Regents Authorize Premiums and Changes for 2023-2024 Student Health Insurance Plan

Dear students, staff, and faculty: 

The student health insurance plan (SHIP) is provided by the Kansas Board of Regents for the benefit of state’s public universities and our students, 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 increases are made.

Information about premiums is now available for the 2023-2024 plan year, which begins this August, pending final approval from the Kansas Insurance Department. Although rates are increasing, we are pleased that the increases are much lower than last year.

Two groups of students may elect to receive insurance coverage under the Board plan:

1. Incentivized students – international students, GTAs, GRAs, GAs, fellows, trainees and health sciences students.
2. 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 6.5% over current plan rates, although some plan participants will see an increase up to 8.6%. 

Premiums for Incentivized Students

All categories of incentivized students will see a 6.5% increase in annual premiums for student-only coverage for the coming plan year. There is no change in benefits from the 2022-2023 plan year. 

• Annual coverage for most incentivized students will cost $2,831 for student-only coverage.
• 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 $59 per month. 
• Other students in the incentivized group will have monthly premiums of approximately $236. 
• Plan participants may also choose to purchase spouse and/or dependent coverage. 

Premiums for Voluntary Students

Voluntary students will see an increase of 8.6% in their premiums for the coming year. This rate increase is lower than previous years, thanks in large part to the work of the Student Insurance Advisory Committee. The following changes in benefits will go into effect in the 2023-24 plan year: 

• Student-only coverage will be $5,431 for the plan year. 
• There is a deductible increase from $1,000 preferred provider/$2,000 out-of-network provider to $2,500 preferred provider/$5,000 out-of-network provider. 

Coverage Date and Enrollment

Enrollment for the ‘23-‘24 SHIP begins July 1 for coverage effective Aug. 1. Additional enrollment dates may also be available depending on one’s circumstances. 

Student Health Center Benefits

The deductible and copays will be waived and benefits will be paid at 100% for covered medical expenses incurred when treatment is rendered at Watkins for the following services: 

• Physician’s visits
• Mental illness treatment and substance use disorder treatment outpatient office visits

The deductible will be waived, and benefits will be paid at 100% for covered medical expenses incurred when treatment is rendered at the student health center for the following services:

• Prescription drugs after a $5 copay per prescription for generic drug, 40% coinsurance per prescription for brand-name drug up to a 31-day supply for prescription
• Diagnostic x-ray services and the laboratory procedures after a $5 copay per procedure. The $5 copay does not apply to a tuberculosis (TB) test required by the school or a chest x-ray as a result of a positive test required by the school.

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. Knowing 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.  

Additional details regarding costs, coverage and the enrollment process are located on the Office of Graduate Studies’ Student Health Insurance page. You can also contact their office at graduate@ku.edu with any other questions. 

Respectfully, 

Barb

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer

Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor