91´ÎÔª

Health insurance helps pay for medical care, like doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays. It protects you from paying the full cost out of pocket.

It helps cover expensive medical bills if you get sick, injured, or need regular care. Without it, you’d have to pay for everything yourself.

A co-pay is a small fee you pay when you go to the doctor — for example, $20 for a regular visit or $40 to see a specialist.

A deductible is the amount you pay each year before your insurance starts covering most costs. For SHIP, your deductible is 100% covered at Curry Health Center.

After you meet your deductible, insurance usually pays a percentage of the bill.

If you get care at Curry Health Center with SHIP, you don't have to pay for co-insurance. If you get care outside of Curry Health Center with SHIP, insurance pays 80%, and you pay 20%.

Yes. Insurance helps, but you still pay things like co-pays, part of the bill (co-insurance), or the deductible.

The Montana University System requires all on-campus students who are taking 6 or more credits and paying the health service fee as part of their tuition, to have and maintain major health coverage the entire time they are attending classes.

Good health is essential to your academic success. Having adequate insurance makes sure you get the care you need to maintain good health and succeed.

All students, including athletes, are required to have their own primary health coverage. The coverage provided by the 91´ÎÔª to athletes is secondary and used in the event of an illness or injury obtained during participation in a sport.

Students are not required to purchase the insurance offered by the 91´ÎÔª. The plan is offered as an option to satisfy the insurance requirement.

You can meet this requirement in one of the following ways:

• Stay on your parent’s, family’s, or guardian’s insurance plan
• Use coverage through your employer
• Purchase a private health insurance plan
• Or purchase the AcademicBlue plan, UM’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This is UM’s student-specific insurance, and you’ll see us refer to it as SHIP at Curry Health Center

Learn more about SHIP in the ‘Student Health Insurance Plan’ section of the Curry Health Center website.

If you’re on Medicaid from a different state as a dependent on the plan (i.e. parent is primary):

• Your coverage does meet UM’s insurance requirement
• It won’t work for regular care in Montana
• It only covers emergencies/ER visits

If you’re on Medicaid from a different state and are not a dependent on the plan:

• Your coverage does not meet UM’s insurance requirement
• You will have to find another insurance option

Every insurance plan is different, so we can’t say for sure what your plan covers or where. You should contact your insurance provider to confirm your coverage, especially if you have a medical condition that requires ongoing care or prescriptions. It’s better to know now than to find out you’re not covered when you need care.

You'll verify your insurance selection each semester in GrizPortal during registration (look for it under Action Items). Once you submit your choice, you can’t change it in GrizPortal.

If you need to change your selection, please do so before the 15th day of class:

Before the 15th Class Day: Fill out the

Both forms require your signature and are processed in 3–5 business days.
For more details and to access the forms, visit the Insurance section of the Curry Health Center website.

Insurance selection happens during Fall and Spring registration. Spring coverage runs through July 31, and Fall coverage begins August 1.

Summer-only coverage is not available.

Yes, you can. Right now, Curry Health Center does not bill private insurance for services — except for the AcademicBlue student plan (SHIP). Instead, charges for medical and counseling services are applied directly to your student account, and you're responsible for payment. If you want to be reimbursed, you can submit a self-claim to your insurance. Step-by-step instructions are available to help with that process.

Important upcoming change:
Starting January 1, 2026, Curry’s medical clinic (not counseling or dental) will begin billing all insurance plans for services. Here’s what that means:

• You’ll still pay the student health fee (currently $303/semester) for access to care
• You’ll need active health insurance to receive medical services — or be prepared to pay out of pocket — to receive care.

To prepare, make sure you're covered by one of the following:

• A parent/guardian’s plan
• An employer’s plan
• A private insurance plan
• Or AcademicBlue (SHIP)

This change won’t take effect until January 1, 2026, but it’s a good idea to plan ahead and watch for updates.

The Student Health Insurance Plan provides coverage for medical and counseling services and prescription coverage for all members. Vision and dental coverage are included for students who are under the age of 19 only.

The AcademicBlue student health insurance plan, underwritten by Blue Cross Blue Shield, is offered as an option to satisfy the insurance requirement.

It is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan with Gold level benefit coverage. Although a private plan, it is specifically designed for Montana University System students. 

Additional information on the plan, can be found by visiting the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) section of the Curry Health Center website.

The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) runs on a yearly cycle from August 1 to July 31, but it's purchased one semester at a time.

• Fall semester coverage:
  • August 1 – January 31 (6 months)
• Spring semester coverage:
  • If you had SHIP in the fall: February 1 – July 31 (6 months)
  • If you did not have SHIP in the fall: January 1 – July 31 (7 months)

Important: Your insurance coverage won’t begin until your tuition and fees are fully paid and finalized.

The current premium costs can be found by visiting the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) section of the Curry Health Center website.

If you get care at Curry Health Center:

• Nearly all services are covered at 100%
• You don’t pay co-pays, the deductible, or co-insurance

If you get care outside of Curry:

• You will pay the co-pay, deductible, and co-insurance
• It’s best to use Curry or In-Network providers when possible
• Co-pays:
  • $20 for a primary care visit
  • $40 for a specialist visit
• Deductible: $500
• Co-insurance: 80% insurance / 20% patient

Reminder: Not all providers or pharmacies work with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It’s up to you to check if they’re in-network before getting care.

No. Although there are advantages to using the Curry Health Center, members can utilize any providers they wish.

Yes, the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Whether you are in Missoula, or at home for the weekend, this plan provides coverage worldwide.

No. Although some providers may require a referral to treat you, they are not required by the carrier.

When you register for classes each fall and spring semester, you’ll be prompted to make a health insurance selection. That’s your chance to choose SHIP.

If you initially waive the plan, you have until the 15th class day to change your selection.

Important: Your coverage won’t start until you’ve finalized and paid your tuition bill. For billing questions, contact UMstudentaccts@mso.umt.edu.

The cost of SHIP is added to your regular semester bill and is paid along with your tuition and fees. If you have questions about the payment, contact Business Services Student Accounts at 406-243-2223.