Graduate Student/Postdoc Health Insurance: GSE Health Plan

Graduate Student/Postdoc Health Insurance: GSE Health Plan

Required health insurance coverage

  • Health insurance is mandatory for the following employee/fellow classifications:
    • Graduate Assistants
    • Graduate Fellows
    • Postdoctoral Scholars
    • Clinical Fellows
  • These employees/fellows are automatically enrolled in employee/fellow-only coverage on a platinum level medical/dental/vision/rx plan with PacificSource Health Plans. This plan is referred to as the GSE Health Plan.

Read about your health plan coverage and find enrollment and waiver forms here:

GSE Health Plan Forms & Policy Information

* Postdoctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars: Postdoctoral Fellows and Visting Scholars are not covered under the GSE Health Plan. Postdoctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars are eligible for the OSU Student Health Insurance Plan on a voluntary basis. Health insurance is not mandatory for Postdoctoral Fellows. Please visit the Student Health Services webpage for more information about the Postdoctoral Fellow Insurance Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following classifications are eligible for this health plan:

  • Graduate Assistants with an appointment 0.38 to 0.49 FTE, who are represented by the Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) union. Minimum FTE increases to 0.40 FTE effective September 16, 2023.
    *Graduate Assistants who are not represented by the CGE union (such as Graduate Assistants who are part of an athletic coaching staff) are not eligible for this insurance benefit.
  • Graduate Fellows
  • Postdoctoral Scholars who are represented by United Academics of Oregon State University (UAOSU) union
  • Clinical Fellows

Premiums will be deducted pre-tax from your paycheck monthly. Premiums are deducted in the same month for which you have coverage.

Graduate Fellows: Premiums will be charged to your OSU student account at the end of each month that you have coverage. Graduate Fellows are financially responsible for prompt payment of these expenses.

How much does it cost me?

Per the Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) union bargaining agreement, Article 28, Oregon State University contributes 90% of the monthly premium for the employee and dependent coverage, plus 50% of the administration fee. The employee pays 10% of the monthly premium for themselves and dependent coverage, plus 50% of the administration fee.

The following amounts are your responsibility:

2023-2024 premiums*

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren) Dental Only (no OSU contribution)
Plan Cost (per month) $62.85 $124.85 $168.23 $106.24 $52.08

* These rates are deducted pre-tax. Please also see the Summer Session insurance section below for required summer insurance prepay rates.

Oregon State University contributes 90% of the premium for the fellow and dependent coverage, plus 50% of the administration fee. The remaining 10% of the premium for the fellow and dependent coverage and 50% of the administration fee is charged to the OSU student account monthly. This portion is to be paid by the fellow, unless their specific funding covers their insurance expenses.

The following amounts are your responsibility:

2023-2024 premiums

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren) Dental Only (no OSU contribution)
Plan Cost (per month) $62.85 $124.85 $168.23 $106.24 $52.08

*Also see section regarding Graduate Fellow Summer Session for summer triple rates

OSU contributes 90% of the monthly premium for the employee and dependent coverage, plus 50% of the administration fee. The employee pays 10% of the monthly premium for themselves and dependent coverage, plus 50% of the administration fee.

The following amounts are your responsibility:

2023-2024 premiums

Postdoctoral scholars hired on or after June 16, 2020:

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren) Dental Only (no OSU contribution)
Plan Cost (per month) $62.85 $124.85 $168.23 $106.24 $52.08

Postdoctoral scholars hired on or before June 15, 2020:

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren) Dental Only (no OSU contribution)
Plan Cost (per month) $6.50 $62.00 $105.38 $43.39 $52.08

OSU contributes 100% of the monthly premium for the employee coverage plus 50% of the administration fee. The employee pays 50% of the administration fee and any additional premiums for dependent coverage.

The following amounts are your responsibility:

2023-2024 premiums

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren) Dental Only (no OSU contribution)
Plan Cost (per month) $6.50 $626.47 $1,060.26 $440.42 $52.08

  • Your insurance begin date is dependent on the start date indicated on your letter of offer:
    • 1st – 15th of the month: Coverage starts the first day of the same month.
    • 16th – last day of the month: Coverage starts the first day of the following month.
  • Coverage will end the last day of the same month that your position ends.

No paperwork required since you are automatically enrolled in employee/fellow-only coverage. You will only need to submit an enrollment form if you are enrolling dependents to your plan

  • Yes. Eligible dependents can be enrolled onto your plan:
    • Within the first 30 days of your position start date
    • During the fall term open enrollment period
    • Within 30 days of a qualifying life event.
    • Qualifying life events include: birth, marriage, permanent move to U.S., adoption, involuntary loss of other group coverage, etc.
  • Once enrolled, you may only remove your dependents from your plan during fall term open enrollment, or when a qualifying life event occurs. A qualifying event in this case could be: divorce/separation, dependent gains other health coverage, or dependent moves outside the U.S.

