Add Insurance

All full-time students, certified full-time students, part-time students registered at least 75% of a full-time course load, and all international students are automatically enrolled in the Student Basic Plan with the exception below.

(Most BU students are eligible to voluntarily enroll in SHIP during annual open enrollment.) However, you are not eligible if you are:

  • A Distance Education (online-only) student
  • A part-time domestic non-degree student enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load

NEW for the 2025-2026 plan year:  Student enrolled in Student Basic plan are eligible to add their dependents -for instructions to enroll your dependents during open enrollment visit Dependent Coverage.

Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) 2025-2026 Plan Year (excluding new entering BUSM, new entering BUSDM)

  • Plan Year: Aug 15, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Sept 20, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic $3,538

School of Medicine (New Entering M.D.)

  • Plan Year: Aug 4, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Sept 4, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic $3,642

Goldman School of Dental Medicine (New PreDocs – D.M.D.)

  • Plan Year: July 28, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Aug 28, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic $3,708

Goldman School of Dental Medicine (New PostDocs & New Fellowship Students)

  • Plan Year: July 1, 2025 – Aug 14, 2026
  • Open Enrollment Deadline: Aug 1, 2025
  • Cost: Student Basic$3,962 

Fall 2025 Term

2025-2026 Plan Year Annual Open Enrollment closed on September 20, 2025.  Fall registered students seeking to enroll in SHIP, or seeking to add their dependents, due to a qualifying life event change, continue further down to the “After Open Enrollment – Enrollment Guidelines for the 2025-2026 plan year” section.

Spring 2026 Term

Spring 2026 Plan (applicable to new students entering in Spring 2026 and students who were charged for $2,179 for SHIP with their Spring 2026 registration):

  • Spring 2026 Plan: Jan. 1, 2026 – Aug 14, 2026
  • New Spring student Open Enrollment Deadline: January 31, 2026
  • Cost: Student Basic $2,179

Spring 2026 open enrollment applies to students who were charged $2,179 for SHIP with their Spring 2026 tuition. Also, to newly accepted part-time domestic degree candidates enrolled below 75% of full-time.

However, you are not eligible if you are:

  • A Distance Education (online-only) student
  • A part-time domestic non-degree student enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load

Students assessed $2,179 for SHIP with their Spring 2026 tuition and fees:

Rescinding a SHIP Waiver (Reinstating Spring 2026) -deadline January 31, 2026.

If you waived the Spring 2026 $2,179 SHIP charge and wish to reverse that decision during the new Spring student open enrollment period:

  1. Go to the MyBU Student Portal
  2. Navigate to MyBU Dashboard > Student Health Insurance > Waive SHIP
  3. On the Gallagher website:
    • Log in using your BU credentials
    • Open Spring 2026 waiver form
    • Select “Rescind Form” and submit

Please allow 2–3 business days for the change to appear on your account.

New Spring 2026 students Part-Time Domestic Degree candidates (enrolled below 75% of full-time) may voluntarily purchase in SHIP during Spring 2026 new student open enrollment.  $2,179 (01/01/2026 – 08/14/2026),  Deadline January 31, 2026

If you are a new Spring 2026 part-time domestic degree candidate enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load and wish to enroll in SHIP during new Spring student open enrollment:

  1. Visit the MyBU Student Portal
  2. Navigate to MyBU Dashboard > Student Health Insurance > Purchase SHIP* > Purchase Student Basic*

*If you are a new Spring 2026 student not already enrolled in SHIP and the Purchase SHIP button does not appear, send an email to insmed@bu.edu before the January 31, 2026, new student open enrollment deadline with your request to enroll in BU SHIP  for the Spring 2026 plan (before the open enrollment deadline) and we will investigate to determine if you are eligible to enroll in BU SHIP (Student Basic),.

After open enrollment students seeking to enroll in SHIP, or seeking to add their dependents, due to a qualifying life event change, continue further down to the “After Open Enrollment – Enrollment Guidelines for the 2025-2026 plan year” section.

Important: Students enrolled in Distance Education programs (online only) and part-time non-degree domestic students enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load are not eligible to enroll in SHIP.

