updated June 28, 2011

Our guest asks:

I am a transfer student to UMass and the university health insurance agent says my health insurance is not good enough and that I also have to buy their student health plan. The plan they sell is more than $2000 per year and I still have to pay for the on-campus health care each semester. Can they do that?

OnlineAdviser responds:

There are a few different issues here. First, it is not unusual for any University to require students to carry health insurance and to dictate the minimum level of coverage required. Most colleges and universities have a similar requirement. Second, the separate on-campus health facility charge should be viewed in the same category as the tuition, room and board since it is required of all students. (This is not insurance).

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has more rigorous health insurance requirements than any other state. As a transfer student from out-of-state, these rules are more likely to affect you when buying health insurance than the University's action.

The real issue here is that your current health insurance coverage is actually a limited benefit insurance plan. While these are very common and popular with students in other states, this health plan does not meet Massachusetts insurance requirements. See the Massachusetts page here on Freedom Benefits for more information and options that meet the state requirements. In the end, you are likely to conclude that the University's plan, although expensive, is the best way to meet the requirement. You may keep your employer-provided current insurance as a supplemental coverage because this pays benefits in addition to any other insurance.

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