Graduate Student/Postdoc Health Insurance:
Graduate Employee Health Plan
The Graduate Employee Health Plan has moved to Cigna Healthcare effective 10/1/2025. To support a smooth transition Cigna will offer multiple in-person and virtual opportunities this fall to ask questions regarding the new plan. Please click here for a list of events and their registration links.
Employees can find the coverage details on our Plan Forms and Policy Information webpage. Employees can also call Cigna Member Services at 800-244-6224 after October 1, 2025, plan start date, to ask Cigna about membership and more specific questions about covered services.
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 Cigna Healthcare Plans. This plan is referred to as the Graduate Employee Health Plan.
Read about your health plan coverage and find enrollment and waiver forms here:
* Postdoctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars: Postdoctoral Fellows and Visting Scholars are not covered under the Graduate Employee 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 0.40 to 0.49 FTE, who are represented by the Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) union.
*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:
2025-2026 premiums*
| Employee-Only | Employee+Spouse/Partner | Employee+Family | Employee+Child(ren) | Dental Only (no OSU contribution) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Cost (per month) | $66.45 | $131.92 | $178.16 | $112.53 | $49.87 |
* 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:
2025-2026 premiums
| Employee-Only | Employee+Spouse/Partner | Employee+Family | Employee+Child(ren) | Dental Only (no OSU contribution) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Cost (per month) | $66.45 | $131.92 | $178.16 | $112.53 | $49.87 |
*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:
2025-2026 premiums
| Employee-Only | Employee+Spouse/Partner | Employee+Family | Employee+Child(ren) | Dental Only (no OSU contribution) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Cost (per month) | $66.45 | $131.92 | $178.16 | $112.53 | $49.87 |
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:
2025-2026 premiums
| Employee-Only | Employee+Spouse/Partner | Employee+Family | Employee+Child(ren) | Dental Only (no OSU contribution) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Cost (per month) | $6.50 | $661.23 | $1,123.61 | $467.29 | $49.87 |
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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.
Employees & Fellows eligible for the Graduate 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 Cigna Healthcare 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 Health 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.
Once you are active on your insurance plan, you will receive a welcome email from Cigna Healthcare.
It is highly recommended that you visit myCigna.com to create your online member account and/or download the myCigna 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 in-network providers found online at hcpdirectory.cigna.com (choose medical plan OAP, dental plan DPPO, and vision plan VIS). You can also access the provider search in the myCigna mobile app. When you arrive for an appointment, make sure to present your insurance card. You can also call Cigna Healthcare Customer Service at 800-244-6224 for assistance.
Cigna Healthcare uses a medical coverage service called CAPMED for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Cigna Healthcare members may be eligible to use this service when traveling 100 or more miles from your current residence or when repatriation of remains to member's home country is required.
More information about this coverage, and the membership ID card are found in the Forms & Policy Information page of our website.
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 Cigna Healthcare 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 2025-2026 plan year (per month) *:
| Plan Type | Employee-Only | Employee+Spouse/Partner | Employee+Family | Employee+Child(ren) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Cost (per month Oct - June) | $22.15 | $43.97 | $59.39 | $37.51 |
- *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.
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 Cigna Healthcare 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 2026 Tripled Premiums
| Employee-Only | Employee+Spouse/Partner | Employee+Family | Employee+Child(ren) | Dental Only (no OSU contribution) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Cost (month of May) | $199.34 | $395.76 | $534.47 | $337.58 | $149.61 |
** 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.
- 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 the Cigna Healthcare plan, 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.
*PacificSource Administrators is a third party that administers COBRA benefits and is not directly associated with the PacificSource Health Plan. COBRA benefits will be administered by PacificSource Administrators and the COBRA plan coverage is through Cigna Healthcare.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
- Office of University Human Resources
- Kerr Administration Building, room 236
- Benefits Specialist - Graduate Health Plan
- Phone: 541-737-7568 | Send an email
Contact Cigna Healthcare Customer Service
- Member Services, Medical and Dental Plans
- Phone: 800-244-6224
- Vision Plan
- Phone: 888-353-2653