Whether you have graduated or are moving on from CSU, you may be thinking about what to do for health insurance.  This document will walk you through how to navigate health insurance as you leave the university.

For students enrolled in SHIP:

• Graduating students enrolled in the CSU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) are eligible to remain on the student health plan through the end of the SHIP coverage period during the semester that they graduate. For example, if a student graduates in mid-May, SHIP coverage extends through July 31^st, or if a student graduates in mid-December, SHIP coverage extends through December 31^st.
• While your SHIP coverage will briefly extend past graduation, most options for new health coverage have time-limited deadlines, ranging from 30 to 60 days from the date of the loss of coverage, so it is important to start the process early to find new coverage.
• For students under the age of 26, you may be able to join your guardian’s plan during the 30 days after you lose your own insurance coverage. This will typically involve additional premium costs.  Students may also join their spouse’s plan, if applicable.

For students with private health insurance coverage:

• If you are enrolled under your guardian’s health insurance, you may continue to be covered under this plan until you turn 26 years of age.
• If you are losing your private health insurance coverage, most options for new health coverage have time-limited deadlines, ranging from 30 to 60 days from the date of the loss of coverage, so it is important to start the process early to find new coverage.

How to find health insurance:

• If you do not have access to enroll in an employer, spouse or guardian’s health plan, other options to consider are your state Medicaid plans, a health plan through your state’s Marketplace or the CSU Alumni association also offers health plan options.
• If you are looking for a marketplace or Medicaid plan, you can start the process at healthcare.gov and you will be directed to the correct site depending on the state of residence you select.
  • Students graduating in December can opt into a plan during the open enrollment period without having to provide proof of loss of other coverage as with a qualifying life event. Marketplace plans’ annual open enrollment opens in November and extends until mid-January.
  • For students graduating in May or August, you may have a qualifying life event. To purchase a Marketplace plan outside of open enrollment, specific documentation is required.  This includes a letter from the insurance carrier or school which includes your personal information and states you are no longer eligible for your current health plan as of the plan period end date.

We know navigating insurance can be confusing.  If you have additional questions about navigating this process, reach out to CSU Health Network’s insurance team at (970) 491-2457 or read the quick guide to the Health Insurance Marketplace.