Post-Doc Affiliates, Fellows – Harvard University Student Health Program

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Post-doc affiliates can purchase the Harvard University Student Health Program during open enrollment, within 45 days of the start date of their appointment, or with a life-changing event. Post-doc affiliates and their dependents must apply each term or plan year.

Enrollment and renewal are not automatic.

Affiliates who submit applications after the enrollment deadlines and without a life-changing event will be charged a late fee in addition to the cost of the insurance.

Post-doc Affiliates Enrollment into the Harvard University Student Health Program:

View Policy and Apply Now

Department Administrators Enrolling Post-doc Affiliates into the Harvard University Student Health Program:

Enrolling a U.S. Resident in the Affiliate Plan

Enrolling Non-Resident Aliens* in the Affiliate Plan

*Foreign Nationals

Coverage is available in fixed terms

August 1 – January 31

Fall Term

February 1 – July 31

Spring Term

Open enrollment deadlines

June 1 – August 31

Fall Term

December 1 – February 28

Spring Term

Affiliate Eligibility

Post-doc affiliates and fellows are eligible to enroll as long as they meet all of these requirements:

Hold a current appointment with the University
Were recently awarded a Ph.D. (e.g., within the last three years) or equivalent doctorate in an appropriate field
Ineligible to purchase insurance through the Harvard University Human Resources Benefits Office

Eligible Dependents

Dependents can enroll when the post-doc affiliate is also enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Program. Eligible dependents include:

Married Spouse
Dependent children under the age of 26. (Married children and the dependents of a child can enroll in coverage under the enrolled affiliate’s membership.)

Required Documents

Documentation is required for each family member being enrolled at the time of the dependents’ initial enrollment.

Married spouse: Marriage certificate or I-20 form or DS-2019 form for international affiliates
Dependent children: Birth certificate or statement of birth from the hospital (for newborns), legal documentation of adoption or guardianship, or I-20 form or DS-2019 form for international affiliates

Documents must have the affiliate’s name and the name of the dependent that is being added to the insurance. Documents that are not in English must be officially translated.

Life-Changing Events

You may enroll or add dependents to your plan within 45 days of a life-changing event (see qualifying life-changing events below). Two (2) documents will be needed to add dependents with life-changing events: documentation of the event and documentation of your relationship to the dependent being added.

For example, if you are adding a dependent (spouse) who lost other insurance. We need the following to process the enrollment:

an official loss of coverage letter as proof that your dependent lost other coverage AND
a marriage certificate OR I-20 (visa form for international affiliates)to enroll your spouse.

Note: the loss of coverage letter must have your spouse’s full name and the exact date your spouse lost other insurance.

The coverage effective date and the cost are prorated to the first day of the month in which the event occurred.

Example: You are enrolling a spouse who lost other insurance on August 31. If the proper documents are received within 45 days of the event, your spouse’s coverage will be prorated with an effective date of September 1.

Affiliates who fail to submit appropriate documents to support the event are charged a late fee.

Life-changing events include:

Start of a new appointment with the University
Entry into the country: a copy of the passport showing the date of arrival to the United States and a copy of the page with the dependent’s photo. If your passport was not stamped upon entry to the U S, provide the most recent I-94 form instead of the passport. The US Customs and Borders Protection Admission form can be obtained online. United States Citizens must provide a copy of the plane boarding ticket to show proof of entry to the United States.
Other health insurance coverage ending: a copy of the termination of coverage letter from your alternative insurance carrier or human resources department stating the date your coverage has or will be ending.
Marriage: marriage certificate
Birth of a child,* legal adoption, or legal guardianship: Birth certificate or statement of birth from the hospital (for newborns), legal documentation of adoption or guardianship

Please contact the Member Services office prior to submitting your enrollment application and payment, and we can confirm the amount due.

*When enrolling a newborn, we recommend the effective date of coverage should be the child’s date of birth to avoid costly medical bills. This plan does not cover services rendered prior to the beginning date of the health insurance coverage.

When enrolling dependents due to a life-changing event, remember that you must submit two documents:

Proof of the life-changing event
Demonstration of the relationship with your dependent

Rates and Payment

Affiliates and their dependents must purchase both the Student Health Fee and the Student Health Insurance Plan. View rates.

Payment

We accept the following forms of payment online through our payment portal:

Check (electronic check)
Credit Cards: MasterCard or Visa
Departments paying by check (department administrators, please refer to Department Admin Section on our website)

You must submit your payment within 30 days of submitting your enrollment application, or we cannot process the application. We only enroll you in coverage once we receive your payment.

Late Fees

Enrolling affiliates and their dependents is possible for those who miss either the open enrollment period or the period to enroll with a life-changing event, but restrictions and late fees apply. We do not pay claims prior to the coverage effective date.

The late fees are applied for each month following the enrollment deadline or when the life-changing event occurred. These fees are in addition to the full prorated dependent premium, and the increase is effective on the first of each month.

Additional fee per month:

Affiliate

$200

Spouse

$200

1st Child

$150

2nd Child

$100

Coverage is effective as of the date Member Services receives the completed enrollment form.
We do not pay claims prior to the coverage effective date.
All other enrollment rules still apply.

Example:

The fall enrollment deadline for affiliates is August 31. On October 3, an affiliate realizes that they forgot to enroll themselves in HUSHP and then submits an enrollment form to Member Services. The affiliate is charged a prorated premium and a $400 penalty fee ($200 for September and $200 for October). Claims prior to October 3 will not be paid by HUSHP; therefore, claims prior to October 3 must be paid by the affiliate.

65+ Years of Age

Are you or a dependent at least 65 years of age or about to turn 65?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts requires all members who are at least 65 years of age (or approaching age 65) to complete a Medicare certification form and return it to Member Services. Failure to submit this form results in a hold on your insurance coverage, and your claims are not paid.

Submit the Medicare certification form to:

HUSHP Member Services
75 Mt. Auburn Street, First Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: mservices@huhs.harvard.edu

Need Help?

Call

617-495-2008

Email

mservices@huhs.harvard.edu

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