UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University has released undergraduate and graduate student insurance rates for the 2022-23 coverage period for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for Penn State, underwritten by United Healthcare Student Resources. Additionally, students are reminded to submit their health insurance coverage information through LionPATH .
The annual individual rate for undergraduate students will be $2,732; the annual individual rate for graduate students will be $3,355. Students will be billed per semester. The fall rate is $1,059 for undergraduate students and $1,300 for graduate students. The spring/summer rate is $1,673 for undergraduates and $2,055 for graduate students. For more detailed rate information, visit the student health insurance website.
The new rates represent a 5.68% increase for undergraduate students and a 0.78% increase for graduate students from last year. Nationally, colleges and universities have seen medical and pharmacy coverage rates steadily increase. For 2022, most colleges and universities will see a 6% increase.
The SHIP for Penn State is available to students at all Penn State campuses except for World Campus. Eligibility is based on student status. Students who would like to enroll in the plan can do so during open enrollment, which runs from April 1 to Aug. 30, 2022. Students can visit the Health Insurance page in LionPATH after registering for classes and select "Enroll" to enroll in the plan for 2022-23.
International students and students in the College of Medicine are required to have adequate health insurance coverage while enrolled at Penn State. These students must provide proof of health insurance coverage that meets certain criteria or purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan for Penn State. If students have an approved waiver they will not be billed. Students have until Aug. 30, 2022, to submit a waiver. If students do not submit a waiver by the deadline, they will be automatically enrolled in SHIP for Penn State and will be responsible for the premium charge on their student account.
For fall 2022, Penn State will again require all full-time U.S. students to submit their current health insurance coverage information through LionPATH after registering for classes. This information, collected through LionPATH, will help Penn State better understand the insurance needs of its students and help support those students in making informed health insurance decisions.
Students who are uninsured or underinsured are encouraged to reach out to the Student Insurance Advocate, who provides individual student consultation as well as outreach and education to students and student groups around health insurance. The Student Insurance Advocate will assist students in identifying insurance options, including the Health Insurance Plan for Penn State, Medicaid or Affordable Care Act marketplace plans. This position also will help qualified students navigate the application process of these plans. Currently, the student insurance advocate is not available to World Campus students. For more information, visit the Student Insurance Advocate webpage.
The Student Health Insurance Plan for Penn State
The SHIP for Penn State is a platinum-level health insurance plan with a low deductible and a capped out-of-pocket maximum. It was designed specifically for Penn State students and selected with input from Penn State students. SHIP offers a vast community of in-network providers at all campus locations and throughout the United States, as well as worldwide coverage. Penn State offers this plan through First Risk Advisors, underwritten by United Healthcare Student Resources. It is offered as a service to our students and Penn State does not profit from the plan.
Students have been part of the process for making decisions about health insurance for many years. The Student Insurance Advisory Board/Administrative Council, which includes representatives from the Graduate and Professional Student Association, the University Park Undergraduate Association, the Commonwealth Campus Student Government, and representatives from international student organizations, provides input to University Health Services and its Student Health Insurance Office regarding the SHIP for Penn State, including the selection of insurer, plan design and mechanisms to manage costs.
For more information about student health insurance, contact University Health Services’ Office of Student Health Insurance at uhs-insurance@psu.edu or visit the UHS health insurance website.