Student Benefits
An important piece of the agreement between the University and BUGWU is connecting our graduate workers with several benefits.
Note that some benefits listed below are available to all graduate students as part of their academic experience, but are included here because they are also referenced in the agreement with BUGWU.
For any questions related to these benefits, please email unionfaq@bu.edu.
Benefits Modified by the BUGWU Collective Bargaining Agreement
Dental Insurance
All graduate students can purchase dental insurance for themselves and dependents. This plan is no administered by BU Student Health Services and must be purchased directly at bu.studentbenefitplans.com. In addition, BU will now subsidize the annual cost by $100 for PhD students. The plan covers dental services for both in-network and out-of-network providers.
12-month plan: (Fall)
The annual cost for 2026-2027 plan is $533.16 and coverage lasts from 8/15 to 8/14 (Enrollment Deadline: September 20).
6-month plan: (Spring)
The cost for Spring 2027 plan is $279.99 and coverage lasts from 2/15 to 8/14 (Enrollment Deadline: January 31). For the cost to include dependents, visit MetLife Dental Insurance Plan Details.
For additional questions about the MetLife Preferred Dental Plan (PDP): you may contact customer service. MetLife cannot answer any questions regarding BUGWU benefits.
For questions about the plan, please contact customer service.
Subsidy Details
To qualify for the subsidy, students must enroll in the dental plan specifically offered to BU students. Open enrollment for the plan is available during the following periods: July to September 20 (12-month plan) and mid-November to January 31 (6-month plan).
Eligible students will receive reimbursement through their Student Accounts by the end of the month following their enrollment. For example, students who enroll in January will receive their reimbursement by the end of February.
For any additional questions regarding the $100 subsidy, contact your union representative MetLife cannot answer any questions regarding BUGWU benefits.
BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
SHIP is Boston University’s health insurance plan for all enrolled students. It is offered through Aetna. SHIP may be the best—and most affordable—option for covering your healthcare outside of Student Health Services (SHS). We automatically enroll all students who are legally required to have health insurance in SHIP. This includes all full-time, three-quarter time and all international students.
Child Health Insurance Subsidy: The University has added coverage for the cost of adding dependents aged 0-6 for PhD students within specific income thresholds. More information on enrolling in this new child health care subsidy can be found on the Student Accounting Services website.
Subsidy Details
Open enrollment for the BU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is available during the following periods: July to September (fall semester) and mid-November to January (spring semester). During the months following the two open enrollment periods (October and February, respectively), enrollees who have added dependent children to their coverage and who are eligible to receive subsidies will receive the subsidies as credits on their Student Accounts. Students who have enrolled dependents during the open enrollment period(s) and who are eligible for a subsidy will be identified automatically, and no action is required by the student to initiate the subsidy.
If a qualifying life event, such as the birth or adoption of a dependent child, occurs outside of the open enrollment periods, students may add the dependent to SHIP still by contacting Student Financials, even though the open enrollment period has closed. Students who have added dependents outside of the open enrollment period(s) and who are seeking a subsidy must contact unionfaq@bu.edu to initiate the subsidy. Dependents added outside of the open enrollment period(s) will not be identified automatically for a subsidy. An email is required.
MBTA Pass Discount
Graduate workers who choose this benefit will be provided with a total 50% discount on MBTA passes. To qualify for the discount, MBTA passes should be purchased through Boston University Transportation Services.
* Please note that, per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, members may only choose one commuting benefit each semester – the MBTA pass discount or the bicycling benefit (see below), but not both.
Reimbursement Details
Students must purchase their passes by the deadlines set by Transportation Services. This applies to both fall and spring semester passes, as well as monthly passes for January, June, July, and August. Eligible students will receive reimbursement via check, mailed to their Current Address as listed in MyBU Student, by the end of the month following their MBTA pass purchase.
Important: Ensure your current address in MyBU Student is accurate when purchasing your MBTA pass to receive your reimbursement promptly
This reimbursement is tax reportable to the IRS. Boston University Payment Services will issue you a 1099-MISC form for any amounts $600 or greater.
Bicycling Benefit
If you commute by bicycle to and from BU, you may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $300. To learn more about this benefit, please visit the BU Bicycle Commuter Reimbursement Benefit page.
Graduate workers will also have access to the Bluebikes discount program, which provides eligible students access to Metro Boston’s bike share program at a discounted annual rate. Learn more on the Bluebikes program page.
* Please note that, per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, members may only choose one commuting benefit each semester – the MBTA pass discount or the bicycling benefit (see above), but not both.
Childcare Subsidy
The University provides annual childcare subsidies of up to $3,658/year per eligible dependent child for PhD students (and other students who receive full-time stipend support) within their funding guarantee. Graduate workers must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing, and combined household modified adjusted gross income must be $100,000 or less.
Reimbursement Details
On an annual basis (generally in early February), a communication will be distributed to graduate students with instructions on how to apply for the annual childcare subsidy. Applications will remain open through the end of the spring semester. Eligible students will receive their subsidy via direct deposit to an authorized bank account.