Health Insurance

All campus-based students enrolled 3/4 time or more (general credit threshold for 3/4 time is 9 credits for undergrads and 7 credits for grads with some exceptions) are required to be covered by health insurance.

  1. Simmons University Student Health Insurance Plan
  2. Coverage through parent’s health insurance plan (through age 26)
  3. Individual private or state-sponsored insurance plan

To ensure compliance with Massachusetts law, Simmons University students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan, which is separate from the Health Center fee. If you have a comparable health insurance plan, you may waive the student coverage. Information about the enrollment and waiver process can be found at University Health Plans.

If you are planning to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan, you are responsible for affirming that your insurance policy meets the following standards:

  • Is “underwritten” in the United States (Warning: many non-compliant plans state they are “based in the US” which is not equivalent and will not be accepted)
  • Is NOT an “ISO” branded insurance product. (Warning: these plans are aggressively marketed to college students as “comparable” but when reviewed are often not compliant with ACA or MA regulation.)
  • Uses an Open Network of providers in the Boston area (Warning: Health plans with a closed network of providers and accessible for only emergency services, such as out-of-area HMOs, EPOs, or Medicaid products, generally are not acceptable)
  • Unlimited lifetime dollar limit on coverage
  • Preventive care coverage without coinsurance
  • Primary care coverage
  • Emergency room coverage
  • Coverage for surgery (in hospital and outpatient)
  • Coverage for hospital stays
  • Coverage for outpatient medical visits (e.g., specialist visit)
  • Coverage for outpatient behavioral health visits (e.g., counseling or psychiatry visits), including those for substance abuse
  • Coverage for behavioral health hospitalization
  • Coverage for prescription drugs