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Eligibility
Enrollment
Plan Details
Health Plan Card
Waiving the Plan
Summer Coverage
Health Plan Coverage After Graduation
Emergency Travel Assistance Program
All students who are 1) admitted to a degree program; and 2) registered for six or more credits per semester that count towards the automatic assessment of the Student Services Fee; are required by the University of Minnesota to have health plan coverage. Students who meet both of these criteria are eligible for enrollment in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan. Non-degree seeking, certificate-seeking, distance learning, EMBA, PTMBA and Continuing Education students are not eligible to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan. Please contact the Office of Student Health Benefits to determine exact eligibility status.
All eligible students who wish to take advantage of the 2011-2012 SHBP must complete the enrollment process prior to the start of each new term.
Step 1. Online Enrollment
When registering for classes online, every student will see a screen that instructs them to enter health plan information. Students who wish to enroll in the SHBP should select the option "I wish to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan". If eligible, the student will be enrolled in the plan and a charge will be added to their University account. Student Health Benefit Plan enrollment deadlines coincide with the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities class registration deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar. Students may change their health plan choice up until the class registration deadline. To make a change, go to One Stop > Registration > Provide Proof of Health Insurance
Step 2. Update One Stop
Students should make sure their U.S mailing address is up to date. This is the address to which the health plan card and information will be mailed. Go to OneStop and look under Registration > Update Personal Information.
Step 3. Enrolling Dependents
To enroll dependents on the plan, the primary member must submit a Change, Cancel, Payment, and Dependent Enrollment Form before the enrollment deadline or within 31 days of when the student initially becomes eligible for the Plan. Eligible dependents include a spouse or same sex domestic partner and a child or children. Dependent enrollment is contingent upon the Office of Student Health Benefits verification of primary member enrollment. In order to enroll a same sex domestic partner, the primary member must also submit a Declaration of Domestic Partnership Form.
Students who do not wish to enroll in the Student Health Benefit Plan must provide verifiable health plan information at the time they register for classes (name of company providing health plan, phone, member ID). This information is subject to audit. Students must enter this information each semester. After the September 19 registration deadline students who wish to waive the Student Health Benefit Plan must appeal for termination. To appeal for termination of the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan, students should submit an Appeal for Termination form to the Office of Student Health Benefits along with proof of coverage as described on the appeal form. Appeals cannot be processed past the first University billing statement due date.
Students who experience involuntary loss of coverage (for example, a student who is covered by a parent's plan loses coverage when the parent is laid off) may enroll in the Student Health Benefit Plan up to 31 days after loss of coverage. Contact the Office of Student Health Benefits for details.
2011-2012 SHBP Enrollment Brochure with Quick Reference Chart (PDF)
2011-2012 Full Benefits Summary (PDF)
Health plan network and claims administration services for the Student Health Benefit Plan are provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN, giving you access to thousands of providers and hospitals in their worldwide network.
Many students find the University-sponsored plan is a better value and offers higher quality benefits than their parent, employer-sponsored, or individual health plan. Students are encouraged to review their current health plan to determine if they could benefit by switching to the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan.
The cost of the Student Health Benefit Plan for the 2011-2012 academic year averages $158.00 per month. Plan members will see a charge of $950.00 on their University bill once at the beginning of fall semester and once at the beginning of spring semester. The coverage period for fall semester is August 25, 2011 to January 16, 2012, and the coverage period for spring semester is January 17 to August 23, 2012.
Students should familiarize themselves with the Full Benefits Summary prior to using the Student Health Benefit Plan.
Member ID cards will be sent to the plan member by U.S. mail approximately three weeks after enrollment. Cards will be mailed to the "current U.S. mail address" on record with the University. To update your address, go to: One Stop > Go to Registration > Update Personal Information.
If you recently updated your address in One Stop and think your card may have been sent to your old address, please email your name, student ID number, and "I have updated my U.S. Mail address in One Stop and would like a new card sent to me." to umshbo@umn.edu. The Office of Student Health Benefits must receive confirmation from you that your U.S. Mail address is correct in One Stop before a new card can be issued. Before using your Student Health Benefit Plan coverage, please familiarize yourself with the information found under Plan Details.
If students are on their own health plan that meets the waiver criteria they are not required to purchase the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan. Find out how to waive your plan here.
Students enrolled in the Student Health Benefit Plan during spring semester will be automatically covered on the Plan through the summer semester at no additional charge (even if you are graduating at the end of spring semester). These students should choose " I wish to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan " when registering for summer classes (because you were enrolled in the SHBP Spring semester, no charge will be placed on your account).
Degree-seeking students registered for 3 or more qualifying credits during summer term who did not take classes spring semester will pay the University's summer term Student Services Fee and will be required to have health plan coverage. Students who meet this requirement will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Benefit Plan unless they provide proof of private verifiable health plan coverage when registering for summer classes.
Many parent plans drop dependent coverage for students after graduation. The University of Minnesota has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield to offer a guaranteed coverage option for an unlimited time period between graduation and the time students become eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan. It's called the University of Minnesota Continuation Options.
Continuation Options is not the same as the Student Health Benefit Plan. Students have the choice of three Blue Cross and Blue Shield individual plan options for guaranteed coverage without having to prove insurability. Costs are based on the deductible and network chosen.
