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University Health Service

The Affordable Care Act and U-M Students

If you were redirected to this page or found it accidentally, the most current information can now be found on our Uninsured page.

Do you need health insurance?

The Affordable Care Act (sometimes referred to as Obamacare) requires individuals to have health insurance. This page can help you learn about health insurance options. 

Health insurance options

Healthy Michigan Medicaid 

  • Enrollment is continuous; you can enroll at any time.
  • Little to no cost for those who are eligible.

Marketplace / Affordable Care Act / Health Insurance Exchange

  • Enroll at HealthCare.gov
  • Open enrollment begins November 1, 2022, for coverage that begins January 1, 2023. 
  • If you have a qualifying life event, such as turning age 26 and being removed from your parent's health insurance, the birth of a baby, marriage, or ending of an insurance policy, you are eligible to enroll outside of the open enrollment period. Enrollment must occur within 30 days of the qualifying event. 

U-M Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan (DSHIP)

  • For information, see Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan.
  • Enrollment information is available at the Blue Care Network / DSHIP enrollment site.
  • If you have a qualifying life event, such as turning age 26 and being removed from your parent's health insurance, the birth of a baby, marriage, or ending of an insurance policy, you are eligible to enroll outside of the open enrollment period. Enrollment must occur within 30 days of the qualifying event.  

Eligibility and enrollment help is available

Healthy Michigan Medicaid. A free or very low-cost, government-sponsored health insurance plan for income-eligible students. For assistance, contact:

Marketplace / Affordable Care Act / Health Insurance Exchange. Subsidies to assist with insurance payments may be available for income-eligible students. For assistance, contact: 

U-M Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan (DSHIP). A low-priced, voluntary plan available to all U-M students through Blue Care Network of Michigan. For assistance, contact: 

  • UHS Managed Care/Student Insurance Office. Call 734-764-5182 or toll-free 866-368-0002 (9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday) or email UHS-mancare-stuins@med.umich.edu.

FAQs

  • "Marketplace" and "Health Insurance Exchange" both refer to the website HealthCare.gov, where you can learn about health insurance options, compare plans, and purchase a plan.
  • "Open Enrollment" means a period of time during which people may add or change their insurance plan.
  • Check out the Health Insurance 101 video from UHS.