Graduate Student Trainee Stipends
As part of the financial aid package for full-time students who are Graduate Student Trainee Stipend recipients on the Charles River Campus, the University will credit your student account for your individual participation in the Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the Basic level. Full-time students are eligible for this credit in each academic semester (fall or spring) in which you are a Graduate Student Trainee Stipend recipient of at least $5,000. In each semester of eligibility, a credit payment for half the annual cost of SHIP at the Basic level will be made directly to your student account at the beginning of each semester.
How does the health insurance fee get charged to my Boston University student account?
Boston University Charles River Campus students in the following categories are automatically enrolled in SHIP at the Basic level and their student accounts are charged for the coverage:
Students certified as full-time; part-time students registered for 75 percent or more of a full-time course load (nine or more credit hours for most schools); and international students (students who are not US citizens and who do not have approved refugee or permanent resident status).
Additional information about SHIP is available on the
Student Health Services page.
What is the coverage period for students enrolled in SHIP?
Students enrolled in SHIP for the 2023-2024 academic year are insured from August 15, 2023 – August 14, 2024.
How do I know if I am eligible for the insurance credit?
Graduate students receiving trainee stipends of at least $5,000 each semester (fall and spring) are eligible to receive the credit. You may contact the Graduate Financial Assistance coordinator in your school to ensure that you are eligible.
How much of a credit will I receive?
Students are enrolled in SHIP at the Basic level in the fall semester and charged $3,280.00. (Students who opt to upgrade to the SHIP Plus level will be charged $4,403.00).
Each semester that you receive a trainee stipend of at least $5,000, your student account will be credited for the first half of the $3,280.00 SHIP Basic level charge or $1,640.00 in the Fall 2023 semester and the remaining amount or $1,640.00 in the Spring 2024 semester.
* Students who opt to purchase SHIP at the Plus level will be responsible for payment of the $1,123 premium difference by the fall semester payment deadline.
Note: Some trainee grants already include health insurance with your stipend. For these types of trainee grants you will receive the funds directly and be responsible for paying for your health insurance out of these funds.
What happens if my trainee stipend is $5,000 in the fall and less than $5,000 in the spring (or vice versa)?
The credit is applied to your student account only for semesters that you receive at least a $5,000 trainee stipend.
Do I receive any credit for the summer semesters?
No, the credit is based on the amount that you receive in the fall or spring semester. In most instances insured students policies are effective from August 15, 2023 – August 14, 2024.
When will the credit be applied to my Boston University student account?
Your student account will be credited by mid-September for the fall semester, and mid-December for the spring semester. The credit will be applied based on the expectation that your trainee stipend will be at least $5,000 per semester.
How does the credit get applied to my student account?
The Graduate Financial Aid Coordinator in your school or college will apply a credit to your student account. This credit is applied via the Financial Assistance system and will show as an additional item in your Financial Aid award.
What happens if I receive the credit and then my trainee stipend is less than $5,000 per semester?
You will no longer be eligible for the health fee credit. Credits already applied to your student account will be reversed and you will be responsible for payment of any resulting balance due.
Do I receive any credit for any semester that I am a part-time student?
No.
What do I do if I do not want the Boston University Health Insurance Plan coverage?
You must file a Student Health Insurance Waiver for the 2023-2024 academic year by September 20, 2023. By filing the waiver, you certify that you are covered by a comparable health insurance plan. NOTE: All Student Insurance Waiver submissions are subject to Audit review for active compliant coverage by Gallagher Student Health.
Students who have filed claims against the 2023-2024 plan year are not eligible to file a medical insurance waiver for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Will I still receive the health insurance credit if I file the Student Health Insurance Waiver?
No.
Are there any tax consequences associated with the credit?
The credit for health insurance may be taxable as income to you. So if you have alternatives for health coverage, then it may be to your advantage to submit a Student Health Insurance Waiver by September 20, 2023. NOTE: All Student Insurance Waiver submissions are subject to Audit review for active compliant coverage by Gallagher Student Health.
Students who have filed claims against the 2023-2024 plan year are not eligible to file a medical insurance waiver for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Can I add dependents to my insurance plan?
Students must be enrolled in SHIP at the Plus level to enroll eligible dependents. Student enrolled in SHIP at the Basic level must upgrade to the Plus level by the Fall 2023 open enrollment deadline if they wish to add their dependents to the plan.
Students enrolled in SHIP at the Plus level who wish to add their eligible dependents to the SHIP for the 2023-2024 plan year, visit Aetna Student Health’s website. Select Enroll: Dependents. The Dependent Enrollment begins in late June. Open enrollment deadline: September 20, 2023. (The open enrollment deadline for new Spring 2024 students will be January 31, 2024.)
Students who opt to purchase SHIP at the Plus level and enroll their dependents will be responsible for payment of the premium difference between the SHIP Basic and Plus levels and for the full cost of the dependent premium.
What happens if I am enrolled in SHIP for the fall semester and not registered for the spring semester (e.g. graduate officially in January, spring leave of absence, etc.)?
Students who won’t be registered for the Spring 2024 semester are eligible to request pro-rated student health insurance coverage for the fall semester only. Students interested in this option must file a Student Health Insurance Premium Adjustment form with Student Accounting Services by December 31, 2023.
If you elect not to file a Student Health Insurance Premium Adjustment form, your SHIP coverage will continue through the end of the coverage year (August 14, 2024). You will not receive any insurance credit during the spring semester.
Who should I contact if I have any further questions?
Please contact the Graduate Financial Assistance coordinator in your school or college.