Finance | Health Insurance for Masters Students

2024 - 2025 Health Insurance for Masters Students

Open enrollment for Fall 2024 is July 1-August 31, 2024.

Coverage and Plans

Due to a combination of factors, the student, spouse, and child premiums will increase by approximately 10% from last year and be $3,448 annually. Please continue to choose in-network providers, which keeps premiums low for all.

Aetna members will continue to have access to telehealth consultations through Teladoc for 2023-24. Teladoc provides 24/7/365 access to a national network of U.S. board-certified physicians who can resolve many medical issues via phone or online video consultations. Teladoc doctors can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for various conditions, including sinus problems, bronchitis, allergies, sore throat, stuffy nose, urinary tract infections, etc. Log into your Aetna account via https://www.teladoc.com/aetna/ or call 1-855-TELADOC (l-855-835-2362), and a Teladoc physician is guaranteed to call back within an hour. Teladoc consultations are billed as regular office visits.

Qualifying Life Events

For information on qualifying life events, including the birth of a child, please visit Student Health Insurance-Qualifying Life Events.

To enroll in coverage due to a qualifying life event, please email studentinsurance@rice.edu.

Rice will prorate the insurance premium in the case of a qualifying life event.

Installment Plan

The installment plan will continue to be available for graduate students who enroll in the annual Rice medical insurance plan and at least $5,000 per academic year from their assignment(s) as an RA, TA, Fellow, or Instructor of Record at Rice. Qualifying students have the option to make monthly payments throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, beginning in September and ending in April. You can apply for this payment plan on the Student Health Insurance Payment Plan site.

Resources

To comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements, Rice offers qualified students the opportunity to participate in the Rice Employer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) through Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Open enrollment for this option is July 1st - August 1st. To be eligible, students and employees must work thirty hours or more per week as determined by applicable regulations. Please note that scholarship toward your degree does not count toward the thirty-hour week. You can find more information here if you believe you are eligible for the Rice Employer ACO Medical Insurance plan.

Aetna Student Health does not mail out physical medical ID cards. To access your medical ID card or request a physical one, please visit the Aetna Student Health Site for instructions. You can also learn more ways to save money on health care costs, marketplace alternatives, and other details regarding your health insurance plan at http://studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu/.

If you have any questions regarding insurance coverage, please contact studentinsurance@rice.edu or call 713-348-5544.

Below is a summary of the 2024-25 insurance premiums:

Coverage Period

Covered

Premium

Annual

Student Only

$3,448

Fall Only

Student Only

$1,445

Spring/Summer Only

Student Only

$2,003

Annual

Spouse/DP

$3,448

Fall only

Spouse/DP

$1,445

Spring/Summer Only

Spouse/DP

$2,003

Annual

Child*

$3,448

Fall only

Child*

$1,445

Spring/Summer only

Child*

$2,003

* Premium is per child; the subsidy can apply to a maximum of two children, and there is no additional cost for adding more than two children.

2024-25 Memo: Health Insurance for Masters Students

Updated June 2024