Harvard University

Student Health Insurance 

Massachusetts law requires that students enrolled in an institution of higher learning in Massachusetts participate in a student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. All Harvard students are automatically enrolled in the HUSHP and the cost of the plan is applied to their term bill. HUSHP is a comprehensive health program comprised of two parts:  

1. Student Health Fee:  

All students are charged this health fee as part of enrollment. The Student Health Fee includes coverage of most services at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) including primary care, medical and surgical specialties, radiology, and mental health counseling.  

2. Student Health Insurance Plan:  

This insurance plan, which includes Blue Cross Blue Shield hospital/specialty and prescription drug coverage, complements the Student Health Fee by providing coverage for medically necessary hospitalization, emergency, and specialty care.  Students enrolled in a comparable health insurance plan may be eligible to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan. Waivers must be completed by the appropriate deadline, or the charges will remain on the student's term bill. Please see their website for further details or questions, https://hushp.harvard.edu/student-health-insurance-plan.    

Waiving the Student Health Insurance Plan:  

Before you consider waiving, carefully evaluate whether your existing health plan will provide adequate, comprehensive coverage in the Boston area. In many cases, coverage is limited to out-of-state, with only emergency or urgent care coverage available.   

For more information on HUSHP benefits, rates, and deadlines, visit http://hushp.harvard.edu/ 

Financial Responsibility 

Harvard University requires that every student provide evidence of current primary health insurance and always maintain that coverage while the student is enrolled at Harvard.  In compliance with the NCAA requirements effective 08/01/2023, Harvard athletics will provide medical care, including payment for out-of-pocket medical expenses, to varsity student athletes for injuries/illnesses incurred during the student athlete’s involvement in intercollegiate athletics. These costs will be covered while the student athlete is at the institution and for at least 2 years following either graduation or separation from the university, or until the student athlete qualifies for coverage under the NCAA Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program.  

The Harvard Department of Athletics utilizes a secondary sports accident insurance policy to cover intercollegiate sport athletic related injuries. This policy is designed to supplement the student athlete’s primary health insurance and cover only conditions/injuries resulting from the direct participation in the Harvard University intercollegiate athletic programs. This policy comes into effect after a student athlete’s primary health insurance is done making payments on a claim. This supplemental policy covers up to the first $90,000 of all claims not covered by the student athlete’s primary health insurance. Injuries resulting in claims that exceed $90,000 will go to the NCAA catastrophic insurance policy. 

Medical care coverage stipulations: 

Injuries/illness sustained while participating in a Harvard intercollegiate sports program must be reported by the student athlete to the sports medicine staff in a timely manner. Necessary referrals will be made by the Harvard sports medicine staff as required. All injuries/illness must be declared and evaluated by the Harvard Sports Medicine Staff within 60 days of the incident/onset. Student athletes are eligible for medical bills to be paid up to 104 weeks (2 years) from the date of initial injury.  

Athletic Related vs Non-Athletic Related Injury 

An athletic injury is defined as an injury or illness that occurs as a direct result of participation in NCAA (intercollegiate) practice, competition, and/or strength and conditioning sessions/workouts. If a student athlete is injured while participating in said activities, they must report this to the Harvard sports medicine staff. 

All non- athletically related injuries and illnesses will be submitted to the athlete’s primary insurance, and the remaining balance will be the responsibility of the student athlete and/or parent or guardian. This includes pre-existing injuries and conditions, general medical illness, and injuries and illness incurred over academic breaks while participating in activities and/or training away from campus. 

The following would specifically NOT be covered by our secondary insurance provider.  

• Tests or consultations required to gain approval for participation (i.e. cardiac clearance, sickle cell lab test, etc.)  

• Pre-existing injury/illness that has not been cleared by the Harvard Sports Medicine staff. 

• Injuries incurred during participation in intramural, club sports, or recreational activities. 

• Individual training and conditioning activities that occurred outside the primary competitive and designated off-season periods and are not Harvard coach supervised.  

• Illnesses (Including referrals to specialists not related to athletic injuries).  

• Prescriptions that are not related to athletic activities.  

• Orthotics, braces, etc. that are not medically needed for treatment/rehabilitation of an injury 

• Medicines for allergies or asthma  

• Eyewear  

• Expenses incurred for athletic injuries sustained AFTER completion of eligibility.  

• Expenses incurred after two years from the original date of injury 

Injury/Illness Reporting 

The student athlete is responsible for reporting all injuries and illnesses to the sports medicine staff within 60 days of the incident or onset of injury/illness. The medical staff will make all the appropriate and necessary medical referrals as indicated. If a student athlete does not report their injury/illness to the sports medicine staff, medical care will not be covered.  

