graduate assistant health insurance
Coronavirus Update: please review the Coronavirus: MSU Benefit Resources page for health care options to help you and your family.
MSU provides health coverage for graduate assistants and their eligible dependents through Blue Care Network (BCN). As a graduate assistant, you are enrolled automatically in the health plan, and MSU picks up the cost of your health coverage. Through this plan, you have access to quality health care through hospitals, physicians, and affiliated health care professionals in the BCN provider network. Locate a provider through the BCN website.
What about my spouse/other eligible individual and dependents?
They are eligible for coverage under this plan too; however, their enrollment is not automatic so you'll need to enroll them. 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
- Children (must be under the age of 26)
- Stepchildren (must be under the age of 26)
Enroll Your Eligible Dependents Here
Resources
BCN partners with Relation for enrollment and payment for this plan. Visit bcbsm.com/msu for more information or call 800-662-6667.
Want to learn more about how this plan works? Not sure whether this plan is right for your eligible dependents? Talk to ALEX, our virtual benefits counselor to get a simple breakdown of the plan and tips on whether it might work for you.
Additional resources:
- Benefit Highlight Sheet (PDF)
- BCN Member Guide (PDF)
- Benefit Plan Document (PDF)
2019-20 Enrollment Deadlines and Coverage Periods
Graduate Assistant Coverage Periods
| Coverage Period | ||
| Enrollment Period | Effective Date | Termination Date |
| Fall | August 16, 2019 | February 15, 2020 |
| Spring I | January 1, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
| Spring II | February 16, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
| Spring III | May 16, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
Waive Coverage: You can opt-out of automatic enrollment in this health plan through the waiver system at stuinfo.msu.edu. Learn more about Waiver Requirements.
Eligible Dependents Enrollment Periods, Deadlines and Coverage Periods
| Enrollment Dates | Coverage Period | |||
| Enrollment Period | Enrollment Opens | Enrollment Deadline | Effective Date | Termination Date |
| Fall | July 24, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | August 16, 2019 | February 15, 2020 |
| Spring I | December 1, 2019 | February 28, 2020 | January 1, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
| Spring II | December 1, 2019 | February 28, 2020 | February 16, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
| Spring III | April 16, 2020 | June 30, 2020 | May 16, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
| First Quarter | July 24, 2019 | September 30, 2019 | August 16, 2019 | November 15, 2019 |
| Second Quarter | October 16, 2019 | November 30, 2019 | November 16, 2019 | February 15, 2020 |
| Third Quarter | January 16, 2020 | February 28, 2020 | February 16, 2020 | May 15, 2020 |
| Fourth Quarter | April 16, 2020 | June 30, 2020 | May 16, 2020 | August 15, 2020 |
Note: Your dependents cannot be enrolled beyond your enrollment.
