Student Health Insurance
This webpage provides all the tools you need to manage your Mercyhurst University Student Health Insurance from Highmark Community PPO Blue. If you are a current Mercyhurst student, please visit the Student Health Insurance Hub page to access the Mercyhurst Student Health Insurance Enrollment Form, Dental Insurance Enrollment Form, Vision Insurance Enrollment Form, or the Mercyhurst Student Health Insurance Opt Out Form.
Mandatory Health Insurance Enrollment Policy
Mercyhurst University requires all student-athletes and international students (undergraduate, graduate, and adult) to have certain minimum health insurance to attend classes and participate in varsity athletics. If you do not complete the Health Insurance Enrollment Form, you will be automatically enrolled in the Mercyhurst University Student Health Insurance Plan and billed accordingly, unless you complete the Health Insurance Opt Out Form linked above and receive approval that your current insurance plan is acceptable. You may also purchase dental and/or vision insurance by using the link above, although this is not mandatory.
Any Mercyhurst University student and their dependents may also enroll in our health insurance on a voluntary basis. There are plans available for a combined student and spouse plan or family coverage; contact us for more information.
- Offer at least 80% coverage for in-patient and out-patient services, and include coverage for wellness, preventative, and routine services. Emergency room coverage alone, is not acceptable.
- Not have an annual deductible greater than $2,500 for individuals.
- Include mental health benefits.
- Have a local provider network, allowing for claims to be paid at the highest amount.
- Not contain any language limiting coverage on pre-existing conditions.
- Cover injuries that occur during participation in intercollegiate athletics (for student-athletes only).
- Have limits of at least $90,000 including coverage for sport-related injuries (for student-athletes only).
The cost of the Mercyhurst Student Health Insurance for the 2023-2024 academic year is $1,158 per semester.
All waiver forms and accompanying documentation must be submitted no later than July 15. Late enrollments/waivers with an effective date between Auu. 1 and Aug. 30 will be accepted.
The U.S. does not have a national healthcare plan, so health insurance is mandatory to ensure you have adequate healthcare coverage while you are enrolled at Mercyhurst. Watch this short video for an overview of the U.S. healthcare system.
You may be eligible for opt out approval of the Mercyhurst Student Health Insurance Plan if your current plan meets the following insurance requirements.
If your current insurance plan meets all of the requirements and you’d like to opt out of the Mercyhurst University Student Health Plan, please contact us at mercyhurststudenthealth@hubinternational.com to start the opt-out process. Any submitted documentation must be in English. Mercyhurst does not accept temporary, individual or travel policies of any kind; the only acceptable insurances to be opted out are your parent’s or spouse’s plan.
Yes, you will receive an insurance card that proves that they are covered by the Mercyhurst University Student Health Insurance Plan. You should take this card with you anytime you go off-campus for healthcare including if you see a doctor in the community, go for lab tests, or to the hospital. You will not receive a new insurance card every year. Once you have received a card, please keep it from year to year. If you lose your insurance card, you can request a new one from Highmark using their online form.
No, healthcare received at Mercyhurst's Cohen Student Health Center is provided to all students for free and insurance is not billed. This allows students who are not feeling well due to colds, flus, and minor illnesses and injuries, to simply go to the Cohen Student Health Center for treatment. However, if you need lab tests, X-rays, prescription medications, specialist doctor care, or hospital services, the Cohen Student Health Center will refer you to those services in the community. You will need your health insurance card for those community services.
No refunds for premiums will be authorized without confirmation from the university of a student’s termination and/or withdrawal from full-time status. Student-athletes must maintain insurance coverage for a full 12-months, or they will not be eligible to play or practice. Termination of insurance is the first of the month following receipt of notification from the university on a student’s withdrawal from classes.
If a student comes of age and is no longer eligible to be insured as a dependent under their parent's plan, they may enroll in the Mercyhurst University Student Health Plan. The student must enroll within 30 days of a qualifying event. Other qualifying events include loss of coverage, marriage, divorce, birth of a child, etc. Documentation of the qualifying event must be provided. If you are enrolling due to a qualifying event, please contact us for pro-rated premiums.
Important Insurance Terms
Beneficiary: This is the person who would receive any insurance benefits in case the policy holder was to die while on the insurance plan.
Co-Insurance: This is a percentage of what the insurance will pay to cover your healthcare cost after any deductibles or co-pays have been met.
Co-Pay: Like a deductible, this is the amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company begins to pay for your eligible expenses. Typically, this is required instead of a deductible or coinsurance, and requires you to pay a set fee for a specific visit.
Deductible: The deductible is the amount that you must pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company will begin paying towards any covered expenses. The deductible affects how much money you will pay to the doctor or hospital and is typically paid at the time of treatment. Depending on the plan, the deductible may be paid once per calendar year or once per new condition. Once-per-calendar-year deductibles are paid once for the entire year and don’t need to be paid again until you renew coverage for an additional year. Once-per-condition deductibles are paid each time you visit the doctor unless it’s a follow-up visit for the same condition.
Pre-Existing Conditions: These include any injury or illness that you may have prior to getting the insurance plan. The definition can vary by plan so it is important to check with your plan to see the exact definition.
Provider Network: Also known as an in-network provider, this is a group of medical providers that have contracted with the insurance company to provide health care services. In-network providers typically charge less for the same service compared to non-network providers, so using an in-network provider can save you money. They will usually accept direct payment from your insurance company.
Premium: This is the actual cost of your insurance plan. Keep in mind that the higher the premium, the higher your coverage and thus, the less you will have to pay in medical bills throughout the year.
Mercyhurst Student Health