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After the Open Enrollment Deadline – Enrollment Guidelines:

Eligible students not enrolled in SHIP who experience a recent (i.e., within thirty-one days) significant life change event that directly affects the student’s insurance coverage resulting in loss of comparable coverage may request to enroll in SHIP after the open enrollment period has ended. Examples of significant life change events include: the plan subscriber (policy holder) losing coverage due to change of employment status, or the student reaching the dependent age restriction on a family plan.

To enroll after the open enrollment deadline, send a written request for insurance coverage with proof of your involuntary loss of health insurance within thirty-one days from the date your previous coverage ended. Documentation examples: a copy of the Certificate of Credible Coverage issued due to the insurance termination, or confirmation of the insurance termination from the employer on company letterhead. The documentation must include the effective date the coverage ended.

If you wish to include to your eligible dependents on the plan, you must include a dependent enrollment application with your request for coverage.  Contact Student Accounting Services for this application. Email: insmed@bu.edu or phone: 617-353-2870.

Your request for student health insurance coverage and supporting documentation (and dependent enrollment application, where applicable)  may be sent by email to insmed@bu.edu, or faxed to 617-353-3313. Requests may also be mailed to Boston University, Student Accounting Services, 25 Buick Street, Suite 130, Boston, MA 02215.

Requests that do not include appropriate supporting documentation will not be considered for review.

If your request for enrollment in SHIP is approved, your coverage will become effective from the date that your prior coverage terminated and continue to the end of the insurance plan year. The premium will be prorated on a per diem basis.

2025-2026 Plan Year:  Students enrolling in SHIP after open enrollment will be added to the Student Basic Plan. The per diem rate is $9.69/day.

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After the Open Enrollment Deadline – Covered Students Wishing to Add Dependents

Eligible students whose dependents experience a recent (i.e., within thirty days) significant life change event may request to add their dependents to their SHIP coverage for the balance of the plan year. Examples of significant life change events include: adding a newborn child or adding a spouse who loses coverage due to change in employment status.

To add your eligible dependents after the open enrollment deadline, contact Student Accounting Services to request a dependent enrollment application. Email: insmed@bu.edu  or phone: 617-353-2870. Please return the dependent enrollment application along with supporting documentation of the life change event to insmed@bu.edu. Note: requests to add a newborn do not require supporting documentation.  The premium will be calculated on a per diem basis.  

*  Guidelines for adding a newborn or newly adopted child to your SHIP plan:

  • A child born to an individual enrolled for coverage in the Plan shall be covered for 31 days after birth. At the end of the 31 day period, coverage will cease under the Plan. To extend coverage for a newborn beyond 31 days, the student must: 1) enroll the child within 31 days of birth, and 2) pay the additional premium, starting from the date of birth. If the student’s coverage ends during the 31 day period after the newborn’s birth, the newborn’s coverage will end on the same day the student’s coverage ends. This applies even if the 31 day period has not expired.
  • Coverage is provided for a child legally placed for adoption with the student from the moment of placement for an initial period of 31 days, provided the child lives in the same household as the student, and is dependent upon the student for support. To extend coverage for the adopted child past the 31 days, the student must: 1) enroll the child within 31 days of placement of such child; and 2) pay any additional premium, if necessary, starting from the date of placement. If the student’s coverage ends during the 31 day period after the adopted child’s placement, the adopted child’s coverage will end on the same day the student’s coverage ends. This applies even if the 31 day period has not expired.

Basic Plan vs Plus Plan

2025-2026 plan year: All SHIP covered students are eligible to add dependents during open enrollment, and after open enrollment if there is a qualifying life change event (QLE).

RATES:

For the 2025/26 plan year: (QLE add dependents)

Basic Plan: spouse $9.69/day; one child $9.69/day; two or more children $19.38/day.

Plus Plan: spouse $12.99/day; one child $12.99/day; two or more children $25.98/day.*

*Plus Plan: Fall 2025 registered students who were actively enrolled in the Student Plus plan in the 2024-2025 plan year are eligible to change from Student Basic to Student Plus during 2025-2026 plan year open enrollment. Plan level cannot be changed after open enrollment

Final approval is contingent upon the approval of Aetna Student Health.

Eligible Dependents under SHIP:

2025-2026 Plan Year: Eligible dependents are the insured student’s lawful spouse that resides with the student and dependent children under 26 years of age