Enroll in Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
View costs, forms, enrollment, and benefit information about our Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Student Life → Health & Well-Being
Health Insurance & Immunization Requirements
Before you begin classes at MassArt, make sure you have completed health insurance and immunization requirements.
Use the information below to find out what you need to do and where to submit your information.
Do I need health insurance?
Massachusetts requires eligible college students to have qualifying health insurance coverage. If you are an undergraduate student taking 9 or more credits or a graduate student taking 6.75 or more credits, you must have qualifying health insurance coverage.
You can either:
- Enroll in the MassArt Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), or
- Waive the MassArt plan if you already have qualifying health insurance coverage.
You must complete the waiver or enrollment process each academic year.
International Students MassArt does not accept international health insurance. All international students must enroll in the MassArt student health insurance plan.
How do I waive or enroll in health insurance?
Visit the University Health Plans website to:
- Enroll in MassArt’s Student Health Insurance Plan
- Submit a health insurance waiver
- View current costs and deadlines
- Review plan benefits and coverage
MassArt’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is offered in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Through University Health Plans, you can view:
- Current plan costs
- Coverage and benefits
- Forms and plan documents
- In-network providers
- Insurance ID card information
If you are enrolled in MassArt’s Student Health Insurance Plan, follow these steps to access your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts insurance card.
- Go to the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) page.
- Scroll to Insurance ID Card in the left-hand menu and select Lookup BCBS Member ID.
- Enter your information as it is listed in your admissions portal and click “Lookup membership ID.”
- Once you have your member ID, visit bluecrossma.org or download the MyBlue Member App to create an account. Once your account is set up you’ll be able to access your card online or via the app.
- Follow the prompts to access and download your digital insurance card.
For questions about MassArt’s Health Insurance, please contact the University Health Plans at 1-(833) 251-1710 or contact the Counseling Center at counseling@massart.edu.
Do I need to submit immunization records?
To comply with Massachusetts state law, we kindly ask all undergraduate and graduate students to submit comprehensive immunization records for our records. Your cooperation is appreciated.
What immunizations do I need?
For new students, please upload documentation for the following required immunizations:
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: 3 doses. If 18 or older, we can accept 2 doses of Heplisav-B instead
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): 2 doses
- Meningococcal (Meningitis) Vaccine: 1 dose for newly enrolled full-time students, within 5 years before enrollment. 2 doses if dose 1 was given before age of 16
- Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap) booster: 1 dose of Tdap within the last 10 years
- Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: 2 doses
In place of the MMR and Hepatitis B vaccines, laboratory evidence of immunity may also be provided. In the case of Varicella, MassArt will also accept statement signed by a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or designee that the student has a reliable history of chickenpox disease; a self-reported history of disease verified by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant; or is born in the United States before 1980.
It is strongly encouraged that all students are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have at least one dose of the bivalent booster.
International students must meet the immunization requirements above and are required to submit tuberculosis (TB) screening documentation.
- Tuberculosis (TB) screening: PPD (Mantoux) test within past year
- Chest X-ray (required only if TB test is positive)
How do I submit my immunization records?
Please visit our CastleBranch immunizations portal to create an account and upload your required immunization documentation.
- You will need your MassArt Student ID number.
- Students who have not submitted complete documentation will not be allowed on campus.
- If you have a medical or religious reason to decline to be immunized and/or vaccinated, you will be able to submit documentation through the CastleBranch portal using the website above.
Your CastleBranch account will remain available after you leave MassArt, so you can access your submitted immunization records in the future.
Questions?
General questions regarding immunizations may be directed to the Immunizations Team at immunizations@massart.edu.