Second Opinion/Outside Referral 

Second opinion physician visits, specialists, and other healthcare services (i.e., chiropractor, podiatry, massage therapy, physical therapy, etc.) will only be covered by the athletic department if approved and arranged by the Harvard sports medicine physicians. If a student athlete chose to seek out medical providers other than those associated with Harvard Sports Medicine or approved/referred to by Harvard Sports Medicine the student athlete will be solely responsible for any, and all charges incurred.  

Exclusions and Limitations

• Harvard University Athletics Department is not responsible for medical bills incurred by student athletes because of injury/illness unrelated to intercollegiate athletic participation. 

• Harvard University Athletics is not financially responsible for expenses incurred by a student athlete for medical services obtained without referral or authorization by the Harvard Sports Medicine Team. 

• Harvard University Athletics is not responsible for payment of medical expenses incurred while the student athlete is uninsured or has allowed their personal policy to lapse/expire/term. 

• Harvard University Athletics is not responsible for payment of medical expenses of injuries/illnesses which were sustained prior to participation in an intercollegiate sports program at Harvard University, and after completion of participation in that program. 

• Harvard University Athletics is not responsible for any financial obligation if a student athlete fails to complete the exit physical process. 

If you have any questions regarding student athlete health insurance and/or financial responsibility for athletically related injuries/illness t, please contact Niki Rybko at nrybko@fas.harvard.edu or 617-495-2200. 

NCAA Post-Eligibility Insurance Program 

• NCAA Post-Eligibility Insurance Program 

Student-Athlete Exit Interview/Physical Examination Guidelines 

Effective August 1st, 2024 all student athletes upon completion of their eligibility or exit from a team are required to complete medical exit physical procedures. This process includes an exit physical questionnaire documenting your injury history and health status, and possible referral to a Harvard Sports Medicine Team Physician for physical exam and development of a plan of care.   

All student-athletes are required to timely report any athletically related injury sustained while participating in a Harvard intercollegiate athletic program to their team’s athletic trainer. All student athletes at the end of their eligibility or departure from the team are required to fully complete, execute and submit the Harvard student athlete Exit Interview Questionnaire within 21 days after their last date of practice or competition for a Harvard intercollegiate athletics program. If deemed necessary or if requested, the student athlete will participate in an in-person interview and/or physical examination with the Harvard Athletic Training Staff and/or Team Physician. The Exit Interview Form (and Exit Interview, if conducted) and Athletic Training records for each Student-Athlete will (1) document each Student-Athlete’s health status, any athletically related Injuries and (2) allow each Student-Athlete to disclose any on-going or unresolved athletically related Injuries. All injury concerns, on-going or unresolved related to the participation in Harvard athletics should be disclosed on the Exit Interview form and at the Exit Interview, if conducted. 

Complying with the Exit Interview Requirement  

Within 21 days of their last date of practice or competition for Harvard Athletics, whichever is earlier, every Student-Athlete must fully complete, execute and submit to Harvard Sports Medicine an Exit Physical Questionnaire 

Student-Athletes who have not sustained an athletically related injury  

• Student-athletes who have not sustained an athletically related Injury shall fully complete, execute and submit the Exit Interview Questionnaire through their HUHS patient portal without the need for an Exit Interview. In order to utilize this option, the student-athlete must verify that he or she has not sustained any athletically related Injury while participating in intercollegiate athletics at Harvard. 

Student-Athletes who have sustained an athletically related Injury but do not have any current ongoing or unresolved symptoms or concerns 

• Student-Athletes who have sustained an athletically related Injury, but are not currently experiencing any injury concerns, on-going or unresolved medical issues shall also fully complete, execute and submit the Exit Interview Questionnaire through their HUHS patient portal without the need for an Exit Interview, unless initiated by the student athlete. In order to utilize this option, the student-athlete must verify he or she is not experiencing any injury concerns, on-going or unresolved injury issues from any athletically related Injuries.  

Student-Athletes who have sustained an athletically related Injury and are currently experiencing ongoing or unresolved symptoms or concerns  

• Student-Athletes who have sustained an athletically related Injury and are currently experiencing any injury concerns, on-going or unresolved medical issues shall 

(1) fully complete and execute the Exit Interview form 

(2) Athletic trainer will contact student athlete for an in-person Exit Interview. After the Exit Interview, Harvard athletic trainers and/or team physicians shall provide such Student-Athletes with an evaluation and recommended course of treatment, where appropriate or necessary. 

Loss or Limitations of Benefits 

Failure of a student-athlete to fully complete, execute, and submit the Exit Physical Questionnaire, and where required, participate in the in-person exit physical interview/examination, will release Harvard University Athletics from any further medically related financial obligation.