All Brown students (except those in fully online programs) are required to show proof of health insurance while enrolled at the University and all registered students (except those in fully online programs) are automatically enrolled in the University's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
Students may waive SHIP coverage by presenting proof of adequate outside coverage. Find more information about waiving coverage below and on the Student Health Insurance Plan website.
Visit Student Health Insurance Plan
Students enrolled in a fully online graduate program and residing in the United States can opt in to SHIP coverage and can enroll themselves through the Gallagher website.
Students are not required to have dental insurance, but all students are eligible to enroll in the Student Dental Insurance Plan through Delta Dental of Rhode Island.
As part of the five-year support guarantee, doctoral and MFA students receive health and dental insurance coverage, including a dependent subsidy, and are automatically enrolled in both the health and dental insurance plans.
Graduate students who are covered by another comparable health insurance plan may elect to waive SHIP. Find more information about waiving coverage on the Student Health Insurance Plan website. Doctoral and MFA students who receive health coverage through their financial support packages from the University and who opt to waive SHIP will receive a buyout of $400 ($200 for spring-semester coverage). This buyout will be distributed through the student account system. If students have a credit balance on their student account at the time the buyout is disbursed, they will be able to request a refund from the Bursar's Office. If they do not have a credit balance at this time, the $400/$200 will be applied to their student account.
Students who choose coverage through both SHIP and an alternate plan should be aware that SHIP includes a "Coordination of Benefits" provision. Students should contact their other insurance company to inquire about a similar provision in that plan. "Double coverage" may affect the timely processing of claims between the two plans.
Students who graduated during the past year and who were enrolled in 2021-2022 annual SHIP coverage can sign up for a 1, 2, or 3 month continuation of their coverage. Students will be responsible for paying the full premium, including for any dependents they add. Students can enroll in continuation coverage through the Gallagher website (log in under the ‘Profile’ box and then look under ‘My Coverage Options’ for the 2022-2023 Continuation Brown University Student Health Insurance Plan link).
If you have any questions, please email studenthealthinsuranceplan@brown.edu or graduate_school@brown.edu.
Find more information on the Student Health Insurance Plan website.
Dependents of graduate students may be enrolled in SHIP at an additional cost. Eligible dependents include a legal spouse or domestic partner, children up to the age of 26, or a child born while the graduate student is covered by SHIP. A spouse or partner is generally expected to be living with the covered student in order to be eligible for coverage. Students submit documentation of marriage or domestic partner status through the Gallagher website and will be contacted by Gallagher if additional information is needed.
Dependents can be enrolled during the annual open enrollment period (for Fall 2022, the dependent enrollment deadline is September 23, 2022) or within 30 days of a qualifying life event. See the 2022-2023 Brown University Student Health Insurance Plan Summary Brochure for dependent coverage rates.
2022-2023 Brown University Student Health Insurance Plan Summary Brochure
To enroll dependents, vist the Gallagher website. Once dependents are added, you will receive a payment link. Coverage for dependents enrolled during the open enrollment period will begin August 15. Coverage for dependents enrolled after a qualifying life event will begin upon processing of the premium payment. Doctoral and MFA students who receive health coverage through their financial support packages from the University receive a 75% subsidy on the cost of enrolling dependents.
Qualifying life events that allow for enrollment outside of the annual window include:
If you have any questions, please email studenthealthinsuranceplan@brown.edu or graduate_school@brown.edu.
Brown University offers a Student Dental Insurance Plan through Delta Dental of Rhode Island.
As part of the five-year support guarantee, doctoral and MFA students receive dental insurance coverage, including a dependent subsidy, and are automatically enrolled in the dental insurance plan.
If you are a doctoral or MFA student and do not want to be automatically enrolled, please email graduate_school@brown.edu.
Learn About the dependent subsidy
For students not automatically enrolled in the Student Dental Insurance Plan, view rates and benefits of the plan, and enroll online through the Delta Dental website.
Dependents of graduate students may be enrolled in Delta Dental coverage at an additional cost. Eligible dependents include a legal spouse or domestic partner, children up to the age of 26, or a child born while the graduate student is covered by the Delta Dental plan. A spouse or partner is generally expected to be living with the covered student in order to be eligible for coverage. Doctoral and MFA students who receive dental coverage through their financial support packages from the University receive a 75% subsidy on the annual premium cost of enrolling dependents.
To enroll a dependent, complete the appropriate enrollment form and email it to studenthealthinsuranceplan@brown.edu before September 15, 2022. If paying by check, you will also need to mail a check to the address provided in the form.
Doctoral and MFA students who receive dental coverage through their financial support package: Dental Dependent Enrollment 22-23 -Subsidy, Form 6416
All other students (those not receiving a University subsidy): Dental Dependent Enrollment 22-23 -No Subsidy, Form 8625