Health Insurance Waivers

All Students enrolled at least 75% of Full-time are required by law to have health insurance

Matriculated undergraduates enrolled for fewer than 9 credits and matriculated graduates enrolled for fewer than 6 credits who desire health insurance must submit a written request for coverage with payment to the Student Service Center, located at 80 Boylston Street, First Floor.

Health insurance charges are automatically removed when undergraduate and graduate students drop to fewer than 9 or 6 credits, respectively. These students must also submit a written request for coverage with payment.

Coverage Period

Coverage, effective August 15, 2013 through August 14, 2014, is provided under a blanket policy issued to Emerson College. Coverage is effective January 1 for newly enrolled spring semester students. The policy is underwritten by Aetna Insurance Company and administered by The Aetna Student Health group. For complete details on the policy, please visit Aetna Student Health.

Waiving Health Insurance

Undergraduate and graduate students may waive the Health Insurance Fee by submitting written proof of comparable coverage by the designated deadline. An insurance waiver must be completed at the start of each academic year for continued exemption. 

• Health Insurance Waiver: Online Form  (Opens June 20th)
• Check your account online to see if your insurance has been waived.

Contact the Student Service Center at 617-824-8655 if you have trouble accessing the waiver.  THE OPTION TO WAIVE HEALTH INSURANCE WILL BE VOID AFTER THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF CLASSES OF THE SEMESTER YOU ARE CHARGED FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.  Students who use their Emerson-provided health insurance before attempting to waive it are not eligible to waive.

Waiver Requirements 

The following are guidelines you should review before submitting a health insurance waiver:

• U.S. students with comparable coverage under another major medical insurance plan may submit a waiver.
• Veterans' benefits that provide access to Veterans' Administration healthcare facilities, TRICARE, and the U.S. Family Health Plan, a military coverage, are all acceptable to submit a waiver.
• Closed network plans, which provide coverage through a closed network of providers not reasonably accessible in the area where the student attends school, are not eligible for the health insurance waiver.  MassHealth IS an acceptable comparable coverage.
• International students are required to have a U.S.-based health insurance.  Foreign carriers with U.S.-based satellites are still considered foreign insurance and do not qualify for the health insurance waiver.  International students who believe they have a U.S.-based health insurance may submit a paper waiver form with a copy of their insurance card at the Student Service Center in 80 Boylston Street.  A review of your waiver and insurance coverage will be completed before your waiver is approved/denied.

Full information can be found at the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance website if you have additional concerns about Massachusetts requirements.

Loss of Coverage Regulations 

Because Massachusetts state law requires any student participating in at least 75% of the full-time curriculum to have continuous medical insurance, Emerson is responsible for ensuring its students have continuous medical coverage.

If a student waives insurance at the beginning of an academic year, then loses coverage, he or she must notify Student Accounts via email to purchase health insurance through Emerson. Prorated plans are available.

International Students

Massachusetts regulation does not consider insurance carriers outside of the United States or coverage by foreign national health service programs comparable to a qualifying student health insurance program.

International students may choose to waive the Emerson College health insurance plan if they have alternate health insurance with a U.S.-based carrier that meets Commonwealth of Massachusetts QSHIP standards (Please read waiver requirements listed above).  If you are already covered by a U.S.-based insurance carrier and you have ascertained that your coverage is comparable, you have the right to waive the required student insurance by the end of the first 10 days of classes for the semester you are enrolled in. Fulbright students enrolled in a health insurance plan through the U.S. Department of State should note the plan’s limitations before considering whether to waive the Emerson College health insurance plan.

Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law

The new Health Care Reform Law requires all Massachusetts residents (18 and older) to be enrolled in an insurance program. The Massachusetts Health & Human Services website provides clarification of the requirements as they apply to Emerson College students.