Academic Graduate Student Employee Insurance Options

An AGS employee is benefits eligible if expected to work in one or a combination of the following AGS job titles for at least 20 scheduled weekly hours (SWH) and for at least 4.5 months (135 calendar days):

• G0045 Assistant Instructor
• G0062 Teaching Assistant-NSC
• G0063 Teaching Assistant
• G0064 Graduate Tutor
• G0065 Academic Assistant
• G0071 Graduate Assistant
• G0090 Graduate Research Assistant

The scheduled weekly hours (SWH) for AGS employees determines their part-time or full-time status for insurance purposes.

• Part-time AGS employees are scheduled for 20-29 total SWH, with at least 20 SWH in AGS job titles.
• Full-time AGS employees are scheduled for 30+ total SWH, with at least 20 SWH in AGS job titles.
  • Certain benefits eligible AGS employees may have less than 30 SWH and still be considered full-time for insurance purposes. If they worked at least 1,560 hours in a previous 12-month Affordable Care Act (ACA) measurement period, they will qualify as ACA full-time for a future 12-month ACA stability period

UT provides all eligible AGS employees with 100% premium support for AcademicBlue SHIP, the student health insurance plan.  UT Austin also provides 50% premium support for dependent coverage, with AGS employees paying the remaining 50% of their dependent premiums directly to Academic Health Plans, the plan administrator, on a monthly basis.

UT provides premium sharing for all employees based upon scheduled weekly hours (SWH) for UT Select, the employee health plan. 

Part-time (20-29 SWH) AGS employees will receive 50% premium sharing for UT Select and 25% premium sharing for dependent coverage. Full-time (30+ SWH) AGS employees will receive 100% premium sharing for UT Select and 50% premium sharing for dependent coverage.

AGS employees with UT Select will pay their premium costs for part-time and/or dependent coverage through monthly or semi-monthly payroll deduction.

The following UT Select and AcademicBlue SHIP rates for AGS employees are valid for the September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024 plan year:

Regardless of health plan enrollment, AGS employees may elect other plans available in the employee group insurance program for themselves and for some plans, their eligible dependents.  These plans include:

• Dental
• Vision
• Voluntary Term Life
• Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Disability
• UT Flex Flexible Spending Accounts

Premiums for these plans are paid through monthly or semi-monthly payroll deduction.

An AGS employee may receive dental, vision and AD&D coverage at no premium cost if enrolled in another health plan, including AcademicBlue SHIP.  Part-time AGS employees are automatically enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit Plan.  Full-time AGS employees must decline UT Select and enroll in the Premium Sharing Credit plan.  Up to half of the eligible UT Select premium sharing dollars are available to pay the dental, vision and AD&D premiums for AGS employees and their dependents.

The following premium sharing credit amounts are valid for the September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024 plan year.

Benefits eligibility is not determined until the employing college, school, or unit completes the hire process and AGS employees complete the following onboarding tasks in Workday.  Insurance enrollment can’t occur until these tasks are completed.  Some of these tasks may not be completed prior to the first work day.

• Edit Government IDs, if SSN was not already provided for I-9 or background check
• Enter Personal Information
• Change Contact Information
• Benefits Questionnaire

Review the New Student Employee Checklist for more information about all required onboarding tasks.

Newly benefits eligible AGS employees will be automatically enrolled in a health plan based upon their scheduled weekly hours (SWH).

• New part-time (20-29 SWH) AGS employees will be automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and the Premium Sharing Credit plan.
• New full-time (30+ SWH) AGS employees will be automatically enrolled in UT Select. 

New AGS employees have 31 calendar days from the hire date to make additional insurance elections, including:

• Waiving automatic coverage (AcademicBlue SHIP or UT Select);
• Enrolling in the other UT health plan options;
• Adding dependents; and
• Adding other plans such as dental, vision, and voluntary AD&D.

The initial enrollment period is defined below, based on the standard academic employment hire dates.

* Insurance will not be activated until the August 16 hire date or later, depending upon when the hire process and required onboarding tasks are completed.

To calculate your initial enrollment period if your benefits eligible employment starts on a different date, count 31 calendar days from your hire date with your hire date as day one.

This is an annual opportunity for continuing AGS employees to make changes to their benefit elections that become effective for the next plan year.

Continuing AGS employees enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP must take the following actions each year during the AcademicBlue SHIP open enrollment period:

• Part-time AGS employees who previously waived coverage must waive coverage again, otherwise they will be automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP effective September 1.
• Full-time AGS employees who previously enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and want to waive UT Select coverage must take action to waive. 
• AGS employees who previously enrolled dependents in coverage must re-enroll dependents in AcademicBlue SHIP coverage, otherwise dependents will have no coverage effective September 1.
  
   

AGS employees who experience a mid-year employment status change or family status change may be able to make a change to their insurance elections within 31 calendar days of the qualifying event date. If this deadline is missed, AGS employees will need to wait until the next open enrollment period to make changes.

AcademicBlue SHIP

If enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP at the time of the part-time to full-time change, AGS employees will be automatically enrolled in UT Select, and their Premium Sharing Credit plan enrollment will be canceled. They have the option to re-elect AcademicBlue SHIP, decline UT Select, and re-elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan within 31 days of the date of the change to full-time.

UT Select

If enrolled in UT Select at the time of the part-time to full-time change, UT Select coverage will continue. If AGS employees had covered dependents, they must re-elect their UT Select dependent coverage or have the option to enroll in AcademicBlue SHIP and elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan within 31 days of the date of the change to full-time.

