Summer Term Student Health Insurance Requirement
(Applies to all Summer international students enrolled in campus-based programs. It does not apply to Distance Education (online only) programs. Distance Education(online only) students are not eligible for BU SHIP.)
All international students registered for Summer Term 2025 are required to have health insurance and are automatically charged for and enrolled in Boston University’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) as part of their registration. Students beginning their studies with the Summer 2025 term (or returning from a year’s leave of absence in the Summer) may waive enrollment in SHIP if they are enrolled in a comparable US-based health insurance plan. More information regarding the SHIP waiver requirement can be found on the Student Health Services website.
The Summer 2025 Student Insurance Waiver form can be downloaded here.
*NOTE: Summer High School Program participants are not assessed automatically for SHIP. Summer High School Program participants who wish to enroll in BU SHIP for the duration of their Summer High School program should contact us at insmed@bu.edu for rates and instructions, at least three weeks before the start of their program.
International students who register for the Summer 2025 with the first course beginning during the Summer 1 session are charged for enrollment in the Student Basic Plan at a rate of $829 [Summer Twelve week rate] with coverage effective May 18 through August 14. (New Summer CELOP students: Refer to CELOP’s website for the SHIP rates and dates for your CELOP program).
International students who register for Summer 2025 with the first course beginning during the Summer 2 session are charged for enrollment in the Student Basic Plan at a rate of $438 [Summer 2 Six week rate] with coverage effective June 29 through August 14]. (New Summer CELOP students: Refer to CELOP’s website for the SHIP rates and dates for your CELOP program). NOTE: Students whose first Summer course begins in August, may contact student accounting services before the start of their August course to learn their SHIP options.
New Summer international students who will be attending Boston University for first summer session only, may contact Student Accounting Services at insmed@bu.edu prior to the end of their Summer studies to request to change from the Summer twelve week coverage period to the six week coverage period of May 18-June 28. See Summer 1 Six Week plan rates below.
BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) Rates for Summer Term 2025**
Summer Twelve week plan:
(assessed to all new international students whose course begins during the Summer 1 session)
Coverage effective: May 18–August 14, 2025
Basic level: $829 Plus level: $1,113
Summer Six week plan (Session 1):
(option, available to students attending the Summer session 1 only)
Coverage effective: May 18–June 28, 2025
Basic level: $391 Plus level: $525
Summer Six week plan (Session 2):
(assessed to new international students whose first course begins during Summer session 2)
Coverage for the Summer 2 session only: June 29–August 14, 2025
Basic level: $438 Plus level: $588
Waiving SHIP
If you are enrolled in an ACA compliant health insurance plan that meets all of the elements of the Comparable Coverage Checklist, you may apply for a waiver of the Summer Student Health Insurance Plan charge. Please download and follow the instructions to complete and submit the Summer 2025 SHIP waiver form, and include a copy of the front and back of your health insurance card with the completed form.
International students assessed for SHIP at the Twelve Week rate ($829): Deadline to submit insurance waiver: May 30
International students assessed for SHIP at the Summer 2 session Six Week rate ($438): Deadline to submit insurance waiver: July 11
New Summer CELOP students: Deadline to submit insurance waiver- First week of class.
Requesting up change SHIP from Student Basic to Student Plus:
The Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is offered at two plan levels, Student Basic, an ACA Gold level plan, and Student Plus, an ACA Platinum level plan.
New Summer International students: If you wish to change from the Student Basic level to the Student Plus level, please send your request to insmed@bu.edu at least one week before your program start date.
New Summer International student deadline to change plan level: Basic vs Plus level
Students who begin their attendance during Summer session 1: May 30
Students who begin their attendance during Summer session 2: July 11
NOTE: Students must be enrolled at the Plus 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 request to change your Summer coverage level from Student Basic to Student Plus. The insurance rates for dependent coverage are included on the dependent enrollment form above.
** New Summer CELOP students should refer to CELOP’s website for rates and dates for their program.
To compare the Student BASIC and Student PLUS plan features, please visit the Student Health Services website and select “Plan Documents and Other Resources.”
SHIP is administered by Aetna Student Health. For a detailed description of the plan benefits, provisions, and exclusions, visit the Aetna Student Health website.
Degree seeking domestic students whose first semester of registration begins during the Summer 2025 may request to enroll in BU SHIP emailing insmed@bu.edu, at least one week before their program start date. For more information, please visit our Add Insurance page.