5.05 Health Insurance/Fees

5.04 Teaching and Other Harvard Employment

Students in Harvard Medical School Master’s Programs are not guaranteed employment of any kind as part of their admission. Some programs may have academic teaching or research requirements; these are part of the progress towards degree and are not supplemental employment. HMS Master’s students may seek part time employment in Harvard labs or as Teaching Fellows or Teaching Assistants in Harvard University courses, but HMS in no way guarantees this employment and all such appointments are between the student and the hiring department or school. Students are expected to commit to the required workload for their program (see section 2.16) and as such, any outside employment must not interfere with the workload requirements of their program (see program specific plans of instruction in sections 1.03 and 1.04).

Students may not be paid for their capstone or thesis work, but they can be otherwise employed in the lab of their thesis or capstone work, as long as that work is distinct from the work for their degree requirements.

Enrolled HMS Master’s students employed by Harvard University who provide instructional services at Harvard University, including graduate and undergraduate Teaching Fellows (teaching assistants, teaching fellows, course assistants), or who serve as Research Assistants (regardless of funding sources, including those compensated through training grants) are included within the bargaining unit of the Harvard Graduate Student Union.

5.05 Health Insurance/Fees

The Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP) Student Health Fee is a required fee and covers most outpatient care at Harvard University Health Services. This requirement is a result of a Harvard Corporation vote and a Massachusetts state mandate. Please visit the HUSHP website for the most up to date information on student health fees.

Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan (Blue Cross Blue Shield) covers hospital and emergency room visits. Unlike the HUSHP Student Health Fee, the Student Health Insurance Plan charge and insurance coverage may be waived. In order to have the Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan charge waived, students must verify that they are covered by equivalent medical insurance.

Two opportunities exist to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan. A student may file a waiver for the entire academic year or for only the fall or spring term. Financial aid recipients who choose to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan will have this budget item removed from their cost of attendance budget. This removal may result in an adjustment to the financial aid package. Please be aware that the Student Health Insurance Plan charge will appear on the term bill until the waiver has been processed fully. Waivers are available online at www.hushp.harvard.edu/. For details and waiver deadlines, students should consult the Member Services office at Harvard University Health Services, Smith Campus Center, first floor, 617-495-2008.

The charge for Harvard-sponsored Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage is included on the term bill in two installments.

For students who have Harvard-sponsored Blue Cross Blue Shield and/or the Student Health Fee coverage in the spring term and receive terminal degrees in May, the Harvard-sponsored Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Student Health Fee coverage extends through July 31. Additional information regarding health insurance coverage is available at www.hushp.harvard.edu/.

Students interested in enrolling dependents in HUSHP should contact the Member Services Office for enrollment details. The cost to add dependents is available online at www.hushp.harvard.edu/.

Foreign students are not eligible to waive the Student Health Insurance plan with international insurance. Students with J-1 visas are required to purchase coverage for