Are students required to have health insurance in order to enroll in Massachusetts colleges and universities?
Yes. Massachusetts institutions of higher education are required either to enroll students required to comply with the SHIP requirement in the school-sponsored SHIP plan or to require the student to verify comparable coverage. Are students registered for a full-time load of online courses subject to the SHIP requirement? No. Currently, any student registered in an online program in Massachusetts, regardless of that student’s state of residency, is not required to participate in the SHIP plan or an alternate health plan of comparable coverage. Can students enrolled in credit-granting, short-term courses (defined as no more than 15 days of classes for each semester of 30 days total for the entire school year) waive out of SHIP? Yes. The Division is temporarily allowing schools to waive the requirement to purchase student health insurance for students enrolled in short-term courses for the current 2008 – 2009 school year. The Division is currently reviewing the SHIP regulation and hope to
