Carnegie Mellon University
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SHIP Rates & Billing

Highmark Student Health Insurance Plan Rates

2024-2025 Annual Premium Rates 

Coverage August 1, 2024 - July 31, 2025

Medical Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

         Dental Plan          (optional)

       Vision Plan         (optional)
Student Only $2,697 $204.64 $59.52

Student and Partner or Child

 $5,349 $343.72 $116.16
Student and Partner and Child $8,001 $515.32 $172.68
Student and Children $8,001 $515.32 $172.68
Student and Partner and Children $10,653 $515.32 $172.68

 

Spring 2025 Premium Rates 

Coverage January 1 - July 31, 2025

Medical Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

        Dental Plan          (optional)

       Vision Plan         (optional)
Student Only $1,592 $121.04 $35.97

Student and Partner or Child

 $3,139 $202.17 $69.01
Student and Partner and Child $4,686 $302.27 $101.98
Student and Children $4,686 $302.27 $101.98
Student and Partner and Children $6,233 $302.27 $101.98

Summer 2025 Premium Rates 

Coverage May 1 - July 31, 2025

Medical Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

   Dental Plan    (optional)

      Vision Plan         (optional)
Student Only $708 $54.16 $17.13

Student and Partner or Child

 $1,371 $88.93 $31.29
Student and Partner and Child $2,034 $131.83 $45.42
Student and Children $2,034 $131.83 $45.42
Student and Partner and Children $2,697 $131.83 $45.42

SHIP Fees & Student Accounts 

  • During Open Enrollment, a placeholder charge for the CMU SHIP is posted on your student account. During Open Enrollment, the placeholder charge, and payment of this fee, does not indicate a SHIP enrollment.
  • Students who do not enroll in or waive the SHIP during Open Enrollment will be auto-enrolled in the individual medical SHIP, and the charge will remain on their account.
  • Questions about charges on your student account, invoices or payments should be directed to Student Financial Services.

Monthly Payment Option

CMU offers a monthly payment option that allows you to pay your insurance premium in nine monthly payments (September - May). 

 

Medical Billing

Understanding and tracking medical bills can be complicated.  To start, it is helpful to review the SHIP's Medical Plan Coverage Table, as well as some common insurance terms, in order to better understand what services are covered under the plan.  It is also important to register with Highmark where you can track your medical claims and access your Explanations of Benefits.  

  • If you are enrolled in the SHIP and receive care at University Health Services (UHS), many of the fees for our services will be covered by the plan.  If you do owe a visit fee, that charge will be posted to your student account.
  • If you are enrolled in the SHIP and you see a provider or have a hospital visit outside of UHS, you may receive a bill for non-covered services, and/or copays.
  • If you have outside insurance and receive care at UHS, you will need to submit an itemized statement (available in HealthConnect) to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please call the member services phone number on the back of your insurance card for further instructions on how to submit your claim.

Laboratory Testing

  • Basic diagnostic testing is covered by the SHIP at in-network labs, but students will owe a $25 copay for the date of service.
  • If a test is not fully covered by the SHIP, students will recieve a bill from the laboratory for that amount. 
  • Bills are sent to the address listed on your SHIP enrollment.
  • Students can find information on lab claims by accessing the Explanations of Benefits (EOB) in their Highmark portal. The EOB will show what your insurance plan paid, did not pay, and why.
  • Bloodwork done at UHS is sent to Quest Diagnostics for processing:
    • to track claims, pay a bill, or for any questions regarding bills register with Quest Diagnostics and/or call Quest Member Services.

If you have received a bill, or would like more detailed information on medical billing (including ambulance charges), please visit the Common Questions page. 

How to Submit a Claim to the SHIP for Reimbursement

Claim forms can be found in the Highmark forms library. Select the Tips icon for instructions on how to file each claim. Once filed, you can track your claims on your Highmark portal.  

For more details, please visit the Common Questions page.

Prescription Costs

If you have the SHIP, prescription drugs are covered, with a copay, at in-network pharmacies. However, prescription drug costs vary according to the drug type (generic, brand-name and specialty), and their corresponding tier levels (e.g., Tier 1, Tier 2, etc.). Lower tiers (generic) usually have lower copays, while higher tiers (brand-name and specialty) have higher copays.

  • Review how to search for covered medications and corresponding copays.
  • If prescribed a higher tiered medication, speak to your provider, or pharmacist, about the possiblity of receiveing the less costly generic version, if available.
  • Some medications can be filled at UHS when you see a UHS provider. 
    • Medications at UHS will incur up to a $15 copay per medication.
  • Over-the-counter medicine and supplies (not prescribed) are not covered by the SHIP when purchased at a retail store (example: CVS or Rite Aid).