their BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to cover Fall semester ONLY by completing the CELOP Fall Student Health Insurance Premium Adjustment Request Form available online Premium Adjustment Request Form and emailing it to insmed@bu.edu. Students cannot adjust SHIP after December 31st.
If a Fall student adjusts student health insurance for Fall ONLY and decides to apply for the spring semester, the student will be charged for Spring-Summer, as well. In this case, the student will not be eligible to waive the SHIP for the Spring-Summer coverage period.
New Spring Semester 12-week students are charged for two semesters, Spring Semester through Summer Semester. There is no Spring ONLY adjustment available. (NOTE: New Spring students: if you will be waiving SHIP, visit the MyBU Student Portal and complete the online insurance waiver form, instead, by the start of the semester.)
If you have questions about BU student health insurance adjustment, please email insmed@bu.edu and include your full name and BUID number in your email.
Please DO NOT Email CELOP the SHIP waiver and Adjustment forms. Send them directly to insmed@bu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What services are available at Boston University Student Health Services?
BU’s Student Health Services, located just across the street from CELOP’s main offices, provides students with medical and minor surgical. Services are provided by staff physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and an on-call crisis intervention counselor. If necessary, you will be provided with transportation to an area hospital. Some services do require a fee, which may be billed to your student account or paid for by cash or check.
- Is medical insurance required?
Yes, Massachusetts state law requires students to have adequate medical insurance from a United States-based insurance provider. Regardless of your current insurance coverage, you will be billed for the insurance offered through Boston University.
- I’m a Fall student registered for a 12 week program. The cost of the student health insurance on the Dates & Fees page of CELOP’s is for an entire academic year, but what if I will only be at CELOP for one semester (Fall only), do I have to pay the full amount?
No, you do not have to pay the full amount. You can adjust your health insurance to Fall Only. Please see the section above titled, “Fall Semester ONLY Adjustment.”(NOTE: If you will be waiving SHIP, then don’t complete the insurance adjustment form. Instead, visit the MyBU Student Portal and complete the online insurance waiver form, instead, by the start of the Fall semester.
- I’m a Spring student registered for a 12 week program. The cost of the student health insurance on the Dates & Fees page of CELOP’s website for my program is Spring through Summer session. If I will be at CELOP for the Spring semester ONLY, do I have to pay the full amount?
Yes, you have to pay the full amount. If you are not waiving SHIP at the beginning of the semester, then you are responsible for the full Spring-Summer amount.(NOTE: If you will be waiving SHIP, visit the My BU Student Portal and complete the online insurance waiver form, instead, by the start of the semester.
- I’m a student registered for a short term program only (six weeks or shorter). The cost of the BU student insurance on the Dates & Fees page of CELOP’s is for the duration of the program, do I have to pay the full amount?
Yes, you have to pay the full amount. If you are not waiving SHIP by the beginning of the program, then you are responsible for the insurance premium.
- My student account was charged for enrollment in SHIP at the Student Basic level. Am I eligible for SHIP at the Student Plus level?
Boston University automatically enrolls all CELOP students in the Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the Student Basic level. Student Basic meets the needs of most students. However, some students may want or need a higher level of coverage. During open enrollment, students may change from Student Basic to Student Plus. Student Plus cost more, but provides a higher level of coverage and also allows for the option to enroll dependents for an added cost. If you are satisfied with Student Basic coverage, no action is required. You will be billed automatically for Student Basic on your student account. If you want to change from Student Basic to Student Plus, please contact Student Accounting Services for instructions before you arrive in Boston. Students cannot change their SHIP level after Open Enrollment. Please note that Students who upgrade to the Plus plan are not automatically enrolled in Plus the following policy year and must take action to upgrade every year. To compare Student Basic with Student Plus, visit www.bu.edu/shs/ship/.
- Can I buy health insurance for my spouse and/or children here in the U.S.?
Yes. However, students must be enrolled in the BU Student Plus plan (not Student Basic plan) to be eligible to add dependents during the BU Student Health Insurance open enrollment period. If you wish to add eligible dependents, contact Boston University Student Accounting Services (insmed@bu.edu) as soon as you are accepted into the CELOP program for instructions on how to change your plan level from Student Basic to Student Plus, as well as how to add dependent(s) to your plan. Please contact Student Accounting Services for instructions before you arrive in Boston, even if your dependents will be arriving in the United States later than you.
- Can I buy health insurance for my spouse and/or children here in the U.S.?
Yes. However, students must be enrolled in the BU Student Plus plan (not Student Basic plan) to be eligible to add dependents during the BU Student Health Insurance open enrollment period.
For more information about annual, fall or spring semester, see: Dependent Coverage.
If you wish to add eligible dependents, contact Boston University Student Accounting Services (insmed@bu.edu) as soon as you are accepted into the CELOP program for instructions on how to change your plan level from Student Basic to Student Plus, as well as how to add dependent(s) to your plan. Dependent coverage does not automatically roll over to the new plan year.
Please contact Student Accounting Services at insmed@bu.edu for instructions before you arrive in Boston, even if your dependents will be arriving in the United States later than you.
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