graduate assistant health insurance

Michigan State University (MSU) provides health coverage for Graduate Assistants and their eligible dependents through Aetna. As a graduate assistant (GA), you are automatically enrolled in the health plan, at no cost to you. MSU pays the premium for your health coverage. Through the health plan, you have access to quality health care through hospitals, physicians and affiliated health care professionals in the Aetna provider network. Locate a provider through the Aetna website. 

Enrollment and Waiver

Graduate Assistants automatically enrolled in the MSU GA Health Insurance Plan will receive information via email to access the enrollment and waiver portal through Academic HealthPlans (AHP).

Review the 2024-2025 Plan information including FAQs and plan summary.

Graduate Assistants can access the AHP enrollment system to add dependents to their plan or submit a waiver request to opt out of coverage.  

What about my spouse/other eligible individual and dependents?

They are eligible for coverage under the GA Insurance Health plan as well. However, their enrollment is not automatic so you will need to take action to enroll them in the AHP enrollment system. MSU contributes to the premium of dependent coverage. Visit the rates page for more details.

Who Is Eligible?

  • Graduate assistants
    • With 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 appointments (eligible for tuition waiver); AND
    • Who have worked at least 53 calendar days during their Fall or Spring appointment, or 46 calendar days during their Summer appointment
  • Eligible dependents
    • Spouse/Other Eligible Individual (OEI)
    • Children (must be under the age of 26)
    • Stepchildren (must be under the age of 26)
  • For further details regarding GA appointments, review Assistantships FAQs.

Enroll your dependents here 

Access the enrollment system on the AHP website.

Resources

Aetna

AHP

Previous Plan Year (2023-2024 Academic Year)


2024-25 Enrollment Deadlines and Coverage Periods

Graduate Assistant: 2024-25 Coverage Periods

 2024-25 Coverage Period    
 Enrollment Period  Effective Date  Termination Date
 Fall  August 16, 2024  February 15, 2025
 Spring I  January 1, 2025  August 15, 2025
 Spring II  February 16, 2025  August 15, 2025
 Spring III  May 12, 2025  August 15, 2025


Waive Coverage: 
Access the waiver system on the AHP website (microsite).

Eligible Dependent: 2024-25 Enrollment Periods, Deadlines and Coverage Periods

Enrollment Dates Coverage Period
Enrollment Period Enrollment Opens Enrollment Deadline Effective Date Termination Date
Fall July 29, 2024 September 30, 2024 August 16, 2024 February 15, 2025
Spring I December 2, 2024 March 15, 2025 January 1, 2025 August 15, 2025
Spring II December 2, 2024 March 15, 2025 February 16, 2025 August 15, 2025
Spring III April 1, 2025 June 30, 2025 May 12, 2025 August 15, 2025


Note:
 Your dependents cannot be enrolled beyond your enrollment period in the GA Health Insurance plan.

2023-24 Enrollment Deadlines and Coverage Periods

Graduate Assistant: 2023-24 Coverage Periods

 2023-24 Coverage Period    
 Enrollment Period  Effective Date  Termination Date
 Fall  August 16, 2023  February 15, 2024
 Spring I  January 1, 2024  August 15, 2024
 Spring II  February 16, 2024  August 15, 2024
 Spring III  May 13, 2024  August 15, 2024

 

Eligible Dependents: 2023-24 Enrollment Periods, Deadlines and Coverage Periods

Enrollment Dates Coverage Period
Enrollment Period Enrollment Opens Enrollment Deadline Effective Date Termination Date
Fall August 4, 2023 November 30, 2024 August 16, 2023 February 15, 2024
Spring I December 1, 2023 March 28, 2024 January 1, 2024 August 15, 2024
Spring II December 1, 2023 March 28, 2024 February 16, 2024 August 15, 2024
Spring III May 9, 2024 July 15, 2024 May 13, 2024 August 15, 2024
First Quarter August 4, 2024 November 30, 2024 August 16, 2023 November 15, 2023
Second Quarter December 1, 2023 March 28,  November 16, 2023 February 15, 2024
Third Quarter December 1, 2023 March 28, 2024 February 16, 2024 May 15, 2024
Fourth Quarter May 9, 2024 July 15, 2024 May 13, 2024 August 15, 2024


Note:
Your dependents cannot be enrolled beyond your enrollment period.

We've requested accessible versions of website documents from vendors. If you have difficulty reading any documents, contact the HR Solutions Center at 517-353-4434 or SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu.