Student Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory in Massachusetts. All students in a degree program enrolled in at least 25 percent of full-time credits are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan. This fee may be waived if your or your family's insurance is comparable to the Smith health insurance plan.

You will be sent information about the plan and the online process every summer, including the opening date and completion deadline. You must go online to waive the plan. Missing the deadline will result in insurance enrollment and full-year coverage. Please adjust your estimated bill amount in your planning if you intend to waive the full insurance or accept only the optional insurance.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of MA Plan Details Helpful Videos

Waiving Insurance

Students may not waive coverage unless they are currently insured by a plan of comparable coverage underwritten by a U.S.-based carrier. All domestic students are required to complete an online decision form, whether enrolling in or waiving the plan. Fill out the online form at Gallagher's website. All international students are exempt from completing the online decision form and are automatically enrolled and charged for the Smith College Student Blue. If you have comparable health insurance by a U.S. carrier, you may appeal to Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk to see if you are eligible to waive the Smith health insurance.

*Graduate students; excluding SSW
Online Decision Form	Available	Due
Fall entrance	July 1	September 12
Spring entrance (only)	December 15	February 12
Summer entrance*	June 15	June 30

Coverage Periods

*Students on leave for Spring; **Will not be charged for spring semester
Coverage type	Coverage period
Standard annual coverage	August 14–August 14
January graduates/Fall-only students*	Ends January 14**
Spring-only students	January 15–August 14

Health Insurance Fee

One-half of the annual health insurance fee is billed to each student for the fall semester in July and half of the annual insurance fee is billed to each student for the spring semester in December. If the health insurance is waived appropriately during the formal waiver process, the fall semester charge will be reversed and you will not be billed the second half of the charge in the spring. January graduates or other fall only students (i.e. spring leave) will only be charged half of the annual insurance charge for the fall semester. A student entering or returning for the spring semester only will be charged for the spring-only health insurance in December and will go through the waiver process at that time.

Health Grant

Undergraduate students with extremely high need who do not have outside health insurance coverage may be eligible for a health grant to cover the cost of health insurance through Smith College. If you need assistance with the health insurance charge and feel you may qualify, please contact us at sfs@smith.edu.

All Ada Comstock scholars who receive need-based financial aid from the college will receive a health grant to cover the cost of health insurance through the college. Non-aided Ada Comstock scholars or Ada Comstock scholars who successfully waive the health insurance are not eligible for this grant.

Student Withdrawals and Health Insurance Coverage, Charges, and Refunds

If a student has not waived the health insurance and withdraws from the college during the first 31 days of the period for which coverage is purchased, the student will not be covered under the plan and a full refund of the premium will be made.

Insured students (students who have either enrolled in, or failed to waive, the college health insurance) who withdraw after 31 days will remain covered under the plan for the full period for which the premium has been paid and no refund will be made available.

Withdrawn Students:

Students who withdraw during the Fall semester will be offered the opportunity to remain in the plan for the Spring semester. Students are notified of coverage options upon withdrawal, and may choose to either cancel coverage at the end of the Fall semester, or continue coverage through the end of the academic year in the Spring. Students who choose to retain coverage would be responsible for paying the remaining premium associated with the insurance plan.

Medical Withdrawals:

If a student medically withdraws, they can choose to continue their health insurance enrollment with written notice which must be received by September 12 for the Fall semester or February 11 for the Spring semester. Students on an approved Medical Leave of Absence, who have been previously insured under this Plan for at least one year prior to the Medical Leave, are eligible to enroll in this insurance Plan for a maximum of two semesters.

Personal leaves, U.S. Leaves, and Study Away

Any student on personal leave, leave to study in the U.S., 12-College Exchange, or the Princeton Exchange will not be enrolled and/or will be automatically withdrawn from the health insurance plan for the semester or semesters they are on leave from Smith College.