SSHIP Waiver Eligibility

Before completing the health insurance waiver form, students must review the benefits of their health insurance policy to determine if they have adequate coverage.

Students may retain the Suffolk Student Health Insurance Plan (SSHIP) as their sole medical insurance plan or as a supplement to their primary health insurance plan. When comparing insurance plans, there are some questions to consider including:

To qualify as comparable coverage, the student's health plan must provide the student comprehensive coverage of health services throughout the school year, including:

  • Primary care and routine office visits
  • Emergency services
  • Mental health outpatient and inpatient services
  • Surgical services
  • Hospitalization benefits
  • Ambulatory patient services

To qualify as comparable coverage, the services covered under the alternate health plan must also be reasonably accessible for all health services in the area where the student attends school. A health plan through a closed network of providers that covers the student only for emergency services where the student is studying is NOT comparable coverage. Students and parents should be aware of this important fact.

International students are required to carry SSHIP. In accordance with the Massachusetts Student Health Insurance Plan (QSHIP) laws, Suffolk University cannot accept medical insurance waivers based on coverage issued by a foreign insurance carrier, if the student is studying in the U.S. Many international students have been victims of unscrupulous health insurance companies that sell them plans that do not meet the requirements. These students have incurred unnecessary charges and encountered difficulties filing claims. Therefore, it is the policy of Suffolk University that the insurance carrier be based in the U.S.

Steps to Submit a Student Health Insurance Waiver Form

It is important that students realize that the burden of proof that the alternate insurance is adequate falls on the student, not the university. If you do not know whether your coverage meets the above conditions, contact your health insurance plan administrator. The text of the Massachusetts QSHIP law can be viewed at the MA Department of Health Care and Finance Policy website, under "Student Health Insurance."

Please be aware that if you do not wish to participate in SSHIP, you must file a health insurance waiver form EVERY academic year.

Waive SSHIP online by completing the following steps:

  1. Go to the University Health Plans website
  2. Click on Suffolk University
  3. Click on the Suffolk University Student Insurance Plan (this will bring you to a Suffolk-specific page)
  4. Click on Waiver Form
  5. Fill in all required information (if a piece of required information is missing, your form will NOT be accepted)
  6. Submit the form by clicking Apply—if the form is accepted, you will receive immediate confirmation of your enrollment or waiver
  7. Print out the confirmation page as this will be the only documentation you will have as proof that you waived the insurance plan

Please note that if students fail to waive the SSHIP by the deadline, they will be automatically enrolled in SSHIP and billed the premium rate.