Jane Dotson
Boston offers a variety of health insurance plans for its residents, including students and city workers. Boston University, for instance, offers the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Aetna, a large national health insurer. Students at Boston University can access their insurance card via the Aetna HealthSM app or by printing it out. Boston College also provides health insurance plans for its students, with UnitedHealthcare being the carrier. Additionally, the City of Boston offers non-Medicare health insurance plans for its employees, with the option to cover family members. These plans vary in coverage and rates, and some include benefits such as dental and vision insurance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Insurance for City of Boston employees | Three non-Medicare health insurance plans for employees working at least 20 hours a week |
| Insurance for family members of City of Boston employees | Eligible employees may cover their family members, including children (until age 26), grandchildren, disabled children over age 25, and a spouse or ex-spouse |
| Insurance for retirees of the City of Boston | Retirees are eligible to continue their health coverage by applying for Medicare Parts A & B and switching to a Medicare plan |
| Dental and vision insurance for City of Boston employees | Available through unions; some unions may be eligible to elect a $10,000 benefit |
| Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for Boston University students | Offered through Aetna, a large national health insurer; includes Basic and Plus coverage options |
| Cost of SHIP for Boston University students | The standard annual rate for the 2024-2025 year is $3,401 for the Basic plan and $4,567 for the Plus plan |
| Boston University students with SHIP who are studying or travelling abroad | Keep your identification card with you and take a copy of the brochure for reference; you will likely have to pay for your medical care first and then seek reimbursement |
| Boston College students with UnitedHealthcare insurance who are studying or travelling abroad | Keep your identification card with you; you will likely have to pay for your medical care first and then seek reimbursement |
| Boston College students with UnitedHealthcare insurance who take a medical leave of absence | Students will continue to be covered for the remainder of the semester; coverage may be extended for the following semester with approval |
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What You'll Learn
Boston University's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Students wishing to enrol their eligible dependents should upgrade to the PLUS plan before the open enrolment deadline. The BASIC plan, which most students are enrolled in, can be upgraded to the PLUS plan through the MyBU portal. To do this, select "Student Health Insurance" from the left menu and choose the "Change Plan Level" option.
Students can find out more about the two offered plans on the Aetna Student Health website, where they can review detailed information about in-network benefits, plan documents, and benefits for the specified year. Students can also refer to the Student Health Insurance Guide to see the costs for in-network benefits obtained through the Aetna Preferred Provider Network.
Students can learn more about SHIP on the Student Health Services website, where they can also find the Health Insurance Decision Guide. This guide can help students make an informed decision about their coverage by providing information on eligibility, rates, and deadlines.
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Boston Medical Center's insurance plans
Boston Medical Center (BMC) accepts a variety of insurance plans, although the specific plans are not listed. BMC complies with Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, colour, national origin, religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, sex, sexual orientation, etc.
If you are a parent, your child's health insurance will cover many of the costs associated with their treatment. You can find the plan's phone number and your child's membership number on their insurance card. A member services representative can answer any questions you may have about your plan.
If you are a student at Boston College, you can enrol in a student insurance plan. You can access your ID card once the plan begins. If you take a medical leave of absence, you will remain covered for the remainder of the semester. Coverage may be extended with approval. When studying or travelling abroad, you will likely have to pay for your medical care upfront and then seek reimbursement.
If you are a City of Boston worker, you can choose from three non-Medicare health insurance plans. You can also enrol in basic life insurance and then additional coverage if desired. Dental and vision insurance are also available through unions.
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Boston city workers' health benefits
Boston offers its city workers a range of health benefits. Firstly, the city provides three non-Medicare health insurance plans for employees working at least 20 hours a week, excluding seasonal and emergency hires. These plans offer access to lower-cost doctors and hospitals, but a primary care physician (PCP) must be designated, and referrals are needed to receive services from other in-network physicians or specialists. Additionally, employees must enrol in basic life insurance to be eligible for the city health insurance plan, with the option to enrol in an additional policy.
Furthermore, Boston city workers can avail of dental and vision insurance through their unions, with some unions offering discounted or covered vision exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. The city also offers an Employee Assistance Program, providing a supportive environment for employees facing personal or work-related challenges. To promote wellness, employees can create free accounts on Burnalong, an online health and fitness platform. Moreover, Boston offers Flex Spending, allowing employees to deduct pre-tax money for out-of-pocket medical expenses, dependent care, and transportation. Annually, in November, workers can enrol in the Flex Spending program and will receive a Benny Card for eligible expenses in January.
The City of Boston also extends health benefits to retirees. Retirees are eligible to continue their health coverage and can choose from five or six Medicare plans to supplement Medicare Parts A and B. They must, however, apply for Medicare Parts A and B and switch to a Medicare plan. The program covers former employees for up to 18 months, with the total monthly premium and a 2% administrative fee payable. Retirees pay the same percentage of health and life insurance premiums as active employees.
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Boston College's student insurance
Boston College students are required by Massachusetts state law to have proof of immunizations and medical insurance that meets benefit levels mandated by the state. Students are automatically enrolled in the Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the Student Basic level. The insurance is offered through Aetna, a large national health insurer. The standard annual rate for the 2024-2025 year for the Basic plan is $3,401 and the Plus plan is $4,567.
Students enrolled in the Boston College Student Health Insurance Plan can access their medical insurance ID card by clicking on the Aetna Medical ID Card. Students are encouraged to print their Aetna medical insurance card or access their digital ID card on the Aetna HealthSM app, as Aetna is no longer issuing plastic or paper member ID cards and sending them by mail. Students who are enrolled in the Dental PPO plan will receive a separate ID card for their dental insurance coverage.
If a student enrolled in the student insurance plan takes a medical leave of absence effective mid-semester, they will continue to be covered for the remainder of that semester. Coverage may also be extended for the following semester with approval from Boston College. While studying or traveling abroad, students are advised to keep their identification card with them and take a copy of the brochure for reference. When outside the United States, students will likely be asked to pay for their medical care first and then seek reimbursement. Covered expenses will be reimbursed on a non-network basis.
Students can also access Teladoc, an online health platform that provides 24/7 access to licensed doctors by phone or video. Students with SHIP can use this service for urgent primary care or behavioral medicine concerns whenever they arise.
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Flex Spending
If you are a City of Boston worker, you can benefit from Flex Spending. This allows you to deduct pre-tax money for out-of-pocket medical expenses, dependent care, and transportation. Annual enrolment for Flex Spending takes place in November, for the plan year commencing on January 1.
It is important to note that you can't use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with a Marketplace plan. You can only use an FSA if you have a health plan through your job. You also can't use it for insurance premiums. You should also be aware that you will generally need to use the money in your FSA within the plan year, although your employer may offer a grace period of up to 2 and a half extra months, or they may allow you to carry over a certain amount per year to use in the following year.
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Frequently asked questions
Boston University offers the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Aetna, a large national health insurer. Students and scholars enrolled in the Boston University Student Health Insurance Plan may use the form on the Aetna website to generate an identification card.
The City of Boston offers three non-Medicare health insurance plans for employees working at least 20 hours a week. You can find more information about the City of Boston's health benefits on their website. Once you are enrolled in a health insurance plan, you will receive a benefits billing statement. You can refer to this statement to submit your payment online and receive your insurance card.
Boston College offers UnitedHealthcare as their student health insurance plan. Students can create a UnitedHealthcare account and access their ID card once the plan begins.
International students are included in the SHIP plan. Students can print their Aetna medical insurance card or access their digital ID card on the Aetna HealthSM app.
