Regents Authorize Premiums and Changes for 2022-2023 Student Health Insurance Plan
Dear students, staff, and faculty:
Information about the Kansas Board of Regents student health insurance plan (SHIP) premiums is now available for the 2022-2023 plan year, which begins this August. The SHIP is provided by the Board for the state’s public universities and is not within the control of KU. We appreciate all the effort that goes into keeping program costs as low as possible, while we recognize the difficulties for students when necessary increases are made.
Two groups of students may elect to receive insurance coverage under the Board plan:
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Incentivized students - international students, GTAs, GRAs, GAs, fellows, trainees and health sciences students
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Voluntary students - domestic undergraduate students whose academic programs do not require health insurance coverage and graduate students who do not qualify as incentivized students
Most individuals will see a premium increase of roughly 8% over current plan rates, although some plan participants will see steeper increases.
Premiums for Incentivized Students
All categories of incentivized students will see an 8% increase in annual premiums for student-only coverage for the coming plan year. There is no change in benefits from the 2021-2022 plan year.
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Annual coverage for most incentivized students will cost $2,658 for student-only coverage.
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GTAs, GRAs and GAs with qualifying semester appointments who enroll in the SHIP will receive a 75% premium subsidy toward the student-only premium, reducing the student-only premium to approximately $55 per month.
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Other students in the incentivized group will have monthly premiums of approximately $220.
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Plan participants may also choose to purchase spouse and/or dependent coverage.
Premiums for Voluntary Students
Voluntary students will see an increase of 30% in their premiums for the coming year. There is no change in benefits from the 2021-2022 plan year.
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Student-only coverage will be $4,998 for the plan year.
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Dependent coverage is no longer available.
Coverage Date and Enrollment
Enrollment for the 22-23 SHIP begins July 1 for coverage effective Aug. 1. Additional enrollment dates may also be available depending on one’s circumstances. All students who enroll in the KBOR plan and use Watkins Health Services have their deductible waived for covered services received there.
These rates are competitive with the market, though at the same time they are not inexpensive. Students, your individual circumstances and personal coverage choice means we can’t fully know how many of you will be affected or how intensely. Understanding these rates may still represent a considerable financial responsibility for individuals and families, I want to ensure each of you has access to this information as you make choices for your health insurance coverage needs. We encourage students who need healthcare coverage to also check the rates on the federal marketplace.
If you purchased the voluntary plan in the past and will be losing coverage or unable to purchase coverage as a result of these changes, please contact Graduate Studies’ director of student support services Morgan Swartzlander.
Respectfully,
Barb
Barbara A. Bichelmeyer
Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor