Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) Make Sure Your Health Is Covered

The following mandatory students are required to have health insurance that fully meets university requirements:

Mandatory students automatically have the cost of the SHIP added to their Point Park student account (tuition bill) every fall and spring semester.  

It is the student's responsibility to take action and determine whether they have insurance that meets university requirements, and either enroll in or waive (opt-out) of the SHIP.  Students are also responsible for reading all information and instructions and following the proper procedures and meeting all deadlines.

Mandatory students who do NOT want to enroll in the SHIP:

• Have insurance that fully meets all University requirements, AND
• Successfully submit their online request to waive the SHIP every academic year they are mandatory, AND
• Have the waiver approved by the deadline.
• Students who miss the waiver deadline or whose request is denied and cannot be resolved will be enrolled in the SHIP and the charges will remain on their student account for the year.
• No late waivers or early termination requests are accepted unless there is a qualifying life event. 
• See SHIP Waiver for more information and to waive.

Mandatory students who DO wish to enroll in the SHIP:

• Take action! Do not wait for the university to enroll you!  In the fall this does not take place until the end of September, and access to your benefits will be delayed.  Submit your online enrollment request as soon as possible to have access to coverage as early as August 1 when the plan year begins (February 1 for spring-only coverage).
• SHIP costs for mandatory students are billed and paid through the student’s Point Park student account.
• Re-enroll each academic year you wish to continue coverage in the SHIP; renewal is NOT automatic.
• See SHIP Enrollment for more information and to enroll.

While the University recommends that all students have health insurance, if you are not mandatory for insurance, do not submit the online request to waive the SHIP.

• It is the student's responsibility to be aware of their insurance status.
• See Mandatory vs. Voluntary Status below.
• Eligible students may enroll in the SHIP but are not required to do so.
• Dependent coverage is available; student must also be enrolled
• Students must re-enroll each academic year they wish to continue coverage in the SHIP; renewal is NOT automatic.
• See SHIP Enrollment for more information and to enroll.

Athletes who wish to waive (opt out of) the SHIP

• Are required to have health insurance that meets university requirements 
• Must submit their online waiver request if they do not want to enroll in the SHIP.

The SHIP waiver process is not the same as providing an insurance card or information to the Athletics Department or the athletic trainers as part of the medical information required for participation in the student’s sport.  

Athletes who wish to enroll in the SHIP

• Take action now! Do not wait for the university to enroll you!  In the fall this does not take place until the end of September, and access to your benefits will be delayed.  Submit your online enrollment request as soon as possible to have access to coverage as early as August 1 when the plan year begins (January 1 for spring-only coverage).
• SHIP costs for mandatory students are billed and paid through the student’s Point Park student account.
• Re-enroll each academic year you wish to continue coverage in the SHIP; renewal is NOT automatic.
• See SHIP Enrollment for more information and to enroll.

Students who receive correspondence containing information specifically related to mandatory students, or which indicates they have been billed for the health insurance fee, need to be aware the university has classified them as mandatory for insurance.

If a student believes they have been incorrectly classified as mandatory or voluntary, it is their responsibility to contact Gallagher Student Health in writing and explain why they believe they have been incorrectly classified.  This should be done as soon as possible so there is sufficient time for the information to be reviewed and to allow for the completion of the enrollment or waiver process by the deadline if it is determined the student is mandatory.

Point Park University has purchased an athletic and performing arts accident insurance policy that  provides secondary insurance coverage for accidents incurred by student athletes and performing artists (dance and theatre majors--all concentrations) while participating in official University-sponsored athletic or performing arts rehearsals/performances. This policy does not provide coverage for illness, pre-existing conditions, dance or performance class injuries, or non-athletic/performing arts-related injuries.

There is no additional cost for this coverage, and there are no enrollment forms to complete; however, in order to be eligible for this coverage, the student must meet the following criteria:

Students who do not meet the above criteria are not eligible for the secondary accident insurance coverage.

It is important to note that due to policy deductible ($1,000) and limitations, full reimbursement may not be provided for all out-of-pocket expenses, especially for those students with high-deductible health insurance plans and/or low dollar medical claims.

Injury Reporting and Claims

• The Athletic Training Office handles all injury reports and secondary accident insurance claims.
• Injuries must be reported within the timeframe set by the insurance policy, currently 30 days. 
• The trainers will determine eligibility for secondary accident insurance coverage based on the injury report and policy coverage available.
• If the injury is deemed eligible for coverage, a claim will be opened and information will be provided to the student on how to submit medical claims.
• Medical claims are must first be submitted to and processed by the student's health insurance.  The student, family, or medical provider is responsible for submitting the medical claims to the student's health insurance.
• An EOB (explanation of benefits) or similar document issued by the student's health insurance (after the claim has been processed) is required for all claims submitted to the secondary accident insurance. 
• A balance due invoice received from a medical provider or facility is not sufficient for submitting a claim to the secondary accident insurance company.  It must be accompanied by an EOB (explanation of benefits) or similar document from the student's health insurance.

The Athletic Training Office is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Center.  Appointments are made online and are highly recommended.  There may be a wait time for walk-ins.

Other questions regarding this coverage should be directed to shinsurance@pointpark.edu 

The official method of communication with students is through Point Park email.  It is the student's responsibility to make sure their email is working, check their email on a regular basis, fully read the emails they receive, and respond or take action as appropriate.

If you are not receiving emails related to the SHIP, make sure to check your spam/junk folder.  Also, if you have Focused Inbox turned on, check the Other tab/folder.

For Point Park email issues such as login and password, contact the IT Helpdesk at 412-392-3494 or helpdesk@pointpark.edu.

For assistance with the SHIP waiver or enrollment contact Gallagher Student Health.

Accessing health services on campus is not affected by or dependent upon SHIP enrollment.  In other words, students are not required to be enrolled in the SHIP in order to be seen in the Student Health Center or the University Counseling Center.  

Visit the Student Health Center or University Counseling Center pages for more information on university services, as well as community resources available to students.