As you prepare for the 2017-2018 academic year, this is notification of your options and the process for making elections for healthcare coverage and the student health insurance subsidy. It is important that you read this information carefully and in its entirety.
As with previous years, the Graduate School in negotiation with the Provost's Office, will provide an 80% subsidy for Research Assistants (RA), Teaching Assistants (TA), Graduate Assistants (GA), Fellows and Trainees in terminal and eligible degree programs on the Coral Gables Campus (this includes Ph.D., D.M.A. and M.F.A. programs). Both domestic and international students in such programs are eligible for the subsidy. NOTE: The 80% subsidy described herein does not apply to graduate students enrolled in School of Nursing and Health Studies programs, RSMAS programs, or Medical School programs. Students enrolled in online programs also are not eligible for the subsidy.
The overall student contribution towards health insurance for 2017-2018 is $562.60. The health insurance payments for 2017-2018 will be deducted in its entirety in the Fall semester (in 3 installments), and all students will initially sign up for a full year of coverage. The insurance coverage period is from August 15th, 2017 to August 14th, 2018. Given the subsidy, students will pay $187.53 per month for 3 months in the Fall semester and then have no payments at all in the Spring. We encourage students with dependents to read the information about opportunities in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Student Health Service has agreed to allow refund of over-payments to students at the end of the Fall semester if they graduate or have to discontinue their healthcare coverage (for allowable reasons) in the Spring semester. Application for refunds will need to be processed by January 7th, 2018. It is your responsibility to notify Student Health Service at studenthealth@miami.edu when you are graduating and/or leaving the University by the deadline noted. Failure to contact Student Health Service will result in the insurance charge being placed back on to your CaneLink account for any remaining balance not covered by the Graduate School.
Eligible students must follow the process outlined below to sign up for the 80% subsidy, and note the deadlines indicated below. We have also included the instructions here for your reference. General questions can be answered at the Student Health Service website. Should you have questions regarding the subsidy and eligibility, please contact Ms. Ana Paneda, Executive Director for Business Operations at the Graduate School, at apaneda@miami.edu.
Health Insurance SUBSIDY PROCESS for ELIGIBLE Coral Gables Graduate Students
Eligible Coral Gables campus graduate students (RA/TA/GAs, Fellows, and Trainees who are enrolled in Ph.D., D.M.A. and M.F.A. programs, excluding School of Nursing & Health Studies programs) qualify for 80% towards the annual cost of the student health insurance plan as long as they are enrolled in an eligible academic program and have either an active payroll assignment or are active fellows/trainees for the upcoming academic year. If a student graduates during the Fall semester, the Graduate School will only cover 80% of the cost of health insurance for the Fall semester. It is your responsibility to notify Student Health Service when you are graduating and/or leaving the University. Failure to contact Student Health Service will result in the insurance charge being placed back on to your CaneLink account for any remaining balance not covered by the Graduate School. Additional information regarding insurance rates, plan offerings, etc. is available at the Student Health Service website.
STEP ONE: Decide if you want the insurance coverage and the 80% subsidy
If you have adequate alternative coverage and do not want to participate in the University’s health insurance program, waive the student health insurance coverage here. You will be required to provide proof of alternative, acceptable insurance coverage in order for the waiver to be accepted by Student Health Service. See additional information provided on the Student Health Service website. Note that the deadline to waive the insurance coverage is August 31st. To accept the University’s health insurance coverage and available subsidy, follow the instructions below. Once you accept this coverage and sign up for either payroll deduction or deductions from your fellow/trainee stipend to pay for your share of the insurance premium, it is an IRREVOCABLE election.
STEP TWO: Do NOT waive the health insurance charge if you want the subsidy
If you want to take advantage of the subsidy, DO NOT WAIVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE CHARGE. Only students with comparable insurance coverage who do not want to enroll in the University health insurance should waive the insurance charge. If your insurance charge has been waived, or if you have requested coverage for only one semester, you will not be able to take advantage of the insurance subsidy. All international students are required to be insured under the University insurance policy.
STEP THREE: Sign up for the health insurance subsidy
To take advantage of this subsidy, select the Other Important Links option within CaneLink and click on Grad Health Insurance Subsidy to sign up for the subsidy option. See the document for instructions here. The payroll or stipend deduction option is available now. If the payroll or stipend deduction option does not appear on your CaneLink screen, please contact your academic department immediately to verify the status of your assignment and/or course enrollment. Although the deadline to waive the insurance charge is August 31st, the deadline to sign up for payroll or stipend deduction is October 1st. If your graduate student assignment is delayed, you have until October 1st to sign up for payroll or stipend deduction, and thereby take advantage of the insurance subsidy.
STEP FOUR: Health insurance cost will be deducted from your paychecks or stipends
Once the payroll or stipend deduction option has been selected, the health insurance will be removed from your student account and your portion of the health insurance cost will be deducted from your monthly paychecks or stipends in 3 installments starting at the end of October. NOTE: If you are paid via stipend in CaneLink, you may see the monthly portion of the 20% charge on your account. Do not pay this charge, your stipend will automatically apply to it.
- Although your portion of the annual insurance cost will be deducted in 3 installments from October‐December, the insurance coverage period is from August 15th, 2017 to August 14th, 2018.
- The amount of the monthly deduction will be $187.53 per month for 3 months (October 2017 through December 2017).
Dental and Vision Plan
Dental and vision coverage is offered through United Healthcare for both domestic and international students. Click here to view the Dental and Vision Guide. Enrollment in the UM sponsored health insurance plan is not required to purchase this combined dental/vision coverage. Although University of Miami Optometry services are not currently participating in this plan, they may participate in the near future. Updates with be posted as soon as participation arrangements are finalized. UM Oral Medicine does participate in the plan, appointments are available at 305-243-CARE. More information is available at welcometouhc.com/umiami. Please note that the dental and visions plans are not subsidized, entirely or in part, by the University. All questions regarding the new dental and vision plan, should be directed to UHC’s customer service (Dental) 1- 888-877-2780 and (Vision) 1-800-638-3120.
