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Voluntary enrollment in the Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

Most BU students are eligible to voluntarily enroll in SHIP. However, you are not eligible if you are:

  • A Distance Education (online-only) student
  • A part-time domestic non-degree student enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load

The open enrollment deadline for the 2024–2025 plan year has passed. However, students enrolled for Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 who are seeking BU SHIP coverage between June 2025 and August 14, 2025, should refer to the “After Open Enrollment Guidelines” section below.

NEW for the 2025-2026 plan year:  Student enrolled in Student Basic plan are eligible to add their dependents -for instructions to enroll your dependents during open enrollment visit Dependent Coverage.

Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) 2025-2026 Plan Year (excluding new entering BUSM, new entering BUSDM)

  • Plan Year: Aug 15, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Sept 20, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic $3,538

School of Medicine (New Entering M.D.)

  • Plan Year: Aug 4, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Sept 4, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic $3,642

Goldman School of Dental Medicine (New PreDocs – D.M.D.)

  • Plan Year: July 28, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Aug 28, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic $3,708

Goldman School of Dental Medicine (New PostDocs & New Fellowship Students)

  • Plan Year: July 1, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Aug 1, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic$3,962 

Fall 2025 Term

2025-2026 Plan Year Annual Open Enrollment

All full-time students, certified full-time students, part-time students registered at least 75% of a full-time course load, and all international students are automatically enrolled in the Student Basic Plan for the 2025–2026 plan year.

Rescinding a SHIP Waiver (Reinstating Coverage)

If you previously waived SHIP for the 2025–2026 plan year and wish to reverse that decision during the open enrollment period:

  1. Go to the MyBU Student Portal
  2. Navigate to MyBU Dashboard > Student Health Insurance > Waive SHIP
  3. On the Gallagher website:
    • Log in using your BU credentials
    • Open your 2025–2026 waiver form
    • Select “Rescind Form” and submit

Please allow 2–3 business days for the change to appear on your account.

Enrolling in SHIP as a Part-Time Domestic Degree candidate (below 75% of full-time)

If you are a part-time domestic degree candidate enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load and wish to enroll in SHIP during open enrollment:

  1. Visit the MyBU Student Portal
  2. Navigate to MyBU Dashboard > Student Health Insurance > Purchase SHIP > Purchase Student Basic

Important: Students enrolled in Distance Education programs (online only) and part-time non-degree domestic students enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load are not eligible to enroll in SHIP.

Plus Plan: Fall 2025 registered students who were actively enrolled in the Student Plus plan in the 2024-2025 plan year are eligible to change from Student Basic to Student Plus during 2025-2026 plan year open enrollment. Contact insmed@bu.edu for instructions on how to change your 2025-2026 plan year coverage from Basic to Plus. In the subject line of your email, enter “Plus Plan Instructions”. Include your BU ID number in your email. Plan level cannot be changed after open enrollment.

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Summer 2025:

International students are required to have health insurance coverage, and most are automatically enrolled in SHIP with their registration. International students entering in Summer 2025, visit our summer 2025 SHIP page for details.

New Domestic Degree Candidates Entering Summer 2025:

NOTE: Distant education (Online only) students are not eligible to enroll in BU SHIP.   

The Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is available during open enrollment to most BU students

Campus-based domestic degree candidates entering in Summer 2025 are eligible to enroll in BU SHIP for the Summer 2025 portion of the 2024-2025 Plan Year which ends August 14, 2025.

To enroll in BU SHIP for Summer 2025, complete and mail the Summer 2025 New Domestic Degree Candidate BU SHIP Request Form to insmed@bu.edu by the new Summer student enrollment deadline for your Summer program of study.

During Summer 2025 students must be enrolled at the Plus plan level to add eligible dependents. If you wish to include eligible dependents, you must elect the Student Plus plan and ALSO include the Summer 2025 Dependent Enrollment Application with your Summer 2025 New Domestic Degree Candidate BU SHIP Request Form. The insurance rates for dependent coverage are listed on the application form.

SHIP is administered by Aetna Student Health. For a detailed description of the plan benefits, provisions, and exclusions, visit the Aetna Student Health website and view the 2024-2025 plan year documents

Summer High School Program students (both domestic and international) who wish to enroll in BU SHIP for the duration of your Summer High School program, please contact us at insmed@bu.edu for rates and instructions at least three weeks before the start of your Summer High School program.

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After the Open Enrollment Deadline – Enrollment Guidelines:

Eligible students not enrolled in SHIP who experience a recent (i.e., within thirty-one days) significant life change event that directly affects the student’s insurance coverage resulting in loss of comparable coverage may request to enroll in SHIP after the open enrollment period has ended. Examples of significant life change events include: the plan subscriber (policy holder) losing coverage due to change of employment status, or the student reaching the dependent age restriction on a family plan.

