To support student compliance with state and federal requirements regarding health insurance for matriculated on campus students, UMass Lowell offers a comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) administered by University Health Plans.
The policy offered for academic years 2023-24 and 2024-2025 is a Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and information about the student health plan and a summary of benefits, can be found at University Health Plans website.
Students who attend UMass Lowell exclusively online are not required or eligible to purchase health insurance. Undergraduate students who wish to voluntarily purchase must be matriculated into a degree granting program and take at least one class on campus. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least nine credits, with one on campus course.
Massachusetts State Law requires that all matriculating college students (those enrolled in a degree granting program) be enrolled in a health insurance program that meets required benefits established by the state.
To comply with this requirement, all matriculating, undergraduate students, enrolled in one or more on campus credit hours; and all matriculating, graduate students enrolled in at least one on campus class and carrying nine or more credit hours are eligible and will be charged for health insurance.
The health insurance policy offered by the university to support compliance with this law begins on Aug. 1 prior to the start of the current academic year and terminates on following July 31.
If you are covered by a comparable health insurance policy via a family member or employer, you may request to waive the mandatory insurance. The waiver process must be completed annually and becomes available once you receive your invoice for the upcoming semester. The deadline for the waiver option on the second Friday of October for the fall semester; and on the second Friday in March for the spring semester. Failure to waive by the deadline will result in the charge remaining on your bill. Information on waiving or enrolling in the university health plan may be found on the Waive or Enroll in Health Insurance webpage on The Solution Center website.
Please note: All students who withdraw from or drop all of their classes within the first 31 calendar days of the academic semester will not be allowed to be enrolled in the university student health insurance plan.
Online courses are not considered eligible credits. Students enrolled exclusively in online classes only are not eligible for this plan.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts - Blue Care Elect (PPO) as the student health insurance plan for the 2024-2025 academic year. The plan is administered by University Health Plans. For information about the student health plan and a summary of benefits, please view the University Health Plans website.
It is recommended that students living outside of New England consider enrolling in the UML-sponsored health insurance plan (SHIP) as most plans based outside of New England cover only emergency services outside of their coverage area. SHIP coverage begins August 1 of each year and continues until July 31 of the following year.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell requires that all international students must enroll in the university student health insurance plan. The university does not consider foreign insurance or travel insurance as comparable coverage to waive the university health insurance.
If you are covered by an embassy-sponsored health insurance plan and provide Student Financial Services Office with your financial guarantee prior to the waiver deadline, you will not be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan.
If you are covered by a health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the United States, please contact University Health Plans at 800-437-6448. The United States health insurance plan must provide Minimum Essential Coverage as defined by the Affordable Care Act and include the following benefits in the campus area.
Please note, health insurance plans marketed solely to international students are generally not filed and approved in the United States and have limited benefits with coverage periods that do not comply with the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Plan Regulations as well as the University’s health insurance requirements. ISO, PSI, Student Medicover, Tokio Marine, and NYIS Insurance are examples of companies that do not meet the insurance requirements.
Health insurance is mandatory and is available through the university for those required to be insured who are unable to prove they have equal or better coverage .
If you belong to any type of managed care plan (i.e., an HMO or PPO), or other private insurance check to see if they will cover lab tests processed by Quest Diagnostics and/or prescriptions ordered by Student Health Services. If not students must be prepared to pay for these themselves and then seek reimbursement from their insurer if that is allowable by the insurer. In addition, per Massachusetts General Law (956 CMR 8.00: Student Health Insurance Program) students living outside of their insurance coverage area while attending UMass Lowell may not waive participation in the School Insurance Plan if your insurance provider only provides coverage (with the exception of services for life threatening emergencies) through a closed network of providers that is not reasonably accessible.
Comparable coverage benefits, subject to change, include:
If you have comparable coverage under a parent's insurance plan or other major medical insurance plan; you can waive the student health plan. Note: You cannot waive the student health insurance plan with Mass Health Limited, Health Safety Net or Children's Medical Security Plan.
The policy must be a US health insurance plan that is filed and approved in the US. International insurance plans, travel insurance, and short-term limited duration plans are not accepted.
The policy must provide coverage for the entire academic year (Aug. 1 - July 31) with no break in coverage.
Students who have comparable health insurance with coverage while they live in the Lowell area, may select to waive the university student health insurance plan once your semester bill has been issued. The deadline for the waiver option on the second Friday of October for the fall semester; and on the second Friday in March for the spring semester. Information on waiving or enrolling in the university health plan may be found on the Student Financial Services webpage on the The Solution Center website.
The waiver process must be completed annually.
Questions about the health insurance charge or health insurance waiver should be directed to the Solution Center by phone: 978-934-2000 or email: TheSolutionCenter@uml.edu.
Questions about a health insurance claim should be directed to University Health Plans by phone: 833-251-1123 or email: info@univhealthplans.com.
Specific benefits questions you have about receiving your insurance card should be directed to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Member Services by phone at 888-753-6615.
To request an insurance member ID, update your address, or ask general plan information, contact University Health Plans by phone 833-251-1123 or email: info@univhealthplans.com.
Your right to confidentiality and privacy are important to us. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently enacted new privacy protections to your health care information. Learn more about how the Protecting Access to Confidential Healthcare (PATCH) Act can impact you.