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Fellowships and Benefits

Graduate Student Health Insurance Benefit Plan Q&A

• What health insurance is available for University of Utah graduate students?
• All University of Utah students, graduate and undergraduate, have been able to and can enroll in a student health insurance plan serviced by GM-Southwest. A brochure describing the existing plan is available at the U of U Student Health Service or on-line at www.gmsouthwest.com Use the menu to select "Policy Information." Select Utah in the state drop down box and choose University of Utah. You may then select the current year brochure. Students may also enroll in a private plan not offered through the University.
• Who is eligible to participate in the HIBP?
• Full-time graduate TAs, full-time graduate RAs, or graduate students with a full-time TA/RA combination appointment are eligible to receive the health insurance subsidy.
• What are the requirements for qualifying for the HIBP?
• The health insurance requirements match the graduate student tuition benefit plan (TBP) requirements for a full or 100% tuition benefit: (a) be a matriculated graduate student, (b) receive at least $5000 (2006-07 levels) in University funding for each semester, (c) be registered for at least 9 credit hours (but no more than 16); and (d) be in good standing (cumulative GPA of 3.0, Law School, 2.0). The semester assignment must be 100% TA or 100% RA or 100% TA/RA mix. Tuition benefit time limits also apply to the health insurance benefit.
• Is it mandatory to participate in the subsidized health insurance benefit plan?
• No. If you are covered under another plan (parent's policy, spouse benefit plan, etc.) you should not elect coverage under this plan.
• How can I participate in the HIBP?
• 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 (see A3 above), 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.
• What if I am left off the TBP/HIBP web list?
• It is the student's responsibility to verify with the TBP coordinator before the 15th day of classes that you have been entered on the departmental list. After the 15th day of classes each semester, the web is closed for any further data entry for that semester. No retroactive benefits are available for the TBP, and none will be available for the HIBP.
• What if I enroll in the HIBP but fail to satisfy the requirements?
• You will be responsible for the full amount of the premium.
• What is the maximum benefit and covered services?
• The maximum benefit is $50,000 per person per policy year for Plan I, and $250,000 per person per policy year if you choose to pay extra for Plan II. Covered services are described in the plan booklet and on line at www.gmsouthwest.com.
• Is maternity care available with the HIBP?
• Yes. All student health insurance plans are required to include maternity benefits and coverage is available if the expectant mother conceives on or after the first day of the semester when coverage commences.
• Are prescription drugs covered under the HIBP?
• No. But we are working towards a future plan that would provide reduced cost of prescription drugs for all students.
• What is the cost of the insurance?
• If you are part of the subsidized plan, the University pays 80% of your annual premium and you pay 20% of the annual premium. For the 2006-2007 academic year, you would pay 20% of the $1190 or $238. You will be billed by Income Accounting in two equal amounts, $119 at the start of Fall semester and $119 at the start of Spring semester. You are responsible for the full additional premium if you add a spouse and/or children or if you buy up to Plan II.
• If I am part of the student-only, basic plan (Plan I), do I have to enroll separately with GM-Southwest?
• No. If you want student-only basic coverage (Plan I), your name and necessary information will be transmitted by the University as part of a central list to GM-Southwest. You do not have to enroll separately.
• If my department is willing to pay my 20% part of the premium, how do they pay that amount?
• The department may pay the University through Income Accounting using a campus order for individual or groups of students.
• If I have a spouse and/or dependent children, can they be added to my HIBP coverage?
• If you wish to add coverage for spouse and/or children, you must fill out a GM-Southwest Subsidized Graduate Student Health Insurance Enrollment form (available on-line at GB-Southwest or at Student Health Service) and pay the appropriate premium at your expense. The premium amounts for adding spouse or children for the subsidized plan are available at the end of the on-line brochure or on the Graduate School web page at www.utah.edu/gradschool .
• Can I upgrade my coverage to GM-Southwest's Plan II: $250,000 maximum benefit?
• Yes, by using the same procedure as in Answer 15, and at your expense.
• If the department is willing to pay for my buy-up from Plan I to Plan II or pay for adding dependents, how do they pay?
• The department may pay by check to GM-Southwest for individual or groups of students in their department.
• What are the dates of HIBP coverage?
• Coverage coincides with semester dates: August 16 through December 31 for fall semester, January 1 through May 15 for spring semester, and May 16 through August 15 for summer semester.
• If I am covered by the HIBP for both fall and spring semesters, who pays for summer semester?
• When a graduate student participates in HIBP for both fall and spring semesters, summer semester is automatically included for the full 12-month coverage. Summer coverage is not included if a student enrolls for only fall semester or spring semester separately.
• If I am qualified on the HIBP for just a single semester (fall or spring) during the academic year, what happens to my insurance coverage for the next term and for the summer?
• 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.
• I am a Graduate Fellow (GF) or a Graduate Assistant (GA), categories that are not provided a Graduate School health insurance subsidy, but my department wishes to provide me with a health insurance plan. What must be done?
• The department could pay GM-Southwest by check for your insurance. You must enroll for the voluntary plan insurance on-line at www.gmsouthwest.com .
• How do I obtain a description of the GM-Southwest insurance policy?
• The general policy, including coverage, is available on-line at www.gmsouthwest.com

Revised August 2006