Student Health Insurance Plan for GAs, GRAs, and GTAs
OVERVIEW
¼ø»Æʦapp’s 2025-2026 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for full time Graduate Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Research Assistants (GAs, GRAs, and GTAs) will be provided through United Healthcare Insurance Company and underwritten by . The Graduate College will pay for 85% of the SHIP premium cost, the remaining 15% of the premium cost will be charged to the student's ¼ø»Æʦapp account each semester.
ELIGIBILITY
Graduate assistants must meet the following requirements to remain eligible for health insurance at a reduced cost:
- Maintain employment under one full time assistantship (0.50 FTE, 20 hours per week) or two half time assistantships (each must be at least 0.25 FTE, 10 hours per week);
- Maintain full-time equivalent enrollment in the Fall and Spring semesters. If the student qualified for the insurance waiver under the tuition and insurance policy in the Spring semester, enrollment in the Summer semester is not required to be eligible for the insurance waiver for the Summer semester;
- To receive the Graduate College's insurance waiver, the assistantship(s) must include a stipend and 100% tuition waiver that aligns with the Tuition Benefits Policy for Graduate Students.
Each semester, eligible ¼ø»Æʦapp will be automatically opted into the SHIP. Students will not be enrolled into the health insurance plan before meeting the above criteria.
COST AND ENROLLMENT PROCESS
Domestic Graduate Assistants:
- Domestic ¼ø»Æʦapp on assistantship will pay the below reduced amounts:
- Fall 2025 student SHIP portion: Ìý$354.15Ìý (coverage from 08/14/2025 through 12/31/2025);
- Spring 2026 only student SHIP portion (only for ¼ø»Æʦapp graduating in the Spring semester): $321.45 (coverage from 01/01/2026 through 05/07/2026);
- Students interested in Summer 2026 coverage only, the cost is $247.80 (coverage 05/08/2026 through 08/13/2026);
- The Graduate College will post the insurance waiver to the student's ¼ø»Æʦapp account two weeks after the add/drop date for all ¼ø»Æʦapp who opted into the SHIP;
- Students are responsible for paying the remaining portion of their insurance premium by the University’s tuition and fees deadline each semester. For Spring 2026, the final day for ¼ø»Æʦapp receiving waivers to pay their remaining balance is March 23rd, 2026;
- Domestic ¼ø»Æʦapp who wish to opt out of the health insurance plan should follow the Graduate Assistantship Health Insurance Opt-Out Instructions. The deadline to opt-out is January 30th, 2026.Ìý
International Graduate Assistants:Ìý
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International ¼ø»Æʦapp on assistantship will pay the reduced amounts:
- Fall 2025 student SHIP portion: Ìý$110.55 (coverage from 8/14/2025 through 12/31/2025);
- Spring 2026 student SHIP portion: $100.50 (coverage from 01/01/2026 through 05/07/2026);
- Summer 2026 student SHIP portion: $77.40 (coverage 05/08/2026 through 08/13/2026);
- In accordance with ¼ø»Æʦapp Regulation 4.009, international ¼ø»Æʦapp will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). International ¼ø»Æʦapp who wish to use an alternate insurance plan must submit a waiver form.ÌýIf approved, please be aware that alternate insurance is not eligible for a 85% payment;
- The Graduate College will post the insurance waiver to the student's ¼ø»Æʦapp account the two weeks after the add/drop date for all ¼ø»Æʦapp opted into the SHIP;
- Students are responsible for paying the remaining portion of their insurance premium by the University’s tuition and fees deadline each semester. For Spring 2026, the final day for ¼ø»Æʦapp receiving waivers to pay their remaining balance is March 23rd, 2026;
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS AND COVERAGE
Eligible graduate assistants (GAs, GRAs, and GTAs) withÌýdomestic status:Ìý
Eligible graduate assistants (GAs, GRAs, and GTAs) withÌýinternational status:Ìý
- Plan Summary - International Graduate AssistantÌý
- Plan Certificate - International Graduate AssistantÌý
CONTACT
| Question Type | Contact |
|---|---|
| Insurance waiver qualification and posting to student's ¼ø»Æʦapp account | gabenefits@fau.edu |
| Insurance enrollment, coverage, and website or technical support | Phone: (561) 300-5677 |
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