Health Plan Rates, Qualifying Life Events, and GA COBRA
Student and Graduate Assistant Health Plan Rates
Please note: dependent enrollments must match the coverage period of the student (primary subscriber) is enrolled in. Select qualifying life event changes may be added as noted in the QLE information below.
|
Fall 8/16/25 - 2/15/26 |
Spring I
1/1/26 - 8/15/26 |
Spring II
2/16/26 - 8/15/26 |
Spring III
5/11/26 - 8/15/26 |
1st-Year Early
Arrival COM |
|
| Student | $1,527 | $1,900 | $1,527 | $764 | $635 |
| Spouse | $1,527 | $1,900 | $1,527 | $764 | $635 |
| One Child | $1,527 | $1,900 | $1,527 | $764 | $635 |
| Two or More Children | $3,054 | $3,800 | $3,054 | $1,528 | $1,270 |
The daily rate is used for mid-year enrollment due to a qualifying life event or for early arrival students. The daily rate is also offered to visiting scholars, OPT students, and English Language (ELP) students.
|
Daily Rate 8/16/25 - 8/15/26 |
|
| Student/Scholar | $9 |
| Spouse | $9 |
| One Child | $9 |
| Two or More Children | $18 |
| Tier |
Fall 8/16/25 - 2/15/26 |
Spring I
1/1/26 - 8/15/26 |
Spring II
2/16/26 - 8/15/26 |
Spring III
5/11/26 - 8/15/26 |
| Graduate Assistant | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| One Dependent (Spouse/Other Eligible Individual or child) | $256 | $322 | $256 | $128 |
| Two or More Dependents | $1,092 | $1,376 | $1,092 | $546 |
The daily rate is used for Graduate Assistants or their dependents who are enrolled mid-period due to a qualifying life event.
| Tier |
Daily Rate 8/16/25 - 8/15/26 |
| Graduate Assistant | $0 |
| One Dependent (Spouse/Other Eligible Individual or child) | $1 |
| Two or More Dependents | $6 |
Annual Rates (08/16-2025 -08/16/2026)
| Tier |
Total Plan Cost |
MSU Plan Cost |
GA Plan Cost |
| Graduate Assistant | $3,648 | $3,648 | $0 |
| One Dependent (Spouse / Other Eligible Individual or Child) | $5,112 | $4,601 | $511 |
| Two or More Dependents | $7,296 | $5,112 | $2,184 |
Qualifying Life Events (QLEs)
Students and Graduate Assistants who miss the enrollment deadline to enroll themselves or dependents must wait for the next enrollment period, unless they have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) such as:
- Loss of other coverage
- Marriage
- Birth of a Child
- Adoption of a Child
- Entry into the U.S. by an eligible dependent
You will be given 31 days from your status change date to make your election for the Student Health Insurance Plan.
You will be given 30 days from your status change date to make your election for the Graduate Assistant Health Plan.
|
Qualifying Life Event |
Documentation Required |
|
Loss of Coverage |
You must provide evidence of lost coverage such as a Certificate of Coverage from the prior insurance carrier identifying the last date of coverage. |
|
Marriage |
Marriage Certificate |
|
Birth of a Child |
Birth Certificate |
|
Adoption of a Child |
Proof of Adoption |
|
Entry into the U.S. by an eligible dependent |
Visa or Passport |
*You will be given 31 days from your event date to complete enrollment.
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Log in to your account at Care26 Student
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Click the Main Menu icon, shown as three horizontal lines (☰) on the left side of the screen near the word Dashboard.
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Select Qualifying Event from the menu.
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Click Start Qualifying Event and follow the prompts to upload the required documentation.
Health Insurance Marketplace plans: Plans that meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements can be purchased through your state’s Marketplace. You can visit the Health Insurance Marketplace or call (800) 318-2596 to see if you qualify for subsidies on ACA plans or free or low-cost coverage. Local help is available, too.
Through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): You can get no- or low-cost health coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan (Michigan’s Medicaid) or MI Child (Michigan’s CHIP), depending on your age and income.
You can apply at Michigan’s MI Bridges portal to see if you qualify for Michigan’s Medicaid or CHIP programs. Michigan’s Medicaid program includes the Healthy Michigan Plan, which covers all the federal essential health benefits, plus other services, at an affordable price.
Short-term health plans: You can get 185-day plans that aren’t ACA-compliant. Check out the eHealthInsurance website for more information on this health plan option.
Job-based health plans: If you work, your employer may offer health insurance.
Your parents’ health care plan: You can be added to your parent’s plan during the annual Open Enrollment Period (or during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify). As long as you’re under age 26, it doesn’t matter if you live with your parents or if you graduate, get married or have a child.
Automatically enrolled students:
If you are automatically enrolled in the student or GA health insurance plan, you need to make sure name and address changes are completed in the student information system. This data is periodically transmitted to AHP and Aetna. If you have not seen the correction take place within a couple of weeks, please reach out to the Solutions Center via email at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu, by phone at 517-353-4434, or toll-free at 800-353-4434 for assistance updating.
Voluntarily enrolled students:
If you Voluntarily enrolled in the student, you need to make sure name and address changes are completed in the student information system AND contact the Solutions Center for updating.
International students are automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan. If you have obtained a permanent residency status, you must work with the Office of the Registrar at onestop@msu.edu to update your status. The following semester after your status has been updated to domestic, you will no longer be automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan.
If you still need the health insurance coverage, you may voluntarily enroll and purchase the plan through the Academic HealthPlans (AHP) system.
Continuation of Benefits
Graduate Assistants will be offered COBRA and may enroll to continue health coverage. Students who are not GAs in need of health coverage past the coverage period end date may refer to the FAQ above.
You will receive a COBRA notice and enrollment form in the mail from WageWorks after your health insurance coverage has ended. You will need to complete and sign the COBRA enrollment form and return it to WageWorks within 60 days. Once WageWorks receives your COBRA enrollment and initial premium payment, they will send it to the insurance company, Aetna, who will process the enrollment.
You must return your completed and signed COBRA enrollment form to WageWorks within 60 days of the COBRA notice mailing date.
If you lose coverage on February 15, your COBRA coverage will begin on February 16 assuming you actively enroll and pay for coverage. If you lose coverage on August 15, your COBRA coverage will begin on August 16.
The monthly cost for COBRA continuation coverage for the 2024-25 year (08/16/2024-08/15/2025) is:
- Student: $285.71
- Student + 1 dependent: $685.71
- Student + 2 or more dependents: $857.14
Note: Coverage for a partial month is pro-rated.