Review What happens to my coverage if my AGS employment changes from part-time to full-time? under the Continuing AGS Employees FAQ section for more details, including enrollment instructions.

AcademicBlue SHIP

If enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP at the time of the full-time to part time change, AGS employees will remain enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and the Premium Sharing Credit plan. AGS employees have the option to enroll in UT Select and could then waive AcademicBlue SHIP within 31 calendar days of the change to part-time.

UT Select

If enrolled in UT Select at the time of the full-time to part-time change, UT Select coverage will be canceled, and AGS employees will be automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and the Premium Sharing Credit plan. AGS employees could remain in AcademicBlue SHIP, or have the option to waive AcademicBlue SHIP and re-enroll in UT Select within 31 calendar days of the change to part-time.

Review What happens to my coverage if my AGS employment changes from full-time to part-time? under the Continuing AGS Employees FAQ section for more details, including enrollment instructions.

AcademicBlue SHIP is designed and priced for students, so premiums are lower than UT Select, and for services at University Health Services, benefits are paid at 100% of the allowable amount for covered expenses. 

Learn more about the plan on the AcademicBlue SHIP website.

Learn more about the plan on the UT System Office of Employee Benefits and UT Select websites.

Review the Comparison Chart for a side-by-side comparison of the cost of care and premium costs. The plan year for both plans is September 1 – August 31.

Key Similarities

• BlueChoice PPO Nationwide Network
• BlueCross BlueShield Global Core (formerly BlueCard Worldwide)
• Gold-level Plan Rating
• Copayments for Office Visits and Urgent Care
• Prescription Drug Benefits
• Behavioral Health Care
• Virtual Visits
• 24/7 Nurseline
• Blue Access for Members (BAM) Account Access
• Out-of-Network Benefits
• No Pre-existing Condition Limitation
• No Annual or Lifetime Maximum Benefit
• Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum

Key Differences

These coverage differences assume AGS employees are using network providers.

If you were enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP for the 2021-2022 plan year and experience increased out-of-pocket costs compared to UT Select, you may be eligible to apply for the Graduate School's Health Care Assistance Fund.

Benefits eligible AGS employees may retain summer insurance eligibility if:

• They have Teaching Assistant (TA) or Assistant Instructor (AI) jobs on May 31; and
• They are expected to have benefits eligible employment for the subsequent fall term.

Summer insurance eligible TAs and AIs will retain the same part-time or full-time status during the summer that they had on May 31, unless they increase their summer SWH and qualify for full-time status. UT will continue to contribute to the cost of summer insurance coverage.

Summer Anchor Jobs are critical for certain TA or AI employees to maintain their summer insurance eligibility until they return to benefits eligible employment in the fall. Review the table below to determine if a Summer Anchor Job is required.  Summer Anchor Jobs should be 0 SWH and use the Regular Benefits Eligible – Graduate Student Academic employee type.

*If more than one of these job statuses applies during the summer, the Summer Anchor Job may or may not be needed for part of the summer.

AGS employee insurance coverage will end on May 31 for TAs and AIs who are either graduating in May or not returning to benefits eligible employment in the fall (graduate student fellowships are not benefits eligible employment).  Review Loss of Eligibility & Continuation of Coverage for insurance options.

AGS employees in Graduate Research Assistant and other AGS job titles during spring, excluding TA or AI jobs, must have benefits eligible jobs during the summer to remain benefits eligible.

If benefits eligible employment does not continue for the summer months, review Loss of Eligibility & Continuation of Coverage for insurance options.

AGS Employees Enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP

All benefits eligible AGS employees enrolled during the summer will continue to receive 100% premium support for their coverage and 50% premium support for their dependent coverage. AGS employees will continue to pay their 50% dependent premium directly to Academic Health Plans on a monthly basis. 

AGS Employees Enrolled in Employee Group Insurance Plans

Employee group insurance plans include UT Select, premium sharing credit, dental, vision, AD&D, life, disability, and UT Flex. 

Benefits eligible Graduate Research Assistants and other AGS job titles, excluding TA or AI, will continue to pay any employee group insurance plan premiums due through semi-monthly or monthly payroll deduction.

For Summer 2024, summer insurance eligible TA and AI employees will pre-pay any employee group insurance plan premiums due for June – August, in addition to May, on their June 3, 2024 paycheck. They may determine the premium amount due on the June 3, 2024 paycheck by following the steps below:

• Log in to My UT Benefits
• Select Confirmation Statement under Benefits in the upper right corner
• Locate Monthly Employee Costs in the Current Elections box near the top of the Confirmation Statement
  • If not enrolled in UT FLEX, multiply Monthly Employee Costs by four for the total insurance premiums due
  • If enrolled in UT FLEX, your UT FLEX monthly amount is listed on the Confirmation Statement.  Subtract the UT FLEX monthly amount from Monthly Employee Costs and multiply this number by three, then add the Monthly Employee Costs amount for the total insurance premiums due

Beginning with Summer 2025, summer insurance eligible TA and AI employees will pre-pay one month of employee group insurance premiums on each March 1, April 1, and May 1 paycheck.  This means double insurance deductions will be taken from each of these three paychecks for the month paid plus one pre-paid summer month.

Pre-payment Cancellation for Summer 2024 Only

The summer insurance pre-payment for summer insurance eligible TAs and AIs may be canceled if either:

• A summer job for at least 20 SWH and for June 1 – August 31 is completed in Workday by May 20, or
• A job transaction resulting in loss of AGS employee eligibility effective May 31 or earlier is completed in Workday by May 20.

