SHIP Benefits & Plan Documents
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is CMU's student health insurance carrier. The CMU SHIP is a BCBS PPO Plan, with medical, dental and vision plans available to CMU undergraduate and graduate students and their eligible dependents. The student insurance coverage year is August 1 through July 31.
The CMU Medical SHIP is a comprehensive plan providing extensive coverage for a wide range of medical expenses. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Inpatient and outpatient treatments (including mental health services)
- Preventive and Diagnostic Care
- Ambulance and emergency services
- Prescription coverage
- Rehabilitative Services (including Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care)
- Third molar (wisdom tooth) extractions
Plan Documents
Medical Plan Coverage Table (pdf)
This coverage table explains what the plan pays for specific services.
Summary of Benefits & Coverage (pdf)
The Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) reviews plan benefits, how the plan shares the cost for covered health care services and exclusions.
Student Medical Plan Book (pdf)
Detailed information about the medical plan's benefits and coverage.
Student Dental Plan Book (pdf)
Detailed information about the dental plan's benefits and coverage.
Student Vision Plan Book (pdf)
Detailed information about the vision plan's benefits and coverage.
2025 Highmark Preventive Schedule (pdf)
The Preventive Schedule provides a list of routine care services covered by the plan to help ensure good health and well-being.
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SHIP Benefits
The CMU SHIP is a national plan, with participating in-network providers in every state. If you move, go home, or travel, you can access care anywhere with the SHIP medical, dental and vision plans.
Mental Health Benefits
Both inpatient and outpatient mental health services are covered 100% if the provider is in-network with the SHIP. If you are enrolled in the SHIP, there are a few options for locating services in your area:
- Log into the Thriving Campus website. Enter your location and select the insurance type (BCBS PPO).
- Virtual mental health services are accessible in the benefits section of your My Highmark App.
- Find a participating in-network provider through Highmark or call Highmark Member Services at 800-241-5704.
Preventive and Diagnostic Care
- Preventive care consists of check-ups and screenings you receive during a routine visit, which helps to prevent more serious, costly care in the future. The SHIP covers many of these preventive services for students, with no copay, when using in-network providers. Examples include:
- Annual check-ups, vaccines (Flu, Covid, MMR, HPV) and screening tests (STI, Blood Pressure, Depression)
You can schedule many of these services with UHS, or locate a primary care provider.
- Diagnostic care consists of tests and services that help manage an ongoing condition or evaluate a new health problem. The SHIP covers most routine diagnostic testing, with a copay, when using an in-netowrk provider.
Medication Coverage
Prescription drugs are covered, with a copay, at in-network pharmacies.
- Search for covered medications and tier level in the Highmark Formulary.
- Locate corresponding copays in the SHIP Medical Plan Coverage Table.
- Search for in-network pharmacies at your desired location in the My Highmark App.
If you need more than a 90-day supply of medication for travel, contact the Student Health Insurance Team at least 2-3 weeks prior to your departure date.
Rehabilitative Services
The SHIP Medical Plan provides up to 30 visits per coverage year for Rehabilitative Services:
- Coverage includes Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Chiropractic Care.
- Covered at 100%, when using an in-network provider.
- Review coverage details in the Medical Plan Coverage Table.
Pediatric Dental and Vision Coverage
The SHIP medical plan provides dental and vision services for students, and their eligible dependents, under the age of 19. This coverage is seperate from the optional dental and vision plans.
- Review pediatric benefits and eligibility details in the Medical Plan Coverage Table
- Compare pediatric benefits to the SHIP dental and vision plans.
- Additional details can be found in Common Questions.
CMU SHIP Coverage While Abroad
CMU SHIP (medical plan) members have access to the same health coverage benefits while abroad as they do while in the U.S., through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core program.
Members also have access to 24-hour emergency travel assistance through the AXA Travel Assistance Program.
For addtional questions about plan benefits and coverage:
- review the SHIP plan documents
- call the Member Services number listed on the back of your member ID card
- contact the Student Health Insurance Team.