Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Tufts University Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) - UnitedHealthcare StudentResources, underwritten by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is $4,908–$4,976 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
$4,976 annual premium for Medford/AS&E students (8/20/2026-8/19/2027); $4,908 individual annual rate for Boston/Grafton health-sciences students (medicine.tufts.edu SAHA page). The mandatory Student Health and Wellness Fee is charged separately.
Waiver deadline
Submit your waiver request before the deadline above. Universities rarely accept late waivers — if you miss it, you are auto-enrolled in SHIP and billed the full premium.
Waiver requirements
According to Tufts University, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- U.S.-based plan that meets Massachusetts requirements
- Insurance from outside the U.S. is not accepted
- Must cover more than emergencies near Tufts
- Network must include Boston-area providers
- Must cover basic services without large gaps
- Kaiser, out-of-state Medicaid and MassHealth Limited are not accepted
Private plans you could submit
These private US student health plans are in our comparison. None is automatically accepted — check the policy maximum, deductible, claims address and the other points above against the plan's terms before you buy:
- ISO Student Health Insurance — from $33/month
- WorldTrips StudentSecure — from $40/month
- Compass Student Insurance — from $43/month
- IMG Patriot Exchange Program
What a waiver can save
Your saving is the Tufts University SHIP premium ($4,908–$4,976 a year) minus the price of a private plan the university accepts. Private plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band; plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more. Compare the real price of the plan you would submit before you decide.
- Premium: students.tufts.edu
- Waiver deadline: students.tufts.edu
- Waiver criteria: students.tufts.edu