Chapter 23 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1988 requires that all students registered for nine or more credit hours must participate in a comprehensive health insurance plan unless they certify that they are participating in a health insurance plan with comparable coverage. If a student has comparable coverage and wishes to waive participation in the Massachusetts Community Colleges insurance plan, the student must submit waiver information via the Internet at the time of registration. Students may access the waiver form online at http://www.gallagherstudent.com/bhcc.

Additionally, beginning with the fall 2020 semester the MA Health Connector issued new guidelines that require us to charge this fee if you are enrolled for at least nine credits of remote credit courses resulting from COVID19 transition to online. The fee is charged in the fall and spring semesters only. For the current Covid-19 period, the Massachusetts Health Connector is allowing students to waive participation in SHIP if the Student is studying remotely in a foreign country or out of state and the Student has comparable coverage in that foreign location or state. Comparable coverage such as out-of-state Medicaid, out-of-state Exchange Marketplace coverage (i.e., Qualified Health Plans), out-of-state employer-sponsored insurance (e.g., HMO, PPO, POS), or foreign health coverages are acceptable for the Fall term. If a Student waives participation in SHIP for the fall term but returns to campus, in the middle of the term, or for the next term, the waiver will be reevaluated. If the coverage with which the Student initially waived is no longer considered comparable coverage in the location of the School, The student will be required to enroll in the SHIP.

Massachusetts Community College students will be insured for policy year 2023-2024 by Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO) Insurance Plan. The premium charge for the Massachusetts Community College Health Insurance Plan will appear on your bill.

If you are eligible to be charged for the student insurance when enrolling for classes in the spring 2024 semester, the premium charge appearing on your bill will be $2,309 for the period of January 1, 2024 through August 31, 2024.

Please be advised that students wishing to purchase the Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO) plan through BHCC must have their balance paid in full to be eligible to receive coverage.  Once your balance is paid in full, your information will be sent to Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO) and your health insurance coverage will be retroactive to the start of the semester.

All questions regarding Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP) should be directed to MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877-623-6765.

Waiver Deadlines

Waivers must be completed the same day you register. If you register for mid-semester and mini-semester classes, the health insurance charge may be added to your account if the total is 9 or more credits. The last day that you can waive is November 28 for Fall 2023. No waivers or new enrollments will be accepted by Blue Cross Blue Shield after November 28.

There is a new website to waive health insurance.  Please check your BHCC e-mail address (including your junk mail) for your initial temporary password.  Below are the instructions to access and waive: 

How do I log in to my Gallagher Student Health account?

1. Go to www.gallagherstudent.com/bhcc.
2. An account has been created for you. Be on the lookout for an email from Gallagher Student Health sent to your BHCC email with a temporary password. Click on the link provided in the email and insert the temporary password. (If you did not receive a temporary password, you can choose the ‘Forgot your password?’ option on the login page).
3. Once you log in, click the WAIVE button under “Plan Summary”.

Questions? Contact Gallagher Student
Phone: 877-320-5277

Health Insurance Refund Policy

Except for medical withdrawal (medical withdraws are only recognized for health insurance refunds; not for refunds of tuition and or fees) due to covered injury or sickness, students withdrawing from the College during the first 31 days of the period for which coverage is purchased shall not be covered under the policy and a full refund of the premium will be made. Students withdrawing after 31 days will remain covered under the policy for which the premium was paid and no refund will be allowed. Students who do not withdraw completely, but who drop below nine credit hours within the first 31 days, may apply to Student Central for a refund of health insurance premiums. Registering for mini-semester, web courses, distance education courses and Center for Self-Directed Learning courses later in the fall or spring semester may restore the student’s obligation to carry health insurance.