Dear Students, Parents, and Families,
We are writing to inform you of a one-time change being made to the dates of coverage for Student Health Insurance at Tufts. This change requires no action on your part, but is automatic. If you waive the Student Health Insurance and have coverage through a comparable private plan, or if you did not purchase medical insurance in 2018-19, this change does not affect you, and you may disregard this message.
What’s Changed?
- Previously, the Student Health Insurance policy covered enrolled students from August 29 of one year through August 28 of the following year.
- Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, the Student Health Insurance policy will cover enrolled students from August 20 of one year through August 19 of the following year. These new dates will be in effect every year moving forward.
As we transition to these new dates of coverage, students enrolled for both 2018-19 and 2019-20 will be covered by their 2018-19 policy through August 28, 2019, and by their 2019-20 policy from August 29, 2019 through August 19, 2020. You will have a $79 credit applied to your Fall 2019 bill after enrolling in the 2019-20 policy to reimburse you for the 9 fewer days of coverage.
Why the Change?
Each year, the August 29 - August 28 coverage period posed a problem for the almost 900 students who participated in our Pre-Orientation programs. Students participating in Pre-O arrived to campus early, before August 29, which meant that special arrangements had to be made for their insurance coverage if they elected to enroll in Tufts’ Student Health Insurance. Moving the coverage period forward to August 20 - August 19 has eliminated this issue, which is also shared by many other students who arrive early to campus each year for various graduate programs and other beginning-of-term activities.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
- All returning students enrolled in the Student Health Insurance plan will have full coverage for August 20 - 29, 2019, whether they are enrolled for 2018-19, 2019-20, or both. For students who are only enrolled for 2018-19 because they have chosen not to renew for 2019-20, the Student Health Insurance policy that will be in effect for these 9 days is the 2018-19 policy. For students who are only enrolled for 2019-20, the Student Health Insurance policy that will be in effect for these 9 days is the 2019-20 policy. For student who are enrolled for both 2018-19 and 2019-20, the Student Health Insurance policy that will be in effect for these 9 days is the 2018-19 policy.
- If you are a PhD candidate whose insurance is paid by the school, the dates of coverage will be adjusted as described above.
- If you have enrolled in Student Health Insurance and have graduated or left Tufts University and are not returning, you will be covered through August 28, 2019.
Sincerely,
The Health and Wellness Business Office
