Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the WPI Student Health Insurance Plan (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, administered by University Health Plans) is $2,945 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Annual rate for students starting in fall (coverage 8/12/26–8/11/27); new spring students pay $1,810 for 1/1/27–8/11/27.
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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Policy filed and approved in the US and fully ACA-compliant
- No international, travel, short-term limited-duration or health-sharing plans
- Access to doctors, hospitals and mental health providers near WPI campus
- Urgent/emergency-only coverage in Massachusetts is insufficient
- Embassy-sponsored plans: contact University Health Plans for review
- Named insurers rejected, e.g. ISO, PSI, IMGlobal, Cigna Global, Allianz
Visit the Worcester Polytechnic Institute health services portal →
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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute SHIP premium ($2,945 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: universityhealthplans.com
- Waiver deadline: universityhealthplans.com
- Waiver criteria: universityhealthplans.com