If it is not possible for a summer job to be added to Workday by May 20, TAs and AIs must submit a Cancellation of Pre-Payment for Summer Insurance Coverage form and provide confirmation from their department about a summer job that is at least 20 SWH for June 1 – August 31.

Beginning with Summer 2025, cancellation of pre-payment is no longer available.

Employees may view their My Insurance Premium Calendar in Workday to confirm how they will pay their summer insurance premiums for the employee group insurance plans:

• Log in to Workday
• Click View All Apps
• Click Benefits Dashboard
• Review My Insurance Premium Calendar

AGS employees lose premium support eligibility when benefits eligible employment ends. AcademicBlue SHIP coverage will be canceled at the end of the month of the benefits eligible employment termination date. If still eligible for AcademicBlue SHIP due to their student status, these students may enroll in AcademicBlue SHIP in the Academic Health Plans voluntary student enrollment system and pay Academic Health Plans directly for their coverage. Enrollment in voluntary student coverage must be completed within 31 days of the cancellation date. If no longer eligible for AcademicBlue SHIP as a student, these individuals may enroll in three-month continuation coverage in the Academic Health Plans enrollment system and pay Academic Health Plans directly for their coverage. Enrollment in continuation coverage must be completed within 31 days of the cancellation date.

AGS employees lose eligibility for UT Select and other employee group insurance plans (dental, vision, etc.) when benefits eligible employment ends. Coverage will be canceled at the end of the month of the benefits eligible employment termination date. These graduate students may elect COBRA continuation coverage for UT Select, dental and/or vision coverage. Review COBRA Continuation Coverage for more details.

F-1 or J-1 international students who lose premium support eligibility will be enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP by International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and the full premium cost will be added to their tuition and fee bill. To expedite their enrollment, they may email ISSS at intlinsurance@austin.utexas.edu to request their insurance waiver be voided. They will need to separately enroll their dependents in the Academic Health Plans international student enrollment system after ISSS completes their enrollment and pay the dependent premium cost directly to Academic Health Plans. Dependent enrollment must be completed within 31 days of the cancellation date. 

AGS employees transitioning to graduate student fellowships may enroll in AcademicBlue SHIP voluntary student coverage in the Academic Health Plans voluntary student enrollment system and pay Academic Health Plans directly for their coverage. Enrollment must be completed within 31 days of their cancellation date.

Graduate student fellows with a qualifying fellowship may elect UT Select, dental or vision coverage. Review Insurance for Graduate Student Fellows for more details.

AGS employees who lose coverage may also explore the health insurance and enrollment options available through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov. The Marketplace offers health insurance plans for a variety of needs, and depending upon their income, graduate students may qualify for premium tax credits that they can use to lower the cost of their monthly premiums. For additional information about Marketplace Plans or plan enrollment, graduate students may use one of the many contact options available through HealthCare.gov.

You may see dollar amounts listed under the Employer Paid Benefits section of your payslip. These dollar amounts are the university's contribution toward the premium cost of your insurance.  They are not deductions for pay, and are not taxable benefits. Depending upon your specific plan enrollment, you payslip may include the following items in the Employer Paid Benefits section:

For AcademicBlue SHIP Enrollment:

• AcademicBlue SHIP Premium Support (100% for you and 50% for your dependents)

For Premium Sharing Credit enrollment with dental, vision, and/or AD&D enrollment:

• Dental Insurance - Premium Support
• Vision Insurance - Premium Support
• AD&D - Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance - Subscriber Premium Sharing
• AD&D - Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance - Spouse Premium Sharing
• AD&D - Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance - Dependent Premium Sharing

For UT Select Medical Plan Enrollment:

• Insurance - Medical - Employer

You may see dollar amount listed under the Pre-Tax Deductions or Post Tax Deductions section of your payslip. These amounts are deductions from your pay on a pre- or post-tax basis, as indicated.  Depending upon your specific plan enrollment, you may have premium deductions for the following plans:

• UT Select Medical (your 50% part-time premium and/or your dependent premium)
• Delta Dental*
• Superior Vision*
• Voluntary AD&D*
• Voluntary Term Life
• Disability
• UT FLEX

* If not yet enrolled in or not eligible for the Premium Sharing Credit plan.

If you are enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP with dependent coverage, you pay your 50% dependent premium directly to Academic Health Plans on a monthly basis.  These premiums will not appear on your payslip.

You will need to decline UT Select in the My UT Benefits enrollment system. You will then need to elect AcademicBlue SHIP in the Academic Health Plans enrollment system. These elections must be completed by the end of your 31 day initial enrollment period.

You will need to waive AcademicBlue SHIP coverage in the Academic Health Plans waiver system. You will then need to elect UT Select in the My UT Benefits enrollment system. These elections must be completed by the end of your 31 day initial enrollment period.

You must be enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP or another health plan, such as through a parent, spouse, or the Healthcare.gov Marketplace.

If you are a part-time AGS employee, you are automatically enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit plan in the My UT Benefits enrollment system. You will need to elect a dental plan, a vision plan, and/or the voluntary AD&D plan. These elections must be completed by the end of your initial enrollment period.

If you are a full-time AGS employee, you will need to decline UT Select in the My UT Benefits enrollment system and then elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan. You will receive a notice within the My UT Benefits enrollment system that you must upload documentation of your other health plan coverage. If you are enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP, you may skip this step. If you are enrolled in another health plan, you must upload documentation of that coverage. You will then need to elect a dental plan, a vision plan, and/or the voluntary AD&D plan. These elections must be completed by the end of your initial enrollment period. 

