Benefits and Coverage
Pitt has a long tradition of providing students who hold academic appointments with a benefits-rich individual health insurance package at no cost. If this medical plan were available in the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, it would be categorized as a platinum-level plan according to federal standards, which is the highest level.
Despite soaring health care costs, plan copayments in the 2019–20 academic year have been kept at record lows: $5 for a primary care physician visit, $10 for a specialist visit, $10 for an urgent care visit, and $25 for an emergency room visit. Similarly, prescription drug copayments are modestly priced.
This comprehensive coverage includes an unlimited lifetime maximum benefit, no annual deductible for in-network services, adult and pediatric preventive services, and inpatient hospital visits covered at 100 percent. Coverage also includes treatment for stress management, mental illness, substance abuse, no-cost prenatal and postnatal maternity services, and gender reassignment services.
Graduate students who do not hold academic appointments can purchase this plan or the general student plan. All students have the option of purchasing family health insurance (including for domestic partners) as well as dental and vision coverage. While less-expensive plans are available, this coverage is unparalleled.
Additional Plans
For additional coverage options, see the Office of International Services’ list of resources and filter results for Audience: Graduate Students and Category: Insurance.
Domestic students may purchase coverage from the Marketplace at healthcare.gov.
Coverage for children may be available through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Pennsylvania’s program to provide health insurance to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance.
Health Insurance while Traveling: Assist America
Graduate students (and their families) enrolled in a UPMC health insurance plan are automatically eligible for Assist America services when they travel outside the UPMC network. These services include emergency medical services such as help with hospital admissions, referrals to qualified physicians, and emergency medical evacuation.
International SOS - Coverage while Studying Abroad
Since 2016, Pitt has provided comprehensive health and security coverage to enrolled Pitt graduate and professional students traveling abroad in pursuit of their scholarship and professional development.