AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
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AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
Health and Wellness

Enrolling, Waiving, or Changing Your Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

How Do I Know if I will be Enrolled in SHIPHow to Waive SHIPMaking Changes to Your CoverageIf You Are Already Enrolled and Want to CancelAdding Family MembersStaying on SHIP During a Medical LeaveNeed Help?

If you are a degree-seeking student in a residential program taking 7 or more credits, you are automatically enrolled in the Tufts Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) — unless you submit a waiver by the deadline. 

Below are the steps to keep, waive, or change your coverage, including how to add eligible family members or stay on SHIP during a leave of absence.

How do I know if I will be enrolled in SHIP?

If you meet the eligibility rules, you will be automatically enrolled. The cost is added to your student acount in early July for the fall semester. 

How can I check?

Log in to SIS and look for the SHIP charge for the upcoming semester. 

What if I don't see the charge?

You will not be enrolled and can't submit a waiver. If the charge is added after the waiver deadline contact studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu. 

  • Coverage dates: August 20 through August 19 of the following year.
  • Mandatory Health and Wellness Fee: Students enrolled in SHIP are also charged the separate Health and Wellness Fee, which supports on-campus health and counseling services.
  • Plan details: uhcsr.com/tufts
  • Vision and other benefits: Learn more about health plan benefits. 

If you want to add eligible family members to your plan, see Adding Family Members below.  

How to Waive SHIP

If you already have U.S.- based health insurance that meets Massachusetts Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC) standards, you can waive SHIP for the academic year. Waivers submitted after the deadline may not be accepted. For more tips and detailed instructions on how to avoid common waiver problems, visit the Using Private Insurance & Waiving Ship page.

  1. Log in at go.tufts.edu/sis under the Bills & Balances tab.
  2. Complete the waiver form.
  3. Upload a clear picture of your insurance card. 

When your waiver is approved, you’ll see a credit on your SIS account within 3 business days and get a confirmation via your tufts.edu email.  

Making Changes to Your Coverage

If You Are Not Enrolled and Need to Enroll Mid-Year 

If you experience a qualifying life event, you may enroll mid-year by contacting us within 60 days of losing other coverage. 

Examples of Qualifying Events

  • Loss of other health insurance coverage
  • Turning 26 and aging out of a parent’s plan 

How to Request Mid-Year Enrollment

We will review your request and let you know the next steps.  

If You Are Already Enrolled and Want to Cancel

Once enrolled in SHIP, you cannot cancel for personal, academic, or financial reasons — even if you obtain other insurance — except in these limited situations: 

  • Called to active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the coverage term
  • Enrolled in SHIP despite being ineligible (e.g. no longer a student, a Tufts employee, etc.)

How to Request Cancellation

Adding Family Members

You can purchase coverage for a spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child within 30 days of the semester start or qualifying event. 

How to Add Family Members 

  1. Log in to uhcsr.com/tufts
  2. Complete the dependent enrollment form
  3. Pay the premium directly to UnitedHealthcare 

For current rates and details, visit uhcsr.com/tufts.  

Staying on SHIP During a Medical Leave

If you are enrolled in SHIP before taking a medical leave of absence, you may keep your SHIP coverage for up to one year from the start of the medical leave. Coverage is not automatic — you must contact studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu to confirm eligibility. On-campus services (Health Service and Counseling & Mental Health) are not available while on leave, but you can use the SHIP provider network for off-campus care. Coverage may continue for up to one year; after that, you may lose eligibility. 

Tuition insurance is separate from health insurance but can help protect your finances if you need to withdraw mid-semester for medical reasons.

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