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HUSHP Waiver Checklist
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Benefits Summary
Waive Coverage

You must be insured by a plan that meets Massachusetts state requirements for “comparable coverage of health services.” It is your responsibility to determine whether your health insurance plan meets the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Plan regulations for canceling (waiving) your enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan.

  • We do not review plan details or policies to determine if your plan is comparable.
  • If you waive the Student Health Insurance Plan, you are not covered for any medical services normally covered under the Student Health Insurance Plan for the terms in which you elect to waive.
  • You can only re-enroll during open enrollment periods or with a qualifying life-changing event.
  • Coverage must be comparable in the state/country where you will be physically located while learning.

Waiver Checklist

Use the checklist below to determine whether your plan is comparable according to Massachusetts regulations. You may also use this checklist to assess how coverage on your private plan compares to the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

General ProvisionsStudent Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)Your Private Health Plan
Insurance carrierBlue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Plan type
(HMO, PPO, Other)		PPOHMO plans typically have
restrictive networks and may only cover emergency care outside of your home state. Please consider this before waiving.
Service areaNational & InternationalServices need to be reasonably accessible to student in the area where they are studying.
Plan year08/01-07/31

Deductible and out-of-pocket:

General ProvisionsIn-Network (SHIP)In-Network (Private)
Plan-year deductible$0Be sure to confirm that your plan’s deductible is reasonable to you.
Out-of-pocket maximum$3,000 individual;
$6,000 family

You must be covered for the services below in order to waive:

Part A:
Per Massachusetts regulations,
benefits below are required to waive		In-Network (SHIP)
Costs		In-Network (Private)
Costs
Ambulance services$0
Hospital emergency room$100
Outpatient medical care in the area you will be located while learning$35
Outpatient surgical care in the area you will be located while learning$75 at low cost share hospital; $250 at high
cost share hospital
Inpatient medical/surgical care in the area you will be located while learning$100 at a lower cost share hospital; $500 at higher cost share hospital
Outpatient mental health in the area you will be located while learning$35 (waived for visits 1-8)
Inpatient mental health in the area you will be located while learning$100 in a psychiatric/substance abuse facility; $500 in a higher cost general acute care hospital
Download the Full Waiver Checklist

The HUSHP Waiver Checklist is designed to help you make an informed decision.

Contact the Customer Service department of your insurance plan and review the checklist with them.

Also, consider asking your plan the following questions:

  • Do I have any limitations/exclusions that I should be aware of while I am studying in Massachusetts or while traveling?
  • What are my out-of-pocket costs (co-payments, deductible, co-insurance, maximum out-of-pocket)?
  • Do I need to obtain referrals from specific providers before accessing care in Massachusetts?
  • Am I only covered for emergency care when studying in Massachusetts?

Need Help?

Call

617-495-2008

Email

mservices@huhs.harvard.edu

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