CMU Student Health Insurance Plans
Carnegie Mellon's Student Health Plans are underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna) and are available for Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate and graduate students and their eligible dependents. Medical (SHIP), dental and vision plans are available.
You are eligible to enroll in the Carnegie Mellon health plans if you are:
- A full- or part-time matriculating Carnegie Mellon student. You must attend the first 31 days of class during the semester you enroll.
- The spouses/domestic partners or dependent children of eligible participants. Supporting documentation (pdf) is required.
Individuals with access to staff benefits, adjunct professors and university consultants may not enroll in the student insurance plans.
2020-2021 CMU Health Plan Guides
These pdf guides offer information about rates, eligibility and enrollment, services, deductibles and copays, in-network and out-of-network coverage and more.
(Optional)
2020-2021 CMU Health Plan Premiums
Coverage Period: August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021
|
|
Medical (SHIP) |
Dental |
Vision |
Individual (self) |
$2,603 | $238 | $82.44 |
Two people (self + one family member) |
$5,171 | $400 | $153.84 |
Family (self + at least two family members) |
$7,739 | $600 | $224.64 |
Enroll, Waive, Change or Cancel
Eligible participants must enroll in CMU's health plan(s) or apply for waivers during a specific Open Enrollment period each academic year. If you do not enroll in or waive the Student Health Insurance Plan SHIP, you will be automatically enrolled in SHIP.
For 2020-2021, the open enrollment/waiver period opens July 22 and ends on September 14 at 11:59 PM. We strongly recommend waiting to enroll or waive coverage until your living arrangements for Fall 2020 are finalized. All enrollments and waivers will be effective as of August 1, 2020, so long as you enroll by September 14.
Open Enrollment
This year's open enrollment period will be July 22 through September 14, 2020. Insurance coverage periods are August 1 through July 31 each year.
The open enrollment period for medical insurance corresponds to an individual's first active semester on campus each academic year. Participants must make their medical insurance decision during this period, and can also enroll their spouse or domestic partner and/or dependent children in their chosen plan. For instructions on enrolling during Open Enrollment, please read How to Enroll or Apply for a Waiver (pdf).
Enrollment for vision and dental plans is only available during fall and spring open enrollment. Both timeframes are open to all eligible participants.
Monthly Payment Option
Nelnet Campus Commerce allows you to pay your insurance premium in nine monthly payments (September through May). If you already use Nelnet Campus Commerce to pay your tuition and fees, you can add your health insurance premiums to that plan. For details or to enroll in a health insurance payment plan, visit www.cmu.afford.com.
This option is only available during Fall Open Enrollment.
For more information, call 1-800-722-4867 to speak with an Education Payment Counselor.
Apply for a Waiver
To qualify for a waiver, students must verify that they already have medical insurance that meets the university’s requirements. Along with the application in SIO, you must submit a copy of the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage and a copy of the front and back of the insurance card. For instructions on applying for a waiver Open Enrollment, please read How to Enroll or Apply for a Waiver (pdf).
Important Updates for 2020-2021 due to COVID-19:
- Waivers will need to be submitted twice: Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, anticipating that student residential locations could change from one semester to the next.
- Only students physically located in the U.S. are subject to the insurance requirement.
- Students located outside of the U.S. taking classes remotely are not subject to CMU’s health insurance requirement and will not be required to submit a waiver.
Late Waiver Application
To apply for a late waiver, students must submit a copy of the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage and a copy of the front and back of the insurance card, as well as the Late Waiver Application Form, which you must request via email. Your SIO account will be charged a late waiver fee of $50 when you apply for a late waiver.
Enrolling Outside of Open Enrollment (Partial Year Enrollment)
Because open enrollment for medical insurance corresponds with an individual's first active semester on campus, there may be cases in which a person is enrolling for part of the year.
Students may enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan mid-year when a qualifying event takes place (such as a family or life status change). You must make changes consistent with your status change within 30 days of the date the change occurred. Supporting documentation must be provided to CMU Health Services in order to verify your qualifying event.
Changing Your Enrollment
Medical enrollment decisions can be changed when qualifying events take place, and require that a medical enrollment change form be completed.
Canceling Your Enrollment
Medical enrollment decisions can be canceled only if the cancellation is done before April 1 and no claims are paid or pending against the policy. A medical enrollment cancellation form is required, which outlines eligible reasons for cancellation. (This form is available on the website from September 1 through March 30). Qualifying events cannot be used as a reason to cancel the CMU SHIP.
Vision and dental enrollment decisions cannot be canceled. If you enrolled yourself in the fall open enrollment period and wish to enroll a spouse, domestic partner or children in the spring, you have to pay the entire additional premium. There is no proration, and a change in enrollment is treated as another enrollment entirely.