If you are a part-time AGS employee, you will immediately see adjusted premiums when you enroll in dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D plans.

If you are a full-time AGS employee, your premiums for dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D plans do not immediately change after you elect the premium sharing credit plan. Your premium sharing credit plan requires approval. The approval process occurs several times during the enrollment period, prior to each semi-monthly and monthly payroll, to ensure your dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D premiums are correct on your payslip. After the approval is completed, you can view your premium changes in My UT Benefits.

If enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP, you will need to add dependents in the Academic Health Plans enrollment system by the end of your 31 day initial enrollment period. You will need to attest to their eligibility for coverage and may be asked to provide documentation of their eligibility as dependents at a later time.

If enrolled in UT Select, you will need to add dependents in the My UT Benefits enrollment system by the end of your 31 day initial enrollment period. You will need to upload documentation to verify their eligible dependent status. Review Evidence of Eligibility to learn more about document requirements.

AGS employees may need to use multiple insurance systems, including:

You will not have access to the enrollment systems prior to your hire date. If you can’t access the enrollment systems after your hire date, review Enrollment Prerequisites under Insurance Enrollment to ensure you have completed all required onboarding tasks. If these tasks do not appear in your Workday inbox, please contact your department regarding the status of your Workday hire process. UT will not send your information to the enrollment systems until your hire process is complete and you have completed all required onboarding tasks in Workday.

After UT sends your information to the enrollment systems, you will be sent emails within one to two business days. Though the timing may differ, you will receive emails from both Academic Health Plans and My UT Benefits. Receipt of the following emails indicates that you have been enrolled or are eligible to enroll in insurance, and have been granted access to the enrollment system:

Part-Time AGS Employees

Full-Time AGS Employees

If you are a new AGS employee and new to AcademicBlue SHIP coverage, AcademicBlue SHIP GAP coverage is available at full premium cost to you for the month of August.  You will need to enroll in the Academic Health Plans enrollment system between July 15 – August 31. If you don’t enroll by August 1, your coverage will be effective as of your payment date. If you are not enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP effective September 1 as an AGS employee, your August GAP coverage will be rescinded by Academic Health Plans.

Even if you buy August GAP coverage for yourself and dependents, you are still considered a new AGS employee effective September 1, and will still need to enroll in AcademicBlue SHIP if you are a full-time AGS employee, and will also need to add dependents to your AGS employee coverage by October 1.

If you are a part-time AGS employee starting January 16, you will be automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP effective January 1. Your January 1 coverage will not be activated until January 16 or later, depending upon when your hire process and required onboarding tasks are completed.

If you need to utilize care prior to the activation of your AcademicBlue SHIP, you may need to pay out of pocket and then submit a claim to BlueCross BlueShield of Texas once your coverage has been activated. If you utilize care at UHS in January prior to your activation of coverage effective January 1, please make UHS aware that your AcademicBlue SHIP coverage is pending at scheduling or check in. UHS will not require you to pay out-of-pocket as long as your AcademicBlue SHIP coverage effective date is January 1. If you schedule a Telehealth appointment online, you may be responsible for those charges, unless you contact UHS directly regarding your pending insurance coverage.

If you are a full-time AGS employee starting January 16, you will be automatically enrolled in UT Select effective January 16. If you choose to decline UT Select and enroll in AcademicBlue SHIP, your AcademicBlue SHIP coverage will be effective January 1. If you choose to remain enrolled in UT Select, and lose voluntary or international SHIP coverage on December 31, you may purchase AcademicBlue SHIP Gap coverage for January. Enrollment for Gap coverage is completed in the Academic Health Plans voluntary enrollment system.

All other employee group insurance plan coverage, including dental, vision, and voluntary AD&D will be effective January 16.  

No, coverage is not permitted in both plans.

No.  As long as you remain a continuous, benefits eligible AGS employee throughout the plan year, your AcademicBlue SHIP coverage and premium support will continue. You will only be able to make a change to your coverage within 31 calendar days of a qualifying life event. Review Mid-Year Change of Status Enrollment under Insurance Enrollment for more information.

You may also need to take action at the beginning of each plan year, depending upon your enrollment status. Review Open/Annual Enrollment under Insurance Enrollment for more information.

AGS employment for the fall semester generally ends January 15. In this case, your coverage will end January 31. If you remain a student or transition to a graduate student fellowship, you may enroll in voluntary AcademicBlue SHIP coverage within 31 days of your loss of coverage. To enroll in voluntary AcademicBlue SHIP coverage effective February 1, choose the Students with a Qualifying Life Event option on the Academic Health Plans voluntary enrollment webpage.

If you are an F-1 or J-1 international student or are no longer a student or fellow, review Loss of Eligibility & Continuation of Coverage for your insurance options.

AGS employment for the spring semester generally ends May 31. In this case, your coverage will end May 31. If you remain a student or transition to a graduate student fellowship, you may enroll in voluntary AcademicBlue SHIP coverage effective June 1 during the voluntary summer enrollment period (May 1 - July 31) on the Academic Health Plans voluntary enrollment webpage.

If you are an F-1 or J-1 international student or are no longer a student or fellow, review Loss of Eligibility & Continuation of Coverage for your insurance options.

A change from 20-29 SWH to 30+ SWH, results in a change from part-time to full-time insurance status. You have 31 days from the date of your change to make elections.

If this change occurs on the first of the month, the plan changes described below are effective on the same first of the month date. If this change occurs mid-month (after the first), the plan changes described below are effective the first of the following month. 

If enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP at the time of this change, your AcademicBlue SHIP coverage will be canceled and you will be automatically enrolled in UT Select. Your Premium Sharing Credit plan enrollment will also be canceled. These changes occur because state statute requires all full-time employees to be automatically enrolled in UT Select.

If you would like to change back to AcademicBlue SHIP, you will need to re-enroll yourself and your dependents in AcademicBlue SHIP in the Academic Health Plans enrollment system. You will also need to decline UT Select in the My UT Benefits enrollment system, and re-elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan to continue receiving your dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D coverage at no premium cost. To make dental and vision elections in My UT Benefits, use the “Loss of Academic Blue (UT Student Health Insurance Plan) life event, and be sure to follow the event date guidance to input the correct event date.

If you would like to remain with UT Select, you only need to take action in the My UT Benefits enrollment system if you need to add dependents to UT Select, or would like to make other changes to your employee group insurance plans, including dental and vision coverage.

If you take no action, you will remain enrolled in UT Select without dependent medical coverage and you will begin paying premiums for dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D plans that you may have previously elected and received at no premium cost.

A change from 30+ SWH to 20-29 SWH, results in a change from full-time to part-time insurance status, unless you qualify as ACA full-time.  Review Benefits Eligible Employment for more information about ACA full-time status. You have 31 days from the date of your change to make elections.

If the full-time to part-time change occurs on the first of the month, the plan changes described below are effective on the same first of the month date. If this change occurs mid-month (after the first), the plan changes described below are effective the first of the following month.

If enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP at the time of this change, you and your dependents will remain enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP. You will either remain enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit or be automatically enrolled with your new part-time premium sharing credit amount. Review “Premium Sharing Credit” under Insurance Funding to confirm the new monthly credit amount. You have the option to change your dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D coverage if those premiums exceed your new premium sharing credit amount. In My UT Benefits, use the “Gain of Academic Blue (UT Student Health Insurance Plan) on XX/XX/XXXX” event that automatically appears with this change. “XX/XX/XXXX” will be your personal change date. 

If you take no action, you and your dependents will remain enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and you may begin paying premiums for dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D plans if your new part-time premium sharing credit amount does not fully cover those premiums.

If enrolled in UT Select at the time of this change, your UT Select coverage will be canceled and you will be automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP. This change occurs because UT Select for part-time employees has a premium cost and AcademicBlue SHIP is provided to AGS employees at no premium cost.

If you would like to remain with AcademicBlue SHIP, you will need to enroll dependents in the Academic Health Plans enrollment system. If you are not enrolled in dental, vision, and voluntary AD&D plans and would like to receive coverage at no premium cost, you muse enroll in those plans in the My UT Benefits enrollment system. In My UT Benefits, use the "Gain of Academic Blue (UT Student Health Insurance Plan) on XX/XX/XXXX" event that automatically appears with this change. "XX/XX/XXXX will be your personal change date.

If you would like to change back to UT Select, you will need to re-elect coverage for yourself and your dependents in the My UT Benefits enrollment system. You will also need to waive AcademicBlue SHIP in the Academic Health Plans waiver system.

If you take no action, you will remain enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP without dependent coverage and you will continue paying premiums for any other employee group insurance coverage you may have previously elected, with the exception of dental, vision, and voluntary AD&D. Because you are automatically enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit plan, you may receive all or a portion of your dental, vision, and voluntary AD&D premiums at no cost. Review "Premiums Sharing Credit" under Insurance Funding to confirm your monthly credit amount. 

Though the timing may differ, you will receive emails from both Academic Health Plans and My UT Benefits.  Receipt of the following emails indicates that your status has changed and that you may proceed with enrollment changes:

Full-time to Part-time AGS Employment Change

Part-time to Full-time AGS Employment Change

Your job may have been terminated in Workday if your expected end date passed without a job extension, resulting in termination of your insurance coverage. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator or HR Contact in your department so they can verify and initiate the process to reinstate your job. If your job is reinstated at the same part-time or full-time status that you had, all of your insurance coverage should be reinstated. If your job is reinstated with a change to your part-time or full-time status, see the FAQs below for more information about action you may need to take.

• What happens to my coverage if my AGS employment changes from part-time to full-time?
• What happens to my coverage if my AGS employment changes from full-time to part-time?

If your job changes aren’t completed in Workday prior to the employment start date of the new semester, outstanding job changes may result in a change to your part-time status. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator or HR Contact in your department so they can verify and complete your job changes. 

Once your job changes are completed and your part-time status is restored, you will receive another notification about your change to part-time status. If you were enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP, your coverage should be reinstated. If you were enrolled in UT Select, action is required in My UT Benefits to elect UT Select for yourself and your dependents, and in the the Academic Health plans waiver system to waive AcademicBlue SHIP. Changes must be made within 31 days of receiving the notification of your part-time status, or you will remain enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP.

If your job changes aren’t completed in Workday prior to the employment start date of the new semester, outstanding job changes may result in a change to your full-time status. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator or HR Contact in your department so they can verify and complete your job changes. 

Once your job changes are completed and your full-time status is restored, you will receive another notification about your change to full-time status and automatic enrollment in UT Select. If you had UT Select dependent coverage, action is required in My UT Benefits to elect UT Select dependent coverage.

If you were enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP, your coverage should be reinstated. If you were enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit plan, action is required in My UT Benefits to decline UT Select and elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan to continue receiving dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D coverage at no premium cost. 

Changes must be made within 31 days of receiving the notice of your full-time status, or you will remain enrolled in UT Select subscriber only coverage.

