Yes, all enrolled PhD students will receive their individual U-SHIP premium coverage at no cost to the student. Enrollment in U-SHIP is mandatory for all PhD students including those enrolled in joint degree programs, and the insurance premium will be posted on the quarterly student account and also paid for at no cost to the student. Non-PhD students who have questions about funding for U-SHIP premiums should contact their area dean of students for more information.
Yes, effective 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them. Rarely and in limited circumstances, PhD students may seek an exception to the U-SHIP enrollment requirement from the Office of the Provost through Celia Bergman (cbergman@uchicago.edu), Program Manager, Campus and Student Life. Students who do not take action to enroll in U-SHIP by the enrollment deadline (October 13, 2023) will be enrolled in U-SHIP by default for the remainder of the policy year (through August 31, 2024).
Effective 9/1/21, U-SHIP is required for all PhD students at the University. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Rarely and in limited circumstances, PhD students may seek an exception to the U-SHIP enrollment requirement from the Office of the Provost through Celia Bergman (cbergman@uchicago.edu), Program Manager, Campus and Student Life. Students who do not take action to enroll in U-SHIP by the enrollment deadline (October 13, 2023) will be enrolled in U-SHIP by default for the remainder of the policy year (through August 31, 2024).
Yes, you may be enrolled in multiple health insurance plans. It is important to know that U-SHIP will always pay as primary. Your secondary insurance may be used to cover any charges that are not covered by U-SHIP, as per the plan provisions of your other health insurance.
After U-SHIP pays the claim, you will receive an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) from UnitedHealthcare StudentResources that outlines what U-SHIP covered and what was not covered by U-SHIP. Give your provider a copy of that EOB and ask them to file a claim under your secondary plan. To maximize your plan benefits on both plans, make sure that the provider you are seeing is in-network for both plans and be sure to present both ID cards to your provider.
Your U-SHIP plan will pay as primary. After U-SHIP pays the claim, you should ask your provider from whom you received care to submit the balance of your bill to your secondary plan. This may reduce the overall out-of-pocket cost you will owe the provider. The provider will need to be in-network with your second insurance carrier in order to maximize your benefits on your secondary plan.
According to the Illinois Medicaid Office, you may hold both U-SHIP and Illinois Medicaid coverage concurrently. For additional questions about Illinois Medicaid please refer to this site: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29757
Effective 9/1/21, U-SHIP is required for all PhD students at the University. You may hold both U-SHIP and Illinois Medicaid coverage concurrently. U-SHIP will pay as primary and Illinois Medicaid will pay as secondary. If your Illinois Medicaid covers more of your expenses for a particular service, it will be important to make sure your provider is in-network with your Medicaid plan. After U-SHIP pays the claim, you should ask your provider from whom you received care to submit the balance of your bill to Medicaid. This may reduce the overall out-of-pocket cost you will owe the provider. For additional questions about Illinois Medicaid please refer to this site: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29757
PhD students who take either a parental or medical leave of absence may do so and retain their U-SHIP coverage. Students are eligible for a MLOA with U-SHIP for up to four quarters. The individual U-SHIP premium will continue to be paid at no cost to the student. Students who take a personal leave of absence (not a parental or medical leave of absence) are no longer eligible for U-SHIP and coverage will be ended effective from the start of the first quarter of personal leave.
No. Because the U-SHIP premium financial aid is awarded directly to your student account, it will not be reported as taxable income.