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Open Enrollment Period

Summer Open Enrollment for all new summer semester students is May 1 - May 31, 2025.  All new summer semester students must either enroll in the CMU medical SHIP or apply to waive it during this time.  The SHIP coverage period is May 1 - July 31, 2025. 

Enroll in the SHIP

Each academic year, students are required to enroll in CMU's student medical insurance plan or obtain a SHIP waiver. Students must take this action during their Open Enrollment period, through the insurance portal in Student Information Online (SIO). 

This process is required each academic year. Enrollments and waivers do not carry over from the previous academic year.

  • Open enrollment periods correspond with a student's first active semester at CMU each academic year.
  • By default, a placeholder charge for the CMU SHIP is posted on your student account. During open enrollment this placeholder charge, and payment of this fee, does not indicate a SHIP enrollment. Students must submit their enrollment through SIO.
  • Students who do not complete open enrollment will be auto-enrolled in the SHIP medical plan (not recommended). 
  • Optional dental and vision plans are available during a student’s open enrollment period, or due to a Qualifying Life Event.
  • The SHIP coverage year is August 1 - July 31.

Quick Links

How to Enroll in the CMU SHIP during Open Enrollment 

  • Log into SIO
  • Select Campus Life - Health Insurance
  • Click the Highmark link to submit your selections

SHIP Eligibility

You are eligible to enroll in the CMU SHIP if you are: 

  • A full- or part-time degree-seeking Carnegie Mellon student. To maintain SHIP enrollment for the full coverage year, students must remain enrolled at CMU for the first 31 calendar days from the start of classes of their first active semester. Students who separate from the university within the first 31 days of that semester will have their SHIP enrollment(s) terminated the first of the following month.
  • The spouse/domestic partner or dependent of an enrolled student. Dependents can be enrolled during their student’s open enrollment period, or after open enrollment due to a Qualifying Life Event. 

Qualifying Life Event (QLE) Enrollments

Outside of Open Enrollment students can enroll in the SHIP, or add eligible dependents to their existing SHIP enrollments, due to a Qualifying Life Event. Students have 90 days from the event to submit the enrollment(s) and QLE documentation. This applies to the student medical, dental and vision plans.

Medical SHIP for August Graduates

Doctoral students graduating in August are eligible to enroll in the medical SHIP for the month of August only. August graduates should email shinsure@andrew.cmu.edu for assistance.

Ineligible for CMU SHIP

Individuals with access to staff benefits, adjunct professors, visiting scholars/researchers and university consultants may not enroll in the student insurance plans. 

CMU employees enrolled in a degree-seeking program will see a health insurance charge on their student account, but are not eligible to enroll in CMU SHIP, nor are they subject to the student insurance mandate. Employees should email us to assist with reversing the student insurance charge.