Health Insurance Requirements for Students
Required Student Health Insurance
Massachusetts law requires that students enrolled in an institution of higher learning in Massachusetts participate in a student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. All Harvard students are automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Plan (HUSHP) and the cost of the plan is applied to their term bill.
The Harvard University Student Health Plan (HUSHP):
HUSHP Basic: Harvard University Student Health Fee
All students are charged this health fee as part of enrollment. HUSHP Basic includes coverage at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) for services including primary care, medical and surgical specialties, Stillman Infirmary, radiology, physical therapy, and mental health counseling. Urgent care is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at HUHS in the Holyoke Center. Note: Some services that are provided at HUHS (such as Quest Laboratory services) will be billed to the HUSHP Supplemental portion of this plan or your waived plan.
HUSHP Supplemental: Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Hospital/Specialty and Medco Prescription Drug Insurance Coverage
This insurance plan complements HUSHP Basic by providing coverage for medically necessary hospitalization, emergency care and specialty care, as well as prescription drugs at the HUHS Pharmacy and other pharmacies. Note: Limitations and exclusions apply.
Waivers of Coverage
International students may be eligible to waive the HUSHP Supplemental portion of the Harvard University Student Health Plan only if they have health insurance plans with American-based carriers which meet the Commonwealth of Massachusetts standards and which have been pre-approved by Member Services at the Harvard University Health Services, the student health insurance office. Foreign-based policies do not meet Massachusetts standards.
Students are encouraged to review the information on the HUHS website carefully before making this important decision. All waivers must be completed online each academic year prior to the waiver deadlines (fall term deadline 8/31; spring term deadline 2/28). Additional waiver information and the online waiver application are available at huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students/WaivingHealthInsuranceCoverage.aspx.