Forms & Policy Information

Employees & Fellows eligible for the Graduate Student Employee plan may apply for a waiver to decline coverage if they have an employer group plan that has equal or superior coverage to the PacificSource Health Plan offered by OSU. Waiver applications must meet the waiver criteria to be granted approval by the university.

You will need to submit the waiver application form, copy of insurance cards, and summary of benefits detailing your plan coverage to University Human Resources Graduate Benefits by the first of the month for which you are eligible (October 1st for fall term).You will be notified via email with a decision of waiver approval or denial. Denied waivers result in automatic enrollment in the plan offered by the university.

Forms & Policy Information

Once you are active on your insurance plan PacificSource will send your insurance card through postal mail.

It is highly recommended that you create an InTouch for Members account through the PacificSource website and/or download the myPacificSource app on a mobile device to access your electronic member ID card, view plan benefits, search for network providers and view claim statuses.

You are eligible to use the Student Health Services if you are paying the Student Health Services fee as part of your tuition and fees. This means that Graduate Assistants and Graduate Fellows are eligible to use SHS but Postdoctoral Scholars and Clinical Fellows are not.

You must provide Student Health Services with a copy of your health insurance card at the time of your visit for insurance to be billed. 

If you have any questions regarding your billing for services at the OSU Student Health Clinic please contact a billing specialist at 541-737-2068.  These offices work remotely, so if you need to leave a message please include your university ID number.  You can also send a secure message to the billing department by logging into your Student Health Patient Portal.

Refer to the list of Preferred Providers found online at the PacificSource website (choose plan network – Navigator) or by accessing the find a doctor feature in the myPacificSource mobile app. When you arrive for an appointment, make sure to present your insurance card. You can also call PacificSource Customer Service at 1-888-977-9299 for assistance.

When you are seeking services outside the four-state area that PacificSource contracts, you may receive in-network coverage by using providers in the First Health Network using the search tool on the PacificSource website (scroll down to “Outside of four-state area”).

How does insurance work during summer session?

Per the CGE bargaining agreement, Article 28, all Graduate Assistants with a position during at least one term of the academic year are to be automatically enrolled in the summer session insurance. Summer session insurance includes the same level of PacificSource Health coverage for July, August, and September as was held during the preceding academic year. The premiums are deducted over a course of 9 months between October and June, prior to summer session. No premiums are deducted in July, August, or September if premiums are prepaid during the academic year. The following amounts are the Graduate Assistant responsibility.

Summer 1/9 premium rates for 2023-2024 plan year (per month) *:

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren)
Plan Cost (per month Oct - June) $20.92 $41.54 $55.98 $35.35
  • *Deducted monthly post-tax.
  • You have the option to opt-out of summer coverage and be refunded the prepaid premiums if you do not have an assistantship during the summer term or are paid in a student hourly position during summer term. You are required to opt-out of the summer session insurance if you are graduating in terms prior to summer term, and/or will not return as a student in the Graduate School either summer or Fall term, as you are NOT eligible for summer session insurance. Deadline to Opt-Out is May 1st. Refunds will be processed in June payroll. 
  • *If your assistantship ends prior to spring term, please use the following deadlines to ensure your refund will process in your last paycheck: Fall term – Dec.1; Winter term – March 1.

Deadline to submit the Opt-Out Form for Summer Session is May 1st.

Forms & Policy Information

If you do not have a fellowship during summer months, but have a fellowship during at least one term of the academic year, and are returning as a student enrolled in the Graduate School either summer or fall term, you are eligible to sign up and prepay for summer coverage.

* If you are graduating in terms prior to summer term, and/or will not return as a student enrolled in the Graduate School either summer or fall term, then you are not eligible to enroll in summer session coverage.

Summer session insurance includes the same level of PacificSource Health coverage for July, August, and September as was held during the academic year. The premiums are triple charged to your OSU student account in May, prior to summer session. No premiums are charged in July, August, or September if premiums are prepaid in May.

Summer 2024 Tripled Premiums

  Employee-Only Employee+Spouse/Partner Employee+Family Employee+Child(ren) Dental Only (no OSU contribution)
Plan Cost (month of May) $188.25 $365.73 $489.93 $312.45 $156.24

** If your fellowship ends prior to spring term please use the following deadlines: Fall term – Dec. 1; Winter term – March 1.

Deadline to submit the Summer Triple Form for Summer Session is May 1st.

Forms & Policy Information

  • Once your position ends, you have the option of enrolling in the COBRA continuation plan for up to 18 months as needed. COBRA is a continuation of the same coverage on PacificSource Health plans, however you will pay the full premium monthly directly to PacificSource Administrators. When your position ends, PacificSource Administrators will mail the COBRA election forms to you. To enroll, simply complete the forms and return them to PacificSource Administrators with a payment.
  • More information regarding COBRA

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

  • University Human Resources
    • Kerr Administration Building, room 236
  • Benefits Specialist - Graduate Health Plan
  • PacificSource Health Plan Customer Service

Extra benefits and helpful resources

Wellness Toolkits