GSHIP Frequently Asked Questions

All eligible University of Utah students, graduate and undergraduate, can enroll in a student health insurance plan serviced by United HealthCare Student Resources. See plan description.

Students may also enroll in a private plan not offered through the University, although international students who purchase a private plan will be required to complete a waiver process and the coverage purchased must fulfill certain requirements in order for the waiver to be approved. Visit the Student Health Center website or contact Kerry Hill for more information.

The general policy, including coverage, is available at the United HealthCare Student Resources website.

Per the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the student insurance plan has no overall maximum dollar limit (per insured person, per policy year).

Covered services are described in the plan booklet and at the United HealthCare Student Resources website.

Yes. All student health insurance plans are required to include maternity benefits.

Yes. The benefit for Prescription Drugs reimburses the students for 90% of the cost of prescriptions. Birth control prescriptions are reimbursed at 100%.

See instructions on submitting receipts for reimbursement. Receipts should be sent in within 60 days of purchase.

If you wish to add coverage for spouse and/or children, you must enroll them online and pay the appropriate premium at your expense.

During the open enrollment period, go to the United HealthCare Student Resources website, click “Enrollment Info” and then “Dependent Coverage Page”to reserve coverage for your dependents.

The premium amounts for adding spouse or children for the subsidized plan are available at the beginning of the brochure found on the United HealthCare Student Resources website.

Use the International Student Insurance Enrollment Flowchart for instructions.

To add a dependent to the dental/vision policy, please email the Office for Fellowships & Benefits to obtain the required form.

Coverage for the subsidized plan only is divided into FALL and SPRING/SUMMER coverage periods each year.

Fall enrollment: 8/16 – 12/31

Spring enrollment: 1/1– 8/15

If you are supported for a single semester on the TBP, you are encouraged to enroll in the voluntary plan for the subsequent semester(s) to keep continuous health insurance coverage.

Please contact the Office for Fellowships & Benefits with any questions.

Full-time graduate TAs, RAs, GRs and GTs, or graduate students with a full-time combination of those appointments may be eligible to receive the health insurance subsidy.

Check with your department to verify eligibility and the availability of funding.

The health insurance requirements match the graduate student tuition benefit plan (TBP) requirements for a full or 100% tuition benefit:

1. be a matriculated graduate student,
2. receive the minimum required support for 100% tuition benefit each semester,
3. be registered for at least nine credit hours (but no more than 16),
4. and be in good standing (cumulative GPA of 3.0, Law School, 2.5).

The semester assignment must be 100% TA, RA, GR, GT or 100% mix of those categories. Tuition benefit time limits also apply to the health insurance benefit.

No. You may choose not to enroll in the subsidized plan, however international students are automatically enrolled in the student health plan unless they have waived coverage through the Student Health Center. Visit the Student Health Center website or contact Kerry Hill for more information.

At the start of Fall and Spring semesters, communicate to your departmental TBP coordinator that you wish to elect coverage under the subsidized health insurance benefit plan.

After verifying your eligibility, your TBP coordinator will enter your data on the departmental TBP web page and check the health insurance box indicating your desire to participate. The signature sheet for the TBP has a column indicating whether or not you are enrolling.

If your name is not entered on the TBP web page for that semester, you cannot participate in the subsidized health insurance plan for that semester.

It is your responsibility to verify with your department’s tuition benefit coordinator before the 15th day of classes each Fall and Spring semester that you have been entered on the departmental list.

After the 15th day of classes each semester, no additional changes can be made to subsidized insurance enrollment.

No retroactive benefits are available for the TBP, and none will be available for the GSHIP.

You will be responsible for the full amount of the premium.

If you are part of the subsidized plan, the University pays 100% of your annual premium.

You are responsible for the full additional premium if you add a spouse and/or children. See “If I have a spouse and/or dependent…” above for more information.

The department may pay by check to United HealthCare StudentResources and Educators Mutual Insurance for individuals or groups of students in their department.

See GSHIP quick reference guide on the Coordinator Resources page for additional information.

The Graduate School pays to include Summer as part of Spring enrollment. The dates of coverage for Spring semester enrollment are 1/1– 8/15.

Check with your department to find out how they would like to handle payment.

The department could pay United HealthCare directly by check for your insurance, or they may ask you to pay up front and be reimbursed.

If they ask you to enroll first, you can find the appropriate information on the Student Health Center website.