School-Sponsored Student Health Insurance Program and Waiver Process

The Berklee SHIP is underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and administered by Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk (gallagherstudent.com/Berklee).

For more information on coverage details, please contact Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk Customer Service.

You may waive (decline) participation in the Berklee SHIP if you can demonstrate coverage with a comparable insurance plan that is consistent with existing state and federal requirements. The insurance coverage requirements for waiving the SHIP are not internal policies set by Berklee.  

As insurance plans can vary, determining what constitutes comparable coverage in order to waive the SHIP is a complex process. Because of this, we contract with Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk to review all waiver submissions. Berklee defers to their decisions on matters related to waiver approvals and denials.  

For more information on what may be considered as a comparable insurance plan, visit the Gallagher Student Health website (gallagherstudent.com/Berklee) for Berklee, select "Frequently Asked Questions" (under plan details), and select the plan year that applies to you.  

Waiver Process

The waiver is completed online on Gallagher Student Health's website (gallagherstudent.com/Berklee). You must complete an online waiver for each new academic year during which you do not want the institution's plan. Verbal waiver requests, letters, and copies of insurance cards will not be accepted. Should your waiver be denied, information on how to appeal a waiver denial will be available directly to students in the denial email. All decisions made by Gallagher Student Health are final.  

For more information and to fill out the waiver form, visit the Gallagher Student Health page for Berklee, log in, and select "Waive."

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is closely monitoring the coronavirus on behalf of its members. Visit home.bluecrossma.com/coronavirus# for more information.

Electronic ID cards are available online through the MyBlue app, which is available in the app store or on Google Play. You’ll need your Blue Cross Blue Shield ID number (not your Social Security number) to create your account. Your Blue Cross Blue Shield ID number is available in the "Account Home" section of the Gallagher Student Health website.

If you are having difficulty logging in to gallagherstudent.com/Berklee, please contact Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk Customer Service.

If you need a replacement ID card, request one by logging in to bluecrossma.com/myblue or calling 1-800-253-5210. All ID cards are mailed by Blue Cross Blue Shield to the address on file with Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk. If you need to update your address, please use this form (login required) to notify Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee of an address change.

A verification letter is a letter that provides proof of insurance coverage to any third party (e.g., doctor's offices, hospitals, other insurances). Verification letters are usually available between five and seven business days after your eligibility is confirmed.

The preferred provider network for the Berklee SHIP is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. A preferred provider is a doctor, hospital, or other health care provider that participates in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Care Elect PPO Network. You receive the highest level of benefits under your health care plan when you obtain covered services from preferred providers. These are called your in-network benefits.

There are a few ways to find a preferred provider:

• Look up a provider in the provider directory. If you need a copy of your directory, call member services at the number on your ID card.
• Visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts website at bluecrossma.com/findadoctor (click the orange "Go to find a doc without logging in" box, then "Select your network to continue without logging in," and choose "PPO/EPO" from the drop-down menu).
• Call the Physician Selection Service at 800-821-1388.

In order to find a BCBS participating provider outside of Massachusetts, you can search for a worldwide provider using the BCBS National Doctor and Hospital Finder.

Note: If a preferred provider refers you to another provider for covered services (such as a lab or specialist), make sure the referred provider participates in the BCBS Blue Care Elect Enhanced Value PPO Network in order to receive benefits at the in-network level. If the provider you use is not a preferred provider, you're still covered, but your benefits, in most situations, will be covered at the out-of-network level, even if you were referred by a network provider.

For more information on preferred providers, please visit Find a Doctor on the Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk website.

Gallagher Student Health offers students the option to enroll family members in the Berklee SHIP. This includes a spouse or children under the age of 26 who reside with the student.

As of June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution grants same-sex couples the right to marry in all states. Therefore, fully insured health plans in all states must consider same-sex spouses eligible for the same coverage as spouses of the opposite sex. (Note: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts plans currently do not offer coverage for domestic partners, regardless of gender.)

Enrollment of dependent(s) may take place at the time of the student's enrollment in the plan or after a qualifying event.

Qualifying events include the following:

• Marriage
• Birth of a child/children
• Divorce
• A dependent entering the country for the first time

If the student experiences one of these qualifying events, dependent enrollment must be completed within 31 days of the qualifying event. Applications received more than 31 days after the qualifying event will not be processed. Once a dependent is enrolled, coverage cannot be terminated unless the student loses eligibility.

