Change or Cancel SHIP Enrollments
If you've enrolled in the medical SHIP:
- You can update your personal information and/or add eligible dependents to your plan during your Open Enrollment period.
- Outside of your Open Enrollment period, you can update your personal information, but can only add eligible dependents if they've had a qualifying life event.
- Qualifying events are not required for removing a dependent from your plan. Dependents can be removed any time before March 31 of the coverage year.
- If you are leaving CMU, you can learn more about access to services, your insurance plan and requesting your medical records on the Leaving CMU page.
To make changes any to your SHIP enrollment, contact the Student Health Insurance Team for assistance. If you need to update your address with Highmark, email your request and full address to HUB International.
Cancellations
SHIP cancellations are always effective the first of the month following the date the cancellation form is received or date of separation from CMU, whichever is later. Cancellations are only available in the following circumstances:
-
December Graduation (or a Fall certification for doctoral students graduating in December)
-
Formal separation from CMU (i.e. leave of absence, withdrawal, suspension, forfeit)
-
Fall semester foreign exchange students returning to their university after the Fall semester
-
Enrollment in Medicaid in the area in which you are studying (e.g., a Pittsburgh campus student approved for PA Medicaid). Enrollment is based on eligibility and the application process can be lengthy. Students must also have applied for Medicaid before or during their open enrollment period.
The option to join a new plan does not make a student eligible to cancel their current insurance enrollment.
If you meet this criterion, contact the Student Health Insurance Team when your university status has been updated to reflect one of the above statuses (or when you wish to remove a dependent or have been approved for Medicaid). You may be eligible to receive a pro-rated refund of the remaining months' premiums on the student insurance plans in your student account (with adjustment for PhD support, if applicable).
The final deadline to submit a cancellation request form is March 31 and the insurance plans cannot be cancelled after April 1 (May, June and July cancellations are not permitted).
Qualifying Life Event (QLE) Enrollments
Outside of your Open Enrollment period students can enroll in the SHIP, or add eligible dependents to their existing SHIP enrollments, due to a Qualifying Life Event. Students have 90 days from the event to submit the required documentation and enrollment(s). This applies to the student medical, dental and vision plans.
- Premium rates are pro-rated, you only pay for the months you, or your dependent, are enrolled.
If you are in need of a QLE enrollment, please contact the Student Health Insurance Team for assistance.
Qualifying Events & Required Documentation
Loss of coverage on another medical plan (including turning 26):
- Letter from an employer or insurance plan verifying loss of coverage date
- Or: Screenshot from your insurance portal verifying loss of coverage date or that coverage is no longer active
- Birth Certificate
- Birth Record
- Or: Adoption Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- CMU Domestic Partnership Registration
- Or: I-94 verifying arrival date in the U.S.