Student Health Insurance Updates
The Spring Open Enrollment period, during which new spring semester students must either enroll in or waive the CMU SHIP, will be December 19, 2022 - January 31, 2023.
Health Insurance Basics & Frequently Asked Questions
Health insurance is a contract between you and an insurance company. You enroll in a plan and the company pays part of your medical costs when you get sick or hurt. Many plans also cover preventive services. Learn more about why health insurance is important.
The cost of healthcare in the United States is high, so insurance helps protect you from serious health and financial risks.
Do I need to apply for a waiver or enroll in the CMU SHIP each year?
How do I enroll or waive?
To enroll in CMU SHIP or to submit a waiver application during Open Enrollment, log into your SIO account, go to 'Campus Life', select Health Insurance and follow the Enrollment/Waiver Portal link.
If you submit a form and later need to edit or add information, you may log back into the student insurance portal and upload your information or submit a new form.
Enrollments take a few business days to process and waivers take longer to process; if additional information is needed, HUB International (the company processing CMU student insurance enrollments and waivers) will email you with that request. For timely processing, include all required documentation with your waiver application. You will receive a confirmation email from HUB International once your enrollment or waiver is complete.
What documentation is needed for my waiver application?
To apply for a waiver in SIO, you will need to complete a medical insurance attestation and provide proof of active medical coverage.
The waiver application in SIO includes an insurance attestation; you'll be asked to verify that your health insurance meets all university requirements, so please review it carefully.
For proof of active coverage, you may upload a screen shot of current medical insurance benefits. Log onto the insurance or benefits portal and take a screenshot showing the student is a currently insured dependent, with the effective date of coverage clearly shown and the date the image was made (i.e., the date as shown either in your browser or on your computer task bar).
Alternatively, you may also prove coverage with:
- A letter (not more than 30 days old) from the parent/spouse/partner's employer or from the insurance plan showing the student is an active dependent on the insurance policy or are covered individually through military or Medicaid
You can log back into the Enrollment/Waiver Portal in SIO and upload any additional documentation that is needed.
Why might my waiver request be denied?
CMU is committed to ensuring that students have quality insurance coverage that reduces barriers to accessing care both regionally and nationally. In order to qualify for a waiver from the insurance requirement, insurance must meet these requirements.
A waiver may also be denied if a student applies for a waiver but does not provide the proof of active coverage documentation outlined above.
I do not have a U.S. mailing address yet. Can I enroll in SHIP?
International students enrolling in the CMU SHIP should wait until they have secured a U.S. mailing address to enroll. A U.S. mailing address is required for health insurance enrollment; this is where all personal health insurance documents, including insurance ID cards, will be mailed. SHIP enrollments submitted with a non-U.S. address will not be processed.
I've enrolled in CMU SHIP and need my insurance information or card. How can I get it?
After enrolling in CMU SHIP and receiving confirmation from HUB International that your enrollment is complete, you should expect a Highmark insurance card at your mailing address in approximately 14 days.
- If you never received an insurance card, you may need to update the mailing address in your Highmark account. You can do this in the insurance portal in SIO, by updating your mailing address in the Personal Information section.
- To access your insurance member ID, request a replacement insurance card, or access a digital card:
Log into SIO, go to Campus Life, then Health Insurance and click the Enrollment Portal link. Select "I intend to enroll" and your member ID will appear to the right (after name, birthdate, etc.). Use this number to register an account at https://www.highmarkbcbs.com/home/# to view your insurance details, order a new insurance card or access a digital card.
- If you are still having difficulty obtaining this information, you can call HUB International at 888-777-9980 or email them at CMUSHIP@hubinternational.com. If you need additional assistance, email our student health insurance team at shinsure@andrew.cmu.edu.
I received a bill from a medical provider and/or hospital, and it indicates that I owe money.
You can also expect an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance plan.
What is an EOB?
Each time you receive medical services and a claim is submitted to your insurance plan, you should receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance plan. An EOB shows what the insurance company has paid on your behalf for a claim, what portion is not covered and the explanation for it. An EOB is not a bill. Typically, if you are responsible for any remaining portion of the charges, you will receive a bill from the medical provider after you receive the EOB.
I no longer want/need my student insurance plans. Can I cancel them?
Cancellations are only available for the following circumstances and only apply to the medical SHIP (the voluntary dental and vision plans cannot be cancelled):
- Early Graduation
- Leave of Absence
- Withdrawal
- Exchange students leaving U.S. after fall semester
- Removing a dependent
- Enrollment in Medicaid in the state in which you are studying (e.g., a Pittsburgh campus student approved for enrollment into PA Medicaid). Enrollment is based on eligibility and the application process can be lengthy – you can find PA state information at https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/MA-General-Eligibility.aspx).
The option to join a new plan does not make a student eligible to cancel their current insurance enrollment.
If you meet this criterion, email us at shinsure@andrew.cmu.edu when your university enrollment status has been updated to reflect one of the statuses listed above (or when you wish to remove a dependent or have been approved for Medicaid) and we can assist you. You may be eligible to receive a pro-rated refund for the remaining months' premiums. Cancellations will only be accepted before March 31, 2023.
How do I update my insurance information? Including adding a dependent (partner/child)?
