2024-2025 Academic Year
The Graduate School provides a health insurance contribution exclusively to help offset the cost of health insurance through CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The Graduate School health insurance contribution is provided to graduate assistants who meet ALL of the following criteria each fall and/or spring semester:
- appointed to a 25% (10 hours per week) or more assistantship (GTA, GRA, GSA, GRAPreDoc Fellowship) by the end of the regular add/drop period in either fall or spring semester or both,
- enrolled in CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), not applicable to any other insurance plan, and
- enrolled in 5 or more resident-instruction credits (Audits, Continuous Registration, and CSU Online Credits* do not meet the Resident Instruction enrollment criteria for this policy). To receive the contribution, domestic GAs enrolled in 5 or more resident-instruction credits must still ENROLL/OPT INTO CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) by completing an online enrollment form by the University Add/Drop date (approximately two weeks after classes begin). International GAs are automatically enrolled in the insurance at any credit level (including CR).
Action Required, Graduate Assistants Must OPT Into CSU Health Insurance
While eligible GAs do not need to apply for the health contribution from the Graduate School, GAs MUST Opt Into the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to receive the contribution. Follow the CSU Health Network Website policies and instructions on the CSU Health Network Website to enroll in SHIP.
Applied to Student Accounts
The Graduate School health insurance contribution will be applied to student accounts and taxed through payroll approximately one week after the end of the regular add/drop period.
- When a GA meets the criteria for a health insurance contribution and has an appointment in both the fall and spring semesters, the Graduate School provides a health insurance contribution in the fall, spring, and summer semesters as long as you are enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The health insurance contribution equals 100% of the cost of the policy for all three semesters.
- When a GA meets the criteria for a health insurance contribution and has an appointment in only fall or only spring semester, the Graduate School provides a contribution during the appointed semester only, but does NOT provide a health insurance contribution for the summer semester.
Domestic graduate students enrolled in less than six resident instruction credits (including CR) may voluntarily enroll in CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) by completing an online enrollment form or a paper enrollment form at the CSU Student Insurance Office by the University Add/Drop date (approximately two weeks after classes begin).
Graduate Assistant (GTA/GRA/GSA) Graduate School Health Insurance Contribution FAQs
What is the new health contribution policy for graduate assistants?
Starting in FY25, the Office of the Provost has approved a 100% health contribution for all graduate assistants moving forward. This ensures consistent and comprehensive health coverage, replacing the previous system of annual funding allocations.
How will the new health contribution policy change be implemented and when does it take effect?
This change will be implemented through adjustments to the GA fringe rate to accommodate changes to the premiums each year and will take effect in FY25.
What will the amount of the graduate assistant’s health insurance contribution be?
- If a GA meets the criteria for a health insurance contribution and has an appointment in both the fall and spring semesters, the Graduate School provides a health insurance contribution in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The health insurance contribution equals 100% of the cost of the policy for all three semesters.
- If a GA meets the criteria for a health insurance contribution and has an appointment in only fall or only spring semester, the Graduate School provides a contribution during the appointed semester only, but does NOT provide a health insurance contribution for the summer semester.
- Visit the CSU Health Network website for domestic graduate student premiums and international graduate student premiums.
If a graduate assistant is eligible for the health insurance contribution, when is the contribution applied the student’s account?
The health insurance contribution will appear on the student’s CSU account as a credit, approximately one week after the end of the regular add/drop date.
Is the health insurance contribution taxable?
The contribution is considered “supplemental wages” and supplemental wages are taxed at a higher tax rate than regular/stipend earnings. Therefore, the first paycheck of the semester for the student taking six or more credits (once only each semester, fall and spring) will be less than those for the remainder of the year. If taking five credits, the second paycheck will be less. The Graduate School health insurance contribution is directly applied to the student’s financial account; it is not paid to an insurance provider for insurance coverage. From a compliance perspective, this is the process that must be utilized.
Is there a pre-tax option available with the health insurance contribution?
Graduate Assistants are not offered a pre-tax option on health insurance contribution provided by the Graduate School because GAs are classified as students – not as employees. GAs are students first and foremost and are categorized as such. There are many differentiating factors between GAs and employees: the type of work they engage in, how they are paid (stipend), the policies that pertain to them, the benefits they receive and how those benefits are paid out. In order to be eligible for a pre-tax option, there must be an employer/employee common law relationship that exists – per federal guidelines. Because students do not have such a relationship with CSU, they are not eligible for a pre-tax option.
For additional information regarding CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and the cost of health insurance for fall, spring, and summer semesters for domestic and international students, please visit the Student Health Insurance Plan page on the CSU Health Network website.
Questions regarding the CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) policy should be directed to the CSU Health Network at 970-491-2457
Questions regarding the Graduate School health insurance contribution should be directed to the Graduate School at 970-491-6817.