To be eligible for Continuation Options after graduation, students must be enrolled in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) for the previous 6 months. Students currently covered by a different health insurance plan should consider switching to the SHBP prior to their last semester. This can only be done at the beginning of fall semester during open enrollment, or within 60 days of an involuntary loss of coverage. Students who remain on a parent's plan or other insurance plan will not be able to take advantage of Continuation Options after graduation.
Continuation Options enrollment will open near the end of SHBP coverage. The Office of Student Health Benefits will send a reminder e-mail to all eligible students each spring. Students must enroll within 60 days of termination of SHBP coverage. Continuation Options coverage will be effective retroactive to the last day of SHBP coverage. A student may stay on their chosen Continuation Options plan indefinitely and can cancel any month.
Students Terminating SHBP Coverage August 24, 2012: To enroll in the University of Minnesota Continuation Options, enrollment forms must be received by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota on or before October 22, 2012. Coverage will be effective retroactive to August 24, 2012.
University of Minnesota Continuation Options Details (PDF)
University of Minnesota Continuation Options Enrollment/Change Form (PDF)
Automatic Payment Authorization Form (PDF)
Network Provider Directory From the Blue Cross Blue Shield page click on Find a Doctor, Blue Cross Accord Network. Note: Members living outside of Minnesota have access to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield traditional (participating) provider network.
For more information about Continuation Options, please contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield customer service at (651) 662-5030 or toll free at 1-800-531-6685 and identify yourself as a University of Minnesota student. If after speaking with Blue Cross and Blue Shield you have specific Continuation Options enrollment questions, please contact Tom Seifert at (612) 373-9878.
Plan members and their dependents traveling 100 or more miles away from home and outside of their home country, have emergency medical, travel, and personal security assistance 24 hours a day, anywhere in the world, through FrontierMEDEX, a leading provider of international travel assistance services. From finding an English-speaking doctor to replacing a prescription, FrontierMEDEX has the resources and experience to offer rapid coordination and monitoring of medical care while students are abroad.
Medical Services Available
- 24-hour worldwide medical referrals
- Medical evacuations and repatriation of mortal remains
- Verification of insurance coverage to facilitate hospital admission
Personal and Travel Services Available
- Assistance with lost or stolen travel documents (i.e. passport)
- Emergency language interpretation services
- Emergency cash advance
FrontierMEDEX Information Sheet (PDF)
FrontierMEDEX Member Website
FrontierMEDEX ID Card (267K, PDF)
FrontierMEDEX Assistance 1-800-527-0218
Looking for 2010-2011 Student Health Benefit Plan for Crookston Campus Students? View it here.
04/27/12 Email: Summer Coverage
03/01/12 Email: Imp't Registration Update
02/06/12 Email: Spring SHBP Welcome Reminder
01/18/12 Email: Spring SHBP Welcome
12/07/11 Emergency Travel Assistance
11/30/11 Email: Take advantage of SHBP
08/04/11 Email: Enroll Dependents for Fall SHBP
09/09/11 Email: Fall SHBP Welcome
Eligibility Questions
Office of Student Health Benefits
University of Minnesota
410 Church Street S.E., N323
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (612) 624-0627 or 1-800-232-9017
Fax: (612) 626-5183 or 1-800-624-9881
Email: umshbo@umn.edu
On-Campus Health Care Questions
Student Health Services
145F Student Center
2900 University Avenue
Crookston, MN 56716-5001
Phone: 218-281-8512
Website
Coverage Questions
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Phone: (651) 662-5004 or 1-866-870-0348
Website
Emergency Travel Assistance Questions
FrontierMEDEX
Phone: 1-800-527-0218
Email: info@medexassist.com
FrontierMEDEX Member Website
Term |
Dates |
|---|---|
Fall |
08/25/2011 – 01/16/2012 |
Spring |
01/17/2012 - 08/23/2012 |
Summer |
05/21/2012 – 08/23/2012 |
Coverage for |
Cost |
|---|---|
Student |
$950.00/semester |
Spouse/SSPD* |
$1,230.00/semester |
One child |
$936.00/semester |
Two or more
children |
$1,296.00/semester |
Coverage for |
Cost |
|---|---|
Student |
$484.00/semester |
Spouse/SSDP* |
$627.00/semester |
One child |
$477.00/semester |
Two or more
children |
$660.00/semester |
* spouse or same-sex domestic partner
Student Info Release Authorization Form (PDF)
Change, Cancel, Payment, and Dependent Enrollment Form (PDF)
Students participating in a Learning Abroad experience who were enrolled in the Student Health Benefit Plan the previous term will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Benefit Plan for the term of their Learning Abroad experience unless they submit and are approved for a waiver.
To request a waiver from the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan, submit a Waiver Request Form for Students Learning Abroad to the Office of Student Health Benefits along with verifiable proof of other health plan coverage (e.g. a copy of your health plan card). (Please note: CISI insurance for Education Abroad is not eligible for a waiver. You are only eligible for the waiver if your insurance situation has changed since last semester and you are now enrolled on other comparable coverage.) All eligible students must complete the waiver request process by the Twin Cities campus class registration deadline.
Most students participating in a Learning Abroad experience do not pay the Student Services Fee during their term abroad and thus will not have access to Student Services Fee benefits at Boynton Health Service.
Regular international student waiver guidelines apply.