To enroll after the open enrollment deadline, send a written request for insurance coverage with proof of your involuntary loss of health insurance within thirty-one days from the date your previous coverage ended. Documentation examples: a copy of the Certificate of Credible Coverage issued due to the insurance termination, or confirmation of the insurance termination from the employer on company letterhead. The documentation must include the effective date the coverage ended.

If you wish to include to your eligible dependents on the plan, you must include a dependent enrollment application with your request for coverage.  Contact Student Accounting Services for this application. Email: insmed@bu.edu or phone: 617-353-2870.

Your request for student health insurance coverage and supporting documentation (and dependent enrollment application, where applicable)  may be sent by email to insmed@bu.edu, or faxed to 617-353-3313. Requests may also be mailed to Boston University, Student Accounting Services, 25 Buick Street, Suite 130, Boston, MA 02215.

Requests that do not include appropriate supporting documentation will not be considered for review.

If your request for enrollment in SHIP is approved, your coverage will become effective from the date that your prior coverage terminated and continue to the end of the insurance plan year. The premium will be prorated on a per diem basis.

2024-2025 Plan Year only: In your request, please specify if you wish to enroll at the Student Basic Plan or Student Plus Plan. For the 2024/25 policy year, the per diem rate is $9.31/day for the Basic plan, and $12.51 /day for the Plus plan.

2025-2026 Plan Year:  Students enrolling in SHIP after open enrollment will be added to the Student Basic Plan. The per diem rate is $9.69/day.

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After the Open Enrollment Deadline – Covered Students Wishing to Add Dependents

Eligible students whose dependents experience a recent (i.e., within thirty days) significant life change event may request to add their dependents to their SHIP coverage for the balance of the plan year. Examples of significant life change events include: adding a newborn child or adding a spouse who loses coverage due to change in employment status.

To add your eligible dependents after the open enrollment deadline, contact Student Accounting Services to request a dependent enrollment application. Email: insmed@bu.edu  or phone: 617-353-2870. Please return the dependent enrollment application along with supporting documentation of the life change event to insmed@bu.edu. Note: requests to add a newborn do not require supporting documentation.  The premium will be calculated on a per diem basis.  

*  Guidelines for adding a newborn or newly adopted child to your SHIP plan:

  • A child born to an individual enrolled for coverage in the Plan shall be covered for 31 days after birth. At the end of the 31 day period, coverage will cease under the Plan. To extend coverage for a newborn beyond 31 days, the student must: 1) enroll the child within 31 days of birth, and 2) pay the additional premium, starting from the date of birth. If the student’s coverage ends during the 31 day period after the newborn’s birth, the newborn’s coverage will end on the same day the student’s coverage ends. This applies even if the 31 day period has not expired.
  • Coverage is provided for a child legally placed for adoption with the student from the moment of placement for an initial period of 31 days, provided the child lives in the same household as the student, and is dependent upon the student for support. To extend coverage for the adopted child past the 31 days, the student must: 1) enroll the child within 31 days of placement of such child; and 2) pay any additional premium, if necessary, starting from the date of placement. If the student’s coverage ends during the 31 day period after the adopted child’s placement, the adopted child’s coverage will end on the same day the student’s coverage ends. This applies even if the 31 day period has not expired.

Basic Plan vs Plus Plan

2024-2025 plan year:

  • Plus Plan: Students enrolled in the Plus Plan are eligible to add dependents (legal spouse and dependent children under age twenty-six) during open enrollment, and after open enrollment if there is a QLE life change event.
  • Basic Plan: Students enrolled Basic Plan are eligible to enroll newborn/newly adopted children, only.

2025-2026 plan year: All SHIP covered students are eligible to add dependents during open enrollment, and after open enrollment if there is a qualifying life change event (QLE).

RATES:

For the 2024/25 plan year: (QLE add dependents)

Plus Plan: spouse $12.51/day; one child $12.51/day; two or more children $25.02/day.

Basic Plan:  one newborn child or one newly adopted child $9.31/day; multiple newborn/newly adopted children $18.62/day

For the 2025/26 plan year: (QLE add dependents)

Basic Plan: spouse $9.69/day; one child $9.69/day; two or more children $19.38/day.

Plus Plan: spouse $12.99/day; one child $12.99/day; two or more children $25.98/day.*

*Plus Plan: Fall 2025 registered students who were actively enrolled in the Student Plus plan in the 2024-2025 plan year are eligible to change from Student Basic to Student Plus during 2025-2026 plan year open enrollment. Plan level cannot be changed after open enrollment

Final approval is contingent upon the approval of Aetna Student Health.

Eligible Dependents under SHIP:

2024-2025 Plan Year: a) For students enrolled in the Plus Plan, eligible dependents are the insured student’s lawful spouse that resides with the student and dependent children under 26 years of age.   b) For students enrolled at the Basic Plan, eligible dependents are newborn, or newly adopted, children born or adopted during the current policy period. (This rule will change with the 2025-2026 plan year.)

2025-2026 Plan Year: a) For students enrolled in SHIP, eligible dependents are the insured student’s lawful spouse that resides with the student and dependent children under 26 years of age