You may update your personal information, including adding a family member who has had a qualifying event to your plan, via the health insurance portal in SIO:
Log into your SIO, go to Campus Life, then Health Insurance, and click the Enrollment Portal link under “SHIP Enrollment Changes”. From there, update your personal information in the Student Information section or add a dependent in the Submit Enrollment section.
Please then allow a several business days for processing. If you're enrolling a dependent, HUB International (the company processing CMU student insurance enrollments) will reach out to you to request documentation (i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate) to complete your enrollment. Please note that you have 30 days from the qualifying event date to add your dependent to your plan.
I am going out of town. What if I need to see a doctor or fill a prescription while I am away?
The CMU SHIP Highmark plan works across the U.S., with participating in-network providers in every state. You can search for providers in your desired location at https://www.highmarkbcbs.com/login/#/find-a-doctor (select Medical, then choose the BCBS PPO network). Additionally, we recommend confirming directly with the health care provider you choose that they are a participating provider in the Highmark BCBS PPO network. You can find a list of in-network pharmacies here: https://www.cmu.edu/health-services/student-insurance/pdfs/highmark-bcbs-pharmacies.pdf. Ask your prescribing provider to verify insurance coverage with your preferred pharmacy.
I see a charge for insurance on my student account, but I did not enroll in the CMU SHIP.
All students are default charged for the CMU Student Health Insurance Plan, so any student who is taking coursework will see the medical insurance plan charge in their SIO student account. That charge is processed UNLESS you are approved to waive the CMU SHIP during the open enrollment period. If you do not waive the insurance, you will be charged and enrolled in the CMU SHIP.
If you were granted a waiver, and still see that charge applied, please email the student insurance office at shinure@andrew.cmu.edu and we will assist.
I did not enroll in the CMU SHIP during open enrollment, what do I do? Am I enrolled automatically?
All students are default charged in the CMU Student Health Insurance Plan, so any student who is taking coursework will see the medical insurance plan charge in their SIO student account. But you still must go through the enrollment process to generate a SHIP number and be entered into the Highmark system. So, even if you are charged for the plan you must also enroll. You are not considered to have the insurance coverage until your enrollment has been processed.
Why did Highmark send me a letter asking for my Social Security or Tax ID number?
Which pharmacies can I use with CMU SHIP?
CMU SHIP members need to fill prescriptions at in-network retail pharmacies. You can search network pharmacies at https://www.express-scripts.com/consumer/site/oepharmacysearch?memtype=HMKBPremier (nearly all pharmacies except for Walgreen's are in-network).
If you have a chronic medical condition that requires specialty medications, those are available through Alliance Rx / Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, phone number 888-347-3416.
What is the CMU SHIP coverage period? Are there monthly options?
CMU SHIP does not offer partial or monthly insurance plans. If you enroll during Fall Open Enrollment, you will be enrolled and charged for the full coverage period.
A student may need to enroll in CMU SHIP after Open Enrollment, for example due to a qualifying event. In this case, the insurance premium is pro-rated according to the month that the student is enrolled.
The CMU SHIP is always effective at the beginning of a month and expires at the end of a month.
Can I see a dentist at UHS?
We can offer a list of local dentists. Please verify with the dentist that your insurance is accepted.
I've lost insurance coverage. How do I get onto CMU SHIP?
- A loss of medical coverage letter from your insurance company.
- A completed partial-year enrollment form. Please email to request this form.
I've enrolled in the CMU SHIP and need to add or remove someone from my plan.
You can enroll your dependent(s) - domestic partner, spouse and/or child/children - through your SIO account during the Open Enrollment period. Select the plan level that meets your needs: Student + Partner or Child, Student + Partner + Chlidren, etc.
Outside of Open Enrollment, you can log into SIO, go to Campus Life then Health Insurance and follow the Enrollment Portal link under "Need to update your insurance information?". From there select the option to enroll due to your dependent's qualifying event (i.e. loss of covereage, birth of a child). Please note that your dependent(s) will need to have a qualifying event in order to be enrolled into your CMU SHIP. You will be asked to provide supporting documentation.
You can remove a dependent at any time by following the above process.
What is a "qualifying event"?
Turning 26 years old, getting married or entering a domestic partnership, and involuntarily losing medical coverage are examples of qualifying events. Review a full list of qualifying life events.
Please note that a qualifying event allows for enrollment in the CMU SHIP outside of Open Enrollment. It cannot be used as a reason to cancel the CMU SHIP.
To enroll in the CMU SHIP due to a qualifying event, please log into your SIO, select Campus Life, then Health Insurance and follow the Enrollment Portal link. On the New Coverage screen, make the selections appropriate for your qualifying event, including: reason for enrollment, date you need coverage to begin and coverage tier for the number of people who will be on your plan. Sign, date and submit your form and allow 3-5 business days for processing. HUB International (not CMU HUB) will reach out to you to confirm your enrollment and advise on any documentation that is required.
I am a graduate student who is certified but has not graduated. What are my CMU SHIP options?
Please note that even if you have employment, you are not required to cancel the CMU SHIP. You may tell your employer that you already have medical insurance in effect through July 31 (current year). They can then help you enroll in their plan effective August 1, because you would then have a loss of coverage, which is considered a qualifying event for enrollment in a medical insurance plan.