Dependent Coverage

• Students enrolled solely in Online courses are not eligible to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
• Domestic part-time non-degree students enrolled in less than 75% of a full-time course load are not eligible to enroll in SHIP.
• Students who are eligible for Medicare are not eligible to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

Students enrolled in SHIP may enroll their dependents in 2025-2026 annual plan during 2025-2026 annual plan open enrollment, or after open enrollment if there has been a recent qualifying life event change. Students may enroll their dependents in the Spring 2026 plan during the Spring dependent open enrollment period listed above.

For instructions on how to add dependents after open enrollment due to a recent qualifying event refer to our Add Insurance page.  Scroll down the page to find the “After Open Enrollment Guidelines”.

You must be an Aetna Student Health member to add your dependents to the plan. Dependent premiums will be charged to your Boston University student account 7 to 14 business days after you submit your online enrollment. You will be responsible for payment in full of any resulting balance due.

1. To add you dependents during open enrollment, visit Aetna Student Health’s website, select the school name (Boston University) submit, then select Enroll Dependents > Enroll now, and follow the instructions from there.  Dependents must carry the same plan level as the student
2. After completing the dependent enrollment application, Aetna Student Health will send you a confirmation of receipt of your application.

Refer to our Add Insurance page for instructions on how to add dependents after open enrollment for the balance of the plan year due to a recent qualifying event. Students enrolled in SHIP whose dependents experience a recent (i.e., within thirty days) significant life change event may request to add their dependents to their SHIP plan 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.

For students enrolled for the 2025-2026 plan year effective August 15, 2025, through August 14, 2026, the rates for the family plan are:

[Total annual cost: Student + spouse $7,076; Student + one child $7,076; Student + spouse + one child $10,614; Student + spouse + two or more children $14,152.]

For students enrolling their dependents for the Spring 2026 Plan effective January 1, 2026, through August 14, 2026, the rates for the family plan are:

[Total annual cost: Student + spouse $4,358; Student + one child $4,358; Student + spouse + one child $6,537; Student + spouse + two or more children $8,716.]

New entering Professional Medical students ( M.D. candidates), new Dermatology students, new entering SDM DMD students, new entering SDM Post Doctoral students: refer to the 2025-2026 Plan Design and Benefits Summary – Basic Plan document PDF) for plan rates and deadlines.

For Plus Plan rates refer to the 2025 – 2026 Plan Design and Benefits Summary – Plus  Plan document PDF) for plan rates and deadlines***

**Full-time PhD students meeting certain requirements may be eligible for a subsidy for the cost of adding dependent children six years old and under.  More information can be found here.

*** Plus Plan: Student Plus coverage for the 2025-2026 plan year is limited to students who were actively enrolled in the Student Plus Plan in the 2024-2025 plan year. Students are automatically assessed for SHIP at the Student Basic level. Eligible students may change to the Student Plus plan during annual open enrollment only and then add dependents at the Plus level.  Plan level cannot be changed after 2025-2026 annual plan open enrollment.

Dependents of the student enrolled in the plan are not able to be seen at Student Health Services and do not require a referral from Student Health Services to access the outpatient benefits. A list of Preferred Providers may be viewed using Aetna’s DocFind® service at www.aetnastudenthealth.com or through Aetna Navigator.