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 Notice for Spring III/Summer 2024 Enrollment and Waiver of Coverage
If you are a returning student who is automatically enrolled and was not enrolled in spring 2024 credits, OR a new student beginning Summer 2024 semester who is auto-enrolled in the student health insurance, you may choose to remain enrolled in the MSU health coverage or submit a waiver request to waive out of coverage. If your waiver request is approved, you will be disenrolled from the health insurance.* Important Note: Most international students are not allowed to waive health coverage. Please refer to https://hr.msu.edu/benefits/students/health/waiver.html to determine eligibility to waive.
Students automatically enrolled in the MSU SHIP will have an account created with Blue Water, BCN's 3rd party vendor for the enrollment and waiver process. This will be needed to access the enrollment or waiver.
If you had an account with Blue Water for Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 semester, you may use your account login information used for all 23 or spring 24 to login for Spring III/Quarter 4. If you do not remember your password, use the password reset option or contact 1-855-669-8041 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday or email MSUSHPStudentInquiries@bcbsm.com. To reset your account, go to yourstudenthealthplan.com, select Michigan State University, select the appropriate student category and click on view your plan. Scroll down and click on Log Into Your Account. Click on Having Trouble Signing IN? and follow the prompts.
New students that are not automatically enrolled and would like to voluntarily enroll in the MSU SHIP will need to first register with Blue Water prior to accessing the Blue Water enrollment. To register an account with Blue Water, go to https://yourstudenthealthplan.com, click "view your plan", then click on "Register with Blue Water" in the HELPFUL QUICK LINKS section. Upon review of your registration request, login information will be provided by Blue Water.
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) is working with Blue Water for enrollment and payment for the student health plans beginning Fall 2023. 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.
Note: Students with an approved waiver for Fall 2023 that are not changing student designations (Graduate Assistant, Medical, International) will have their waiver automatically extended for Spring 2024. No action is needed to apply for a Spring 2024 waiver and the credit will be automatically applied to your student account. Action will be required for the following:
If you applied for and were approved for a Fall 2023 waiver but no longer would like to waive out of coverage and would like to be enrolled in the student health insurance plan, you will need to contact the HR Solution Center at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu or 517-353-4434 to rescind the Spring 2024 waiver extension.
If you are a returning student that was not waived out of coverage for Fall 2023 OR a new student auto-enrolled in the student health insurance, you must submit a waiver and be approved to be disenrolled from the health insurance.
If you applied for and were approved for a Fall 2023 waiver and have changed student designation, since waiver criteria varies by student designation, a new waver request will need to be submitted.
Access the waiver system at yourstudenthealthplan.com Choose Michigan State University from the school dropdown and choose your plan type according to your student class (domestic, international or graduate assistant). Click "view your plan" and then click on "Log into your Account" in the HELPFUL QUICK LINKS section. If you do not have your login information, please contact contact 1-855-669-8041 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday or email MSUSHPStudentInquiries@bcbsm.com. Learn more about how to waive coverage.
Review a list of waiver frequently asked questions here.
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.
International, Medical and Veterinary Students Coverage Periods
| Coverage Period | |||
| Enrollment Period | Effective Date | Termination Date | Deadline to Waive Coverage* |
| Fall 2023/2024 | August 16, 2023 | February 13, 2024 | August 4, 2023 - November 10, 2023 |
| Spring I 2023/2024 | January 1, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | December 18, 2023 - March 28, 2024 |
| Spring II 2023/2024 | February 16, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | December 18, 2023 - March 28, 2024 |
| Spring III 2023/2024 | May 16, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | May 8, 2024 - July 15, 2024 |
| 1st Year Early Arrival COM | June 1, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | May 8, 2024 - July 15, 2024 |
*Most international students will not have the option to waive coverage.
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 2023/2024 | August 4, 2023 | November 10, 2023 | August 16, 2023 | February 15, 2024 |
| Spring I 2023/2024 | December 18, 2023 | March 28, 2024 | January 1, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
| Spring II 2023/2024 | December 18, 2023 | March 28, 2024 | January 1, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
| Spring III 2023/2024 | May 8, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | May 16, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
| First Quarter 2023/2024 | August 4, 2023 | November 10, 2023 | August 16, 2023 | November 15, 2023 |
| Second Quarter 2023/2024 | October 17, 2023 | November 30, 2023 | November 15, 2023 | February 15, 2024 |
| Third Quarter 2023/2024 | December 18, 2023 | March 28, 2024 | February 16, 2024 | May 15, 2024 |
| Fourth Quarter 2023/2024 | May 8, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | May 16, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
| 1st Year Early Arrival COM 2023/2024 | May 8, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | June 1, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
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.
Enrollment Deadlines and Coverage Periods for Voluntarily Enrolled Students
| Enrollment Dates | Coverage Period | |||
| Enrollment Period | Enrollment Opens | Enrollment Deadline | Effective Date | Termination Date |
| Fall 2023/2024 | August 4, 2023 | November 10, 2023 | August 16, 2023 |
February 15, 2024 |
| Spring I 2023/2024 | December 1, 2023 | March 28, 2024 | January 1, 2024 |
August 15, 2024 |
| Spring II 2023/2024 | December 1, 2023 | March 28, 2024 | February 16, 2024 |
August 15, 2024 |
| Spring III 2023/2024 | April 17, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | May 16, 2024 |
August 15, 2024 |
| First Quarter 2023/2024 | August 4, 2023 | November 10, 2023 | August 16, 2023 |
November 15, 2023 |
| Second Quarter 2023/2024 | October 17, 2023 | November 30, 2023 | November 16, 2023 |
February 15, 2024 |
| Third Quarter 2023/2024 | December 18, 2024 | March 28, 2024 | February 16, 2024 |
May 15, 2024 |
| Fourth Quarter 2023/2024 | April 17, 2024 | July 15, 2024 | May 16, 2024 |
August 15, 2024 |
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.
