Graduate Research Assistants & Graduate Teaching Fellows
FAQ's Medical Insurance and Health Fee Credit Overview for the Charles River Campus As part of the financial aid package for full-time student Teaching Fellows and Research Assistants, the University will credit your student account for your individual participation in the Boston University Medical Insurance Complete Plan. (Students who opt to purchase the Boston University Student Plus Plan will be responsible for payment of the additional premium amount). Full-time students are eligible for this credit in each academic semester (Fall or Spring) in which you are engaged as a Teaching Fellow or Research Assistant and are paid at least $5,000. In each semester of eligibility, a credit payment for half the annual cost of the University Medical Insurance Complete Plan will be made directly to your student account shortly before the beginning of each semester. How does the medical insurance fee get charged to my Boston University student account? Boston University students, in the following categories, are automatically enrolled in the Boston University Medical Insurance Complete Plan and their student accounts are charged for the coverage: Students certified as full-time; part-time students registered for 75 percent or more of a full-time course load (nine or more credit hours for most schools); and international students (students who are not US citizens and who do not have approved refugee or permanent resident status). For additional information about the medical insurance plan go to our Medical Insurance page. What is the coverage period for students enrolled in the Boston University medical insurance? Students enrolled in the Boston University 2008- 2009 academic year medical insurance program are insured from August 23, 2008 - August 22, 2009. How do I know if I am eligible for the medical insurance (health fee credit)? Full-time students who are Teaching Fellows or Research Assistants being paid at least $5,000 each semester (fall and spring) are eligible to receive the health fee credit. You may contact the Graduate Financial Assistance coordinator in your school to ensure that you are eligible. How much of a credit will I receive? Teaching Fellows and Research Assistants enrolled in (that signed up for) the Medical Insurance Complete Plan in the fall semester are charged $1466.00. (Students who opt to purchase the Boston University Student Plus Plan will be charged $1997.00). Your student account will be credited with 50% (of the $1466.00 medical insurance complete charge) or $733.00* presuming that, as a Teaching Fellow or Research Assistant you are paid at least $5,000 for the fall semester. Your student account will be credited with 50% of the ($1466.00 medical insurance charge) or $733.00* presuming that, as a Teaching Fellow or Research Assistant you are paid at least $5,000 for the Spring semester. * Students who opt to purchase the Student Plus Plan will be responsible for payment of the $531 premium difference by the fall semester payment deadline. What happens if I am paid at least $5,000 in the fall and less than $5,000 in the spring (or visa versa)? The credit is applied to your student account only for semesters that you are paid at least $5,000 as a teaching fellow or research assistant. Do I receive any credit for a semester that I am a part-time student? No. When will the credit be applied to my Boston University student account? Your student account will be credited in mid-August for the fall semester, and mid-December for the spring semester. The credit will be applied based on the expectation that you will be paid at least $5,000 per semester. In the event you do not meet the expected earnings threshold, the credit will be removed from your student account and you will be responsible for payment of any resulting balance due. Who will process the credit and how does it get on to my student account? The Graduate Financial Aid Coordinator in your school or college will instruct Student Accounting Services to process a credit to your student account. Do I receive any credit for the summer semesters that I earn the eligibility threshold or more? You may receive a medical insurance credit of up to half the annual coverage cost for the Boston University Student Complete Insurance Plan* for each period (Fall, Spring, or Summer) during which your student earnings exceeded the coverage eligibility threshold (total credit will not exceed the amount you were assessed for the Medical Insurance Complete Plan* in the Fall or Spring semester). The credit earned in the Summer will be applied to your student account after the Summer payroll period. * Students who opt to purchase the Student Plus Plan will be responsible for payment of the $531 premium difference by the fall semester payment deadline. What happens if I receive the credit and I am not paid the minimum amount of $5,000 per semester? You would no longer be eligible for the credit. Credits already applied to your student account, will be reversed and you will be responsible for payment of any resulting balance due. What do I do if I do not want the Boston University Medical Insurance? You must file a Medical Insurance Waiver for the 2008- 2009 academic year with Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA, 02215, by August 14, 2008. By filing the waiver, the student certifies that he or she is covered by a comparable medical insurance plan and acknowledges his or her responsibility for any medical expenses. Will I still receive the credit if I file the medical insurance waiver? No. Are there any tax consequences associated with the health fee credit? The credit for medical insurance may be taxable as income to you. So if you have alternatives for health coverage, then it will be to your advantage to waive the University Medical Insurance Plan by filing a medical insurance waiver form with Student Accounting Services, 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA, 02215, by August 14, 2008. It is your responsibility to report income to the Internal Revenue Service and pay taxes as required. What happens if I am enrolled in the student medical insurance plan for the Fall semester and graduate officially in January? January graduates are eligible to request pro-rated student medical insurance coverage for the Fall semester only. Students interested in this option must file a Medical Insurance Premium Adjustment form with Student Accounting Services by early January (for specific deadline see the Medical Insurance Premium Adjustment form). If you elect not to file a Medical Insurance Premium Adjustment form, your coverage in the student medical insurance plan will continue through the end of the coverage year (typically August 22). You will not receive any medical insurance credit during the Spring semester. What happens if I am enrolled in the student medical insurance plan during the Fall semester, then do not graduate officially in January, and do not register for the Spring semester (e.g., a Spring withdrawal or leave of absence)? Your coverage in the student medical insurance plan will continue through the end of the coverage year (typically August 22). You will be ineligible for any pro-ration of the Fall medical insurance charge unless you will be entering active duty in the Military. Refer to the Premium Refund Policy in the medical insurance plan brochure (available at Aetna Student Health's website). You will not receive any medical insurance credit during the Spring semester. Who should I contact if I have any further questions? Please contact the Graduate Financial Assistance coordinator in your school or college. |
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