HEALTH INSURANCE WAIVER DEADLINE  SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 All full-time* and three-quarter time* students are charged $1189 for student health insurance.  If you are currently enrolled in a comprehensive health insurance plan (and don't need the college-sponsored program), you must submit an electronic waiver by the deadline (September 30, 2008) as proof of adequate coverage.  Students, who fail to waive by the deadline, will be responsible for the $1189 premium charge. Note: Students must registered for classes before waiving.  It takes approximately 1 week after registration for the waiver site to recognize you as a full- or 3/4-time student. To waive click here: https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/Hardwaiver/default.aspx?groupID=812822 For students wishing to buy the BSC-sponsored plan, please refer to the text below. *Undergraduates with 9 or more credits and graduate students with 7 or more credits yearly must prove (via electronic waiver) that they have medical insurance.

The Law: All  full-time students and students carrying a 3/4 course load (or more) must provide proof of enrollment in a medical insurance plan that meets the Commonwealth mandated guidelines (law)*or be automatically enrolled in a college-sponsored plan. Massachusetts colleges are required to sponsor a health plan (with an outside, bid-initiated company) as a mechanism to provide full-time and 3/4-time students an affordable option for health insurance, if they are otherwise uncovered. The Bridgewater State College Sponsored Health Plan is provided by Aetna (formerly Chickering) Insurance. The premium for the academic 2008-2009 year is $1189 per year (and the policy is in effect from August 1, 2008 until July 31, 2009).  If you have comprehensive health insurance, you may have this fee ($1189) removed from your college bill, by electronically WAIVING* the insurance (see the description below) by the deadline of September 30 (for each fall semester) and by February 15th (for those who  not enrolled in the fall). Waiver must be submitted each year.

The Insurance Brochure: To access the Bridgewater State College Sponsored Student Health Insurance, please visit: http://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/schools/bridgewater/brochure0809.pdf

The Waiver (proof of enrollment in one's own or one's parents' policy for the academic year): click here: https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/hardwaiver/default.aspx?groupID=812822

To Enroll (to receive your card and begin utilizing your benefits starting August 1, 2008)https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/hardwaiver/default.aspx?groupID=812822

If you are a full-time or three-quarter time matriculating undergraduate or graduate student for Fall 2008 at Bridgewater State, you are required to have sufficient health insurance coverage while attending the College.

*In Massachusetts, the state has implemented specific regulations concerning student health insurance under the Qualifying Student Health Insurance Program (QSHIP).  These regulations mandate that Bridgewater State College offer a student health insurance program that meets specific requirements.  Within the parameters of these requirements, the College may elect to allow full-time and three-quarter time students the option of waiving participation in a qualifying student health insurance plan, provided they participate in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. This personal insurance carrier information must be certified in an on-line waiver transaction.

The Bridgewater State College Insurance Plan has been developed especially for Bridgewater State College students in conjunction with Aetna Student Health.  The Plan provides coverage for illnesses and injuries that occur on and off campus and includes special cost-saving features to keep the coverage as affordable as possible.  All full-time students attending Bridgewater and part-time students registered no less than three-quarter time are eligible to take the insurance.

In order to decline the offer for the Bridgewater State College Student Health Plan, you must supply other insurance carrier information to the College on-line by September 30, 2008.  The Plan coverage period extends from August 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009.  Please take into consideration if your Health Plan offers coverage in the Bridgewater, MA area before declining coverage. HMO plans based in a state other than Massachusetts has a limited network.

International Students: Students may not waive the Bridgewater State College Health Insurance Plan if their other insurance coverage is through an insurance carrier outside the U.S. or coverage by a foreign National Health Service program.  This stipulation does not apply if the student is studying in a foreign country and the student’s insurance provides coverage in that location.

The On-line Bridgewater State College Insurance Waiver form is available on Aetna Student Health’s website Student Connection.  Please follow the provided link: http://www.chickering.com/stu_conn/student_connection.aspx?group_number=812822

Please note: Paper waivers or petitions to waive will not be accepted!  You must waive online by the deadline date (September 30)  to avoid being charged for the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan premium.

Commonwealth Care does not represent comparable coverage.  People who are covered by Commonwealth Care cannot waive the $1189 premium.  For questions about Commonwealth Care, contact your provider. 

Mass Health coverage is accepted as comparable coverage; students with Mass Health may waive the insurance premium charge.

Dependent Enrollees: Important note for Bridgewater State College students interested in enrolling dependents: To enroll the dependent(s) of a covered student, please complete the Dependent Enrollment Form which can be found by following the above link to Student Connection.   The application will need to be sent to Aetna Student Health together with your check, money order, or MasterCard/Visa payment by September 30th.  For more information on dependent enrollment or general questions please contact Aetna Student Health’s Customer Service at 1-(877) 261-8398 Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 5:30PM Eastern Time.

Though even part-time (less than three-quarter time status) students must have insurance in Massachusetts, the college is not bound to force your compliance. A part-time student (less than three-quarter time status) will not be automatically enrolled in the Bridgewater State College Student Health Insurance Plan.  The college-sponsored student health insurance plan does not enroll part-time students.

For more information on this enrollment/waiver process, benefit details, claims processing and pre-certification, or general questions and clarification inquiries please contact Aetna Student Health Insurance Customer Service at 1-(877) 261-8398, Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 5:30PM Eastern Time, or the Bridgewater State College Student Health Service at (508) 531-1252, Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM Eastern Time .

 

 

 

Last Modified: July 17, 2008