Your job change may not have been completed in Workday prior to the effective date. Once that is completed, your change will be sent to the enrollment vendors and you will receive email notifications within one to two days. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator or HR Contact in your department so they can verify and complete your job change.

Please also verify that your email addresses in Workday are correct. 

You must elect UT Flex each year. If you do not make changes to your UT Select Medical, Premium Sharing Credit, Delta Dental, Superior Vision, AD&D, Life or Disability coverage by July 31, your current elections will automatically continue. UT Flex does not automatically continue.

You must elect AcademicBlue SHIP dependent coverage each year. If you are currently enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP with dependent coverage and do not elect dependent coverage by October 1, your dependent coverage will end August 31.

If you are currently enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and don’t have dependent coverage, your coverage will automatically continue for the new plan year.

Part-time AGS employees must waive AcademicBlue SHIP coverage each year, if they don’t want it. If you are a part-time AGS employee and were automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP, but waived coverage for the 2022-2023 plan year, you must waive coverage again for the 2023-2024 plan year. If you don't waive coverage for the new plan year and you remain a part-time AGS employee, you will be automatically enrolled in coverage effective September 1.

You must elect AcademicBlue SHIP dependent coverage each year. If you want dependent coverage for the 2023-2024 plan year, you must enroll your dependents in AcademicBlue SHIP by October 1, even if they are currently covered. If you do not enroll your currently covered dependents by October 1, their coverage ends August 31 and only coverage for you will automatically continue effective September 1.

Regardless of when you enroll your dependents during the July 15 – October 1 enrollment period, their coverage will be effective September 1; however, coverage may not be active on September 1 if you have not completed enrollment before that date. To avoid a temporary lapse in active coverage, consider enrolling your dependents by August 22.

You will pay your 50% portion of the dependent premium for September 2023 coverage on the date you enroll or up to three business days later, once Academic HealthPlans approves coverage. Your remaining monthly payments for 2023-2024 dependent coverage will begin on October 1 for October 2023 coverage and continue on the first of each month thereafter.

Your first monthly payment for 2023-2024 plan year dependent coverage will be made at the time you enroll your dependents in coverage during the July 15 – October 1 enrollment period. Your 50% share of dependent coverage for September 2023 will be paid to Academic HealthPlans on the day you enroll or up to three business days later, depending upon when Academic HealthPlans approves your enrollment.

Consider the requirement to pay your share of the September 2023 dependent premium at the time of enrollment in determining the best time for you to complete your dependent enrollment between July 15 – October 1.

Regardless of when you enroll your dependents during the July 15 – October 1 enrollment period, their coverage will be effective September 1; however, coverage may not be active on September 1 if you have not completed enrollment before that date. To avoid a temporary lapse in active coverage, consider enrolling your dependents by August 22.  

After you pay your share of the September 2023 dependent premium at the time of enrollment, your remaining monthly payments for 2023-2024 plan year dependent coverage will begin on October 1 for October 2023 coverage and continue on the first of each month thereafter.

Your final monthly payment for dependent coverage for the 2022-2023 plan year will be for August 2023 coverage on August 1. Depending upon the timing of your dependent enrollment for the 2023-2024 plan year, it’s possible you could pay your dependent premium for September 2023 before you pay your dependent premium for August 2023.

Part-time AGS employees must waive AcademicBlue SHIP coverage each year. If you are a part-time AGS employee and were automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP, but waived coverage for the 2022-2023 plan year, you must waive coverage again for the 2023-2024 plan year, or you will be automatically enrolled in coverage effective September 1, if you remain a part-time AGS employee. You may waive your coverage between September 1 – October 1.

As a full-time AGS employee, you will not have access to the Academic HealthPlans waiver system. You will need to email Academic HealthPlans by October 1 to waive your coverage for the 2023-2024 plan year.

More information about the UT Select Medical plan and other employee group insurance plans is available on the UT System Office of Employee Benefits’ Annual Enrollment website and in the 2023-2024 Annual Enrollment & Resource Guide for Employees.

Changes to the AcademicBlue SHIP include:

• Routine Foot Care will now be covered for all medically necessary diagnosis.

More information about AcademicBlue SHIP is available on the Academic HealthPlans’ AcademicBlue SHIP AGS Employee website.

A side-by-side comparison of the two medical plans is available in the 2023-2024 UT Select & AcademicBlue SHIP Comparison Chart.

Premiums for the other employee group insurance plans are included in the 2023-2024 Annual Enrollment & Resource Guide for Employees and Plan Year 2023-2024 Benefits Cost Worksheet for Employees.

Part-time AGS employees are automatically enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit plan. Full-time AGS employees must decline UT Select (even if not currently enrolled) and elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan. Part-time and full-time AGS employees must then elect Delta Dental, Superior Vision and/or Voluntary AD&D coverage in My UT Benefits by July 31. If you are enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP for the 2023-2024 plan year, you do not need to upload Evidence of Waiver (EOW), which is proof of other medical coverage. If you are enrolled in another health plan, you must upload EOW by August 15.

Human Resources recommends that you make these changes by July 31 for the simplest experience. You will need to elect AcademicBlue SHIP in the Academic HealthPlans enrollment system. You will also need to decline UT Select in My UT Benefits.

If you make these changes after July 31, you must elect AcademicBlue SHIP no later than October 1 in the Academic HealthPlans enrollment system. By electing AcademicBlue SHIP, you create a qualified status change opportunity and may then decline UT Select by choosing the “Gain of AcademicBlue (UT Student Health Insurance Plan)” life event in My UT Benefits with an effective date of 8/31/23. You must decline UT Select by October 1.

