MSU STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
The MSU student health insurance plan (SHIP) offers health coverage for students and their eligible dependents through Blue Care Network (BCN). If you are a graduate assistant, medical student or international student, you are enrolled automatically in the SHIP. If you are a student that does not fall into one of these groups, you are eligible to voluntarily enroll in the SHIP. 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.
Important Notices
- Waiver Option Changes for International Students: Under usual circumstances, most international students would not be allowed to waive coverage; however, due to the COVID-19 health care crisis, the University recognizes many international students may remain outside the U.S. for the fall semester. If you are an international student and you fall into this situation, you may be allowed to waive the MSU SHIP for the fall semester. Find more information about which international students are eligible to waive coverage.
Eligibility and Enrollment Info
If you are taking one or more credits for the enrollment period and are in one of these student categories, you are eligible to participate in the plan. Eligible students include:
- Voluntary Enrolled Students:
- MSU College of Law students
- Undergraduate and graduate students
- Visiting Scholars (not eligible for employee health insurance)
- Fellowship students
- Lifelong Education Students (taking one or more credits)
- English Language Program students
- Students Completing Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Post Docs/Research Associates/Adjunct Professors (Not eligible for employee health insurance)
- Nursing Students
- Automatically Enrolled Students:
- International students
- Medical students
- Veterinary students
- Eligible dependents of students enrolled in the SHIP:
- Spouse/Other Eligible Individual
- Children (must be under the age of 26)
- Stepchildren (must be under the age of 26)
International, medical and veterinary students are automatically enrolled in the SHIP and charged on their student account. All other students can voluntarily enroll in the SHIP here.
Blue Care Network (BCN) partners with Relation for enrollment and payment for the student health plans. Visit the BCN website for more information on the SHIP or call 1-800-287-4103.
Additional resources:
Medical, veterinary and some international students can currently waive out of the SHIP through the waiver system. Find more information about which international students are eligible to waive coverage on the HR website.
Access the waiver system at https://4studenthealth.relationinsurance.com/. Choose MSU from the school dropdown and choose your plan type according to your student class (domestic, international or graduate assistant). Click "view your plan" and the "Waive SHIP" icon in the HELPFUL QUICK LINKS section. Learn more about how to waive coverage.
International, medical and veterinary students are automatically enrolled in the SHIP. Please use the following charts to learn more about enrollment periods, enrollment deadlines and coverage periods for adding dependents.
2022-23 International, Medical and Veterinary Students Coverage Periods
| Coverage Period | |||
| Enrollment Period | Effective Date | Termination Date | Deadline to Waive Coverage* |
| Fall | August 16, 2022 | February 15, 2023 | July 26, 2022 - September 30, 2022 |
| Spring I | January 1, 2023 | August 15, 2023 | November 15, 2022 - March 15, 2023 |
| Spring II | February 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 | November 15, 2022 - March 15, 2023 |
| Spring III | May 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 | March 28, 2023 - June 30, 2023 |
*Most international students will not have the option to waive coverage.
2022-23 International, Medical and Veterinary Students and Eligible Dependents Enrollment Periods, Deadlines and Coverage Periods
| Enrollment Dates | Coverage Period | |||
| Enrollment Period | Enrollment Opens | Enrollment Deadline | Effective Date | Termination Date |
| Fall | July 26, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | August 16, 2022 | February 15, 2023 |
| Spring I | December 1, 2022 | March 15, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
| Spring II | December 1, 2022 | March 15, 2023 | February 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
| Spring III | April 17, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | May 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
| First Quarter | July 26, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | August 16, 2022 | November 15, 2022 |
| Second Quarter | October 17, 2022 | November 30, 2022 | November 16, 2022 | February 15, 2023 |
| Third Quarter | January 17, 2023 | March 15, 2023 | February 16, 2023 | May 15, 2023 |
| Fourth Quarter | April 17, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | May 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
Students who are NOT international, medical or veterinary students are eligible to voluntarily enroll in MSU's SHIP. Please use the follow cart to learn more about enrollment periods, enrollment deadlines and coverage periods. Any premium cost is due at the time of enrollment.
2022-23 Enrollment Deadlines and Coverage Periods for Voluntarily Enrolled Students
| Enrollment Dates | Coverage Period | |||
| Enrollment Period | Enrollment Opens | Enrollment Deadline | Effective Date | Termination Date |
| Fall | July 26, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | August 16, 2022 | February 15, 2023 |
| Spring I | December 1, 2022 | March 15, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
| Spring II | December 1, 2022 | March 15, 2023 | February 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
| Spring III | April 17, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | May 16, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
| First Quarter | July 26, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | August 16, 2022 | November 15, 2022 |
| Second Quarter | October 17, 2022 | November 30, 2022 | November 16, 2022 | February 15, 2023 |
| Third Quarter | January 17, 2023 | March 15, 2023 | February 16, 2023 | May 15, 2023 |
| Fourth Quarter | April 17, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | May 16, 2023 |
August 15, 2023 |
If you are arriving early and need health insurance coverage prior to the coverage period start date, you may purchase and complete the Early Arrival Domestic Student Enrollment form or the Early Arrival International Student Enrollment form.
If you need to enroll or change your coverage due to a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) you must contact MSU Human Resources at (800) 353-4434 or Solutionscenter@hr.msu.edu within 31 days of the occurrence. Please see the Mid-Year Election Change page for more information.
