Health Insurance & Waivers
All Tufts students are required to be covered by health insurance (it's a Massachusetts state law). Choose from the Student Health Plan or your own private insurance.
Insurance Options
We help students and parents with health insurance needs. We recognize that insurance bills can be confusing, and encourage you to give us a call or come see us if you have questions or concerns.
Health Insurance State Requirements
If you are covered by a separate policy, please complete the Health Insurance Waiver on your SIS account. This waiver process is required every year and is available between June 1 and July 31. Please note, this waiver does not exempt undergraduate students from the mandatory Health and Wellness Fee.
It is very important that you understand what these requirements are so that you can carefully plan and budget for these expenses. As you prepare to attend Tufts University, rather than simply directing you to the link for the state of Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Plan information, we are highlighting in this letter the minimum requirements of plans that will be accepted as well as what specific benefit levels would be excluded from coverage.
Please carefully review this checklist:
- My plan must have a valid US address. International policies cannot be accepted, according to state requirements.
- My plan provides and maintains coverage for the full academic year, as well as evacuation and repatriation benefits.
- My plan must provide reasonably comprehensive coverage of health services, including primary care, emergency services, surgical services, hospitalization benefits, ambulatory patient services, and mental health services, and these services must be reasonably accessible to me in the area where I am attending school.
- My plan must provide unlimited coverage for prescriptions for the academic years.
- My plan does not limit coverage for a pre-existing condition.
- My plan does not impose an annual or lifetime limit for essential health benefits.
- I understand that a health insurance plan that provides coverage through a closed network of providers, not reasonably accessible to me in the area where I attend school, for all but emergency services does not qualify for a waiver. Examples of closed networks include students enrolled in MassHealth Limited or the Children's Medical Security Program or the Health Safety Net, Kaiser Permanente Insurance, and out-of-state Medicaid programs.
Financial Assistance
The FIRST Resource Center offers Financial Resources to assist students with medical costs.
The International Center offers Emergency Financial Assistance.
Your Health and Wellness Fee
All undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled full time or a least half time pay a comprehensive mandatory Health and Wellness Fee. Learn what it covers.
Student Health Insurance Plan
We provide an affordable insurance plan through UnitedHealthcare. Learn about coverage and policies.
Contact Us
Location
124 Professors Row
Medford, MA 02155
Send a Patient Portal Message to:
- For immunization questions, write to "Immunization Reviewer"
- For general questions and referrals, write to "General Services"
- For travel abroad questions, write to "Travel Abroad Clinician"
Business Office Hours
Mondays to Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except holidays.
Questions about Enrollment, Eligibility or Other Service
Email the Insurance coordinator at studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu, or contact UnitedHealthcare Student Resources at 888-224-4752.
Questions About Coverage
When you call the insurance company, you are talking to someone at a call center who may not be able to help you as well as the person we deal with directly. Contact the Insurance Coordinator at studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu for assistance.
Questions About an Insurance Bill
Please contact the insurance coordinator at studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu. Insurance bills can be confusing. Sometimes, hospitals send statements explaining the entire charge called an EOB (explanation of benefits). This is not always what you owe, but it can be distressing. We can review it and make calls on your behalf.
Questions About Specific Claims or Claims Payment
Please email UnitedHealthcare, or phone 888-224-4752. If you still have questions, contact the insurance coordinator via email at studenthealthinsurance@tufts.edu.