If you decline UT Select as a part-time AGS employee, you will be automatically enrolled in the Premium Sharing Credit plan and must then elect dental, vison and/or voluntary AD&D, if you haven’t already, to receive those plans at no premium cost for the 2023-2024 plan year.

If you decline UT Select as a full-time AGS employee, you must elect the Premium Sharing Credit plan and dental, vision and/or voluntary AD&D, if you haven’t already, to receive those plans at no premium cost for the 2023-2024 plan year. Your Premium Sharing Credit plan enrollment will be approved in time for your first paycheck of the new plan year.

If you are part-time, you will need to waive AcademicBlue SHIP in the Academic HealthPlans waiver system between September 1 – October 1. If you are full-time, you will need to email Academic HealthPlans to waive AcademicBlue SHIP between September 1 – October 1.

You will also need to elect UT Select in My UT Benefits< between September 1 – October 1. By waiving AcademicBlue SHIP, you create a qualified status change opportunity to enroll in UT Select by choosing the “Loss of AcademicBlue (UT Student Health Insurance Plan)” life event in My UT Benefits with an effective date of 8/31/23.

When you elect UT Select, don’t forget to review the other employee group insurance plans available to you and elect or decline coverage, as desired.

If you elect or waive AcademicBlue SHIP before the October 1 deadline, you may elect dental, vision or other employee group insurance plans as part of a qualifying life event when you decline or elect UT Select as a result of your AcademicBlue SHIP change. Review these FAQs for details about how to make these changes:

• I’m currently enrolled in UT Select and want to change to AcademicBlue SHIP.  How do I do that?
• I’m currently enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and want to change to UT Select.  How do I do that?

You may be able to elect dental, vision or other employee group insurance plans if you experience a qualified status change event during the 2023-2024 plan year. You must elect coverage in My UT Benefits with 31 days of your status change event, such as a change in your part-time or full-time insurance status or another life event.

If you maintain the same health plan for both the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 plan years and do not elect or waive AcademicBlue SHIP by October 1, your only opportunity to elect dental, vision or other employee group insurance plans is the July 15-31 enrollment period.

The employee group insurance program provides an Annual Enrollment period from July 15 – July 31 to permit employees to make elections for UT Select medical, Premium Sharing Credit, Delta Dental, Superior Vision, AD&D, Life, Disability and UT Flex coverage for the new plan year starting September 1. Outside of this Annual Enrollment opportunity, employees may only make changes to these plans if they experience a qualified status change event.

If you elect or waive AcademicBlue SHIP coverage after July 31, but before the October 1 enrollment deadline, that creates a qualified status change event that allows you to also decline or elect the UT Select medical plan, along with other employee group insurance plans by October 1.

No. Once your benefits eligible AGS employment ends, each of the plans will automatically be notified of your change in eligibility and will terminate your coverage. The timing of your coverage termination depends upon when action is taken by your department in Workday to end your eligible employment. Once your eligible employment is ended, you will receive an email notification that includes insurance continuation options and deadlines. If your AGS employee coverage hasn’t ended and you expect it to, please contact your department HR contact or graduate coordinator to clarify your employment status.

Yes, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) will mail you an ID card. This may take up to two weeks after your AcademicBlue SHIP enrollment is completed. You may also print or download a temporary ID card after registering for Blue Access for Members (BAM). To register for BAM, you will need your member ID and group number available in the Academic Health Plans student portal. You can register for the student portal on the Academic Health Plans website.

Yes, you will receive two ID cards. BlueCross BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) will mail you an ID card. You may also print or download a temporary ID card after registering for Blue Access for Members (BAM). Express Scripts will mail you an ID card for prescription benefits.  You may also view or download a temporary ID card after registering on the Express Scripts website. ID cards may take up to two weeks after your UT Select enrollment is completed.

• Use BlueChoice PPO network providers (you must select BlueChoice PPO)
• Use University Health Services (UHS) to receive benefits covered at 100% of the allowable amount for covered expenses
• Use AcademicLiveCare for a $0, including behavioral health counseling
• Use the 24/7 Nurseline for health questions at no cost
• Consider a Flexible Spending Account to use pre-tax funds to pay for your eligible out-of-pocket expenses
• Search for rebate and assistance programs, if prescribed specialty drugs (Goodrx.com may help identify options; no affiliation with UT benefits)

If you were enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP for the 2021-2022 plan year and experience increased out-of-pocket costs compared to UT Select, you may be eligible to apply for the Graduate School's Health Care Assistance Fund.

• Use BlueChoice PPO network providers
• Use MDLive at no cost, including behavioral health counseling
• Use University Health Services (UHS) to receive office visits for a reduced $10 copayment and a reduced $25 copayment for procedures
• Use the UT Health Network for reduced copayments and coinsurance
  • Office visits for the UT Austin School of Nursing Wellness Center are a reduced $10 copayment
• Use the 24/7 Nurseline for health questions at no cost
• Consider a Flexible Spending Account to use pre-tax funds to pay for your eligible out-of-pocket expenses

