Health Insurance

Why is there an insurance charge on your tuition bill?

In accordance with Massachusetts M.G.L. c. 15A, § 18, all Independent and Public Institutions of Higher Education must ensure that all students participate in a Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) or in a plan of comparable coverage.

Provisions of the MA SHIP requirement

Every student enrolled in a certificate, diploma, or degree-granting program of higher education must participate in his or her School's Student Health Insurance Program or in a Health Benefit Plan with comparable coverage as defined in 956 CMR 8.05(2). Every school shall offer a Student Health Insurance Program and shall require all students enrolled in a certificate, diploma, or degree-granting program to participate in the school’s Student Health Insurance Program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage as defined in 956 CMR 8.05(2).

Western New England's student health insurance carrier

All WNE students enrolled at 75% of full-time status in ac­cordance with MA statute M.G.L. c. 15A, § 18 are automati­cally enrolled in our Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Our carrier is Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA and is adminis­tered by Insurance for Students (IFS).

Students are billed annually and charges will appear on the student’s tuition bill.

Waiving the WNE SHIP requirement

WNE students who have their own insurance plan or who are covered through a parent’s or guardian’s policy may request a waiver from the WNE SHIP plan. Insurance for Students (IFS) will process all waiver requests on behalf of WNE to ensure that stated coverage matches the requirements of M.G.L. c. 15A, § 18. Waivers must be requested every year that a student is enrolled at WNE.

Once a waiver has been granted, WNE is notified and the charges on the student’s bill will be removed.

International students do not need to complete the waiver. All international students are automatically enrolled in the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan.

Requesting a Waiver

1. Log onto www.insuranceforstudents.com/wne. Students may log in using their WNE single sign-on credentials.
2. Look for the “ENROLL or WAIVE” button.

If you are waiving the insurance, you will need the information found on your current health insurance ID card; please have that information available when you are ready to waive the program.

Deadlines for waivers

Waiver requests can be submitted beginning June 8, 2024. Deadlines are time sensitive, so please make note of them.

Have questions?

Contact Insurance for Students (IFS) toll-free at 1-800-356-1235 or by emailing Buddy@fhsmail.com.

In addition, you may email healthservices@wne.edu or call our Center for Health and Well-Being at 413-782-1211.

NOTE: This is an annual process for all students each year that they are at WNE.