For more information and to enroll a dependent, visit the Gallagher Student Health page, log in, and click "Enroll". For information about costs and other details, call Gallagher Student Health at 800-391-8057.

There is a pediatric preventive dental benefit and a pediatric preventive vision benefit available for students up to the age of 19 and their enrolled eligible dependents up to the age of 19. Please see the Berklee SHIP brochure for details.

A voluntary dental plan is available to all students for an additional cost. To enroll, go to gallagherstudent.com/Berklee.

Students enrolled in the Berklee SHIP have access to discount programs available exclusively from Gallagher Student Health at no additional cost. These plan enhancements, called Gallagher Student Complements, include the Basix Dental Savings. Program and EyeMed Vision Care. Visit gallagherstudent.com/Berklee, and click "Program Enhancements" for more information.

Basix Dental Savings Program

The Dental Savings Program, operated by Basix, LLC, provides students with access to general and specialty dental care from a select network of local dentists who have met strict credentialing and quality assurance requirements. The participating dental providers have agreed to charge a reduced fee for the services they provide. Because the Dental Savings Program is not an insurance plan, there are no claim forms, annual maximums, benefit limitations, and conditions, or other plan provisions.

Visit basixstudent.com to locate participating dental providers, download the fee schedule, and learn more about the program. A dentist's office may ask for your student ID and student health plan ID card to make sure you have access to the program. If the office needs to check eligibility, call Gallagher Student Health at the number on your SHIP card. Remember, you must pay for the services you receive at the time of service, so make sure you understand what forms of payment (check, credit card, etc.) the dentist accepts. If you cover dependents through your student health plan, the dependents may use the Dental Savings Program as well.

EyeMed Vision Care

Students are automatically enrolled in the discount vision plan available through EyeMed Vision Care. EyeMed's provider network consists of over 45,000 independent providers and retail stores nationwide, including LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, JC Penney Optical, and many private practitioners. Since this is not an insurance plan, there is no waiting period. Enrolled students can take advantage of the savings through EyeMed immediately upon receipt of their separate ID card.

For more information or to locate a participating provider, visit the Gallagher Student Health page and click "Program Enhancements."

Gallagher Student Health also offers students the following insurance products:

• Voluntary dental insurance
• Personal property insurance
• Study abroad insurance
• Short-term medical insurance (ideal for graduating students, but not available to those staying in Massachusetts)

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Gallagher Student Health.

First Year Abroad Students

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that U.S. citizens/students who are enrolled in an educational program in Massachusetts be covered by a health insurance plan that provides comprehensive coverage and is compliant with federal regulations under the Affordable Care Act. Therefore, U.S. citizens enrolled in the First Year Abroad program will still be required to submit a waiver request indicating comparable coverage to the SHIP or accept enrollment in the SHIP. The rationale for this includes several factors, including situations where a U.S. citizen needs to return to the U.S. to be sure they have coverage upon their return. Having adequate health insurance coverage that meets the requirements is essential. Covid-19 made this exceptionally clear.

Non-U.S. citizens participating in the First Year Abroad program are exempt from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requirements for health insurance. Non-U.S. citizens participating in the First Year Abroad program are enrolled in an educational program outside of the U.S. and are citizens of a country other than the U.S., so they are not required to maintain health insurance in the U.S., nor request a waiver or accept participation in the SHIP. 

If you are spending your first year on the Valencia, Spain, campus, please see First Year Abroad health insurance information.

Continuing Students Studying Abroad

Non-U.S. citizens enrolled at the Boston campus will be required to accept enrollment in the SHIP. This will be required of non-U.S. citizens even if they participate in a semester abroad at the Valencia campus because their primary academic enrollment is in the U.S.

If you are a continuing Berklee student doing a semester abroad, please see health and travel insurance information for Berklee Study Abroad.  

A claim is a request for payment for services or treatment rendered under the terms of an insurance policy. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is responsible for processing claims for students who are enrolled in the SHIP. Their dedicated claims analysts and customer service representatives can address any questions you have on an outstanding claim or on how a claim has been paid.

To check on the status of a claim, go to Blue Cross Blue Shield Member Central, and log in to look up a specific claim or view a list of all claims submitted.

For additional questions regarding claims, call Blue Cross Blue Shield at 800-241-0803.

Learn more about Claims Company.