• Primary Care/General Medicine services
• Preventative services (e.g., physical exams, well woman exams)
• Designated Women’s Health clinic
• Contraceptive prescription and management
• STI testing and treatment
• Gender care and gender affirming hormone treatment
• Sports Medicine services
• Same day appointments for more urgent health care needs (UHS can provide IV hydration and some IV medications, perform laceration repairs, set uncomplicated fractures, administer nebulizer treatments, assess abdominal and headache pain, etc., although emergency and higher level care is referred to a community provider or hospital)
• Travel Health services Allergy injections (after starting allergy injections with an off-site allergist)
• Physical Therapy (after receiving a referral from a UHS or off-site provider)
• Nutrition counseling from our Registered, Licensed Dietician
• Radiology services including digital x-rays and many common ultrasound exams
• COVID-19 testing
• Common dermatology procedures like wart treatment and biopsy of skin lesions
• In-house clinical laboratory
• Integrated Health counseling services

Yes. These individuals are eligible for AcademicBlue SHIP due to their student status, along with the dental and vision plans available through Academic HealthPlans. They are also eligible for UT Select Medical, Delta Dental, and Superior Vision plans if they have competitively awarded fellowships with a total value of $10,000 or more. Non-employee fellows must pay the full cost for either AcademicBlue SHIP or UT Select, although the fellowship may include funding for insurance premiums. Review Insurance for Graduate Student Fellows for more details about plan options, enrollment, and billing.

If you have a competitively awarded fellowship valued at $10,000 or more, you may choose any of these medical, dental and vision plans.  Your choice of medical plan does not limit your choice of dental or vision plans.

*Graduate Student Fellows are not eligible for the premium sharing that benefits eligible employees receive and must pay the full premium cost for the UT Select Medical Plan.  The monthly premium amounts for Fellows are available on the Health Insurance Rates page. 

**Graduate Student Fellows pay the same monthly premium amounts as benefits eligible employees for these dental and vision plans.

If you are an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, you will be automatically enrolled in and charged for AcademicBlue SHIP by Texas Global.  No action is required by you unless you need to enroll your dependents in coverage, which must be done within 31 days of the date you lose your AcademicBlue SHIP coverage as an AGS employee.  If the semester enrollment period is closed or you need a different effective date, enroll your dependents via “Students with a Qualifying Life Event” on the international AcademicBlue SHIP enrollment web page.

If you are not an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, you must elect insurance as a fellow or you will not have coverage.  Your enrollment options are to:

• Enroll in voluntary AcademicBlue SHIP coverage within 31 days of the date you lose AGS employee AcademicBlue SHIP coverage. Please review your fellowship offer letter to confirm if your fellowship includes a supplement to offset the cost of coverage. If the semester enrollment period is closed or you need a different effective date, enroll via “Students with a Qualifying Life Event.”
• Enroll in UT Select Medical, Delta Dental and/or Superior Vision plans within 31 days of the date your fellowship starts, if you have a competitively awarded fellowship valued at $10,000 or more. You may enroll in the Delta Dental and/or Superior Vision plans even if you enroll in AcademicBlue SHIP for your medical plan.

Below are the standard AGS employment end dates and insurance termination dates for each semester.

*This will change to May 15 starting in Spring 2025.

Review Insurance for Graduate Student Fellows for more details about plan options, enrollment and billing.

You will be automatically enrolled in medical coverage as an AGS employee, but it may not be the same plan you chose as a fellow.  Part-time AGS employees are automatically enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP and full-time AGS employees are automatically enrolled in the UT Select Medical Plan. If you enrolled in the Delta Dental and/or Superior Vision plans as a fellow, those plans should continue with your AGS employment.  You have 31 days from your AGS employee hire date to change your medical plan, enroll dependents, or elect additional plans.

If you enrolled in the UT Select Medical Plan as a Graduate Student Fellow and then elect UT Select after you transition to AGS employment, you will have continuous coverage.  If you enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP as a Graduate Student Fellow, the effective date of your AGS employee medical insurance depends upon which plan you are enrolled in, which you may review below. 

*This will change to May 16 starting in Summer 2025.

Review the Enrollment for Newly Benefits Eligible AGS Employees FAQs above for more detailed information about AGS employee insurance enrollment.

Yes, you must still waive insurance with Texas Global every semester so you are not responsible for paying the cost of international AcademicBlue SHIP on your tuition and fee bill. The deadline to request a waiver is the 1st class day in summer and 10^th class day in fall and spring.  Texas Global will audit to ensure that students who submitted a Graduate Student with an Academic Assignment waiver have a benefits eligible job in Workday. More information about the waiver process and deadlines is available on the Texas Global Waiving the Student Health Insurance Plan webpage. 

Initially, you will be enrolled in international AcademicBlue SHIP with Academic HealthPlans and will see the cost of supplemental/early arrival coverage on your tuition and fee bill. Once you are enrolled in AcademicBlue SHIP as an AGS employee effective August 1, your double coverage will be identified by Academic HealthPlans and reported to Human Resources.  Human Resources will notify Texas Global and the cost of supplemental/early arrival coverage will either be removed from your tuition and fee bill or you will receive a refund of any amount paid for supplemental/early arrival coverage. 

Yes, the plan and benefits are the same, although the premiums differ.  You are responsible for paying the full cost of AcademicBlue SHIP as an international student, including coverage for your dependents.  You pay your premium through your tuition and fee bill and pay the cost of dependent coverage directly to AcademicHealth Plans.  If you have a fellowship, it’s possible you may receive funding towards the cost of your insurance premiums. 

The university pays the full cost of AcademicBlue SHIP coverage for AGS employees and 50% of their dependent coverage premiums.  The remaining 50% premium for dependent coverage is paid by AGS employees directly to AcademicHealth Plans.

If you change between international student and AGS employee coverage under AcademicBlue SHIP, you will retain the same Member ID.