Premium Rates Reduced for 2025-2026 Student Health Insurance Plan
Dear students, staff and faculty,
Students participating in the Kansas Board of Regents student health insurance plan (SHIP) will see a 6% decrease in premium rates for the 2025-2026 plan year. Information about the health insurance plan, which is open for enrollment and begins Aug. 1, is available on the Office of Graduate Studies’ Student Health Insurance page.
The SHIP is provided by KBOR for the state’s public universities. The reduced rates are largely thanks to the work of KBOR’s Student Insurance Advisory Committee and in part due to the negotiating efforts of KU staff and student representatives.
Two groups of students may elect to receive insurance coverage under the KBOR plan:
- Incentivized students - international students, GTAs, GRAs, GAs, fellows, trainees and health sciences students.
- Voluntary students - domestic undergraduate students whose academic programs do not require health insurance coverage and graduate students who do not fall into one of the incentivized categories above.
Premiums for Incentivized Plan
Students participating in the incentivized plan will see a 6% decrease in annual premiums for student-only coverage for the coming plan year. There is no change in benefits from the 2024-2025 plan year.
- Annual premium for incentivized students will cost $2,661 for student-only coverage. This equates to a reduction of $170 for 2025-2026.
- GTAs, GRAs and GAs with qualifying semester appointments who enroll in the SHIP will receive a 75% employer-paid subsidy toward the student-only premium, reducing the out-of-pocket premium to $277 per semester. This equates to a reduction of $17.88 per semester for this population.
- Incentivized students may also choose to purchase spouse and/or dependent coverage.
Premiums for Voluntary Plan
Voluntary students will also see a 6% decrease in their premiums for the coming year. There is no change in benefits from the 2024-2025 plan year.
- Student-only coverage will be $5,105 for the plan year.
- This equates to a premium reduction of $326 annually.
Watkins Health Services Benefits
For students participating in the plan, the deductible and copays will be waived and benefits will be paid at 100% for covered medical expenses incurred when treatment is given at Watkins Health Services for the following services:
- Physician’s visits.
- Mental illness treatment and substance use disorder treatment for outpatient office visits.
Additionally, the deductible will be waived and benefits will be paid at 100% for covered medical expenses incurred when treatment is given at Watkins for the following services:
- Prescription drugs after a $5 copay per prescription for generic drug and 40% coinsurance per prescription for brand-name drug for up to a 34-day supply.
- Diagnostic x-ray services and the laboratory procedures after a $5 copay per procedure. The $5 copay does not apply to a tuberculosis test required by the school or a chest x-ray as a result of a positive TB test required by the school.
Coverage Date and Enrollment
Enrollment for the 2025-2026 SHIP is now open and coverage will go into effect Aug. 1. Additional enrollment dates may also be available depending on one’s circumstances.
We want to thank the KU staff and students on KBOR’s Student Advisory Committee for their efforts to keep costs as low as possible. While these rates are competitive with the market, we understand they are not inexpensive and know they may represent a considerable financial responsibility for individuals and families. We want to ensure you have access to the plan information as you pick the right health insurance coverage for your 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 on the Office of Graduate Studies’ Student Health Insurance page. You can also contact their office at graduate@ku.edu with questions.
Respectfully,
Barb
Barbara A. Bichelmeyer
Chief Academic Officer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor