The eligibility criteria are very similar to those for the student health insurance waiver (though the plans and their application processes are completely separate). To be eligible, you must be an enrolled graduate student (program fee is ok) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and be working in a GEO-eligible position earning the minimums described below.

Full Year's Eligibility:
Earnings from May 24, 2009 through May 22, 2010 in a GEO position totaling at least $7258* (or full responsibility for teaching two three-credit course sections) make a graduate student employee eligible for all trust benefits (dental, vision, EAP and the wellness reimbursement) for the period of November 1, 2009-October 31, 2010. If your earnings occur only in the spring semester, but will total at least $7258*, you are eligible to enroll in the plans for November 1; however, your enrollment application must be accompanied by a copy of your employment contract or your letter of appointment.


Six Months' Eligibility: November through April
Earnings from May 24, 2009 through January 9, 2010 (basically fall semester earnings) in a GEO position totaling at least $3629* (or full responsibility for teaching one three-credit course section) make a graduate student employee eligible for for all trust benefits for one (1) six-month period: November 1, 2009-April 30, 2010.^


Six Months' Eligibility: May through October
Earnings from January 10, 2010 through May 22, 2010 (basically spring semester earnings) in a GEO position totaling at least $3629* (or full responsibility for teaching one three-credit course section) make a graduate student employee eligible for for all trust benefits for one (1) six-month period: May 1, 2010 - October 31, 2010.^


Eligibility for Spring-Entering Graduate Student Employees
The same guidelines apply, however, if you are eligible for a full year of coverage, your coverage will start with the first day of the spring semester (January 19, 2010) through October 31, 2010. If you are eligible only for one period of coverage, your coverage will be from May 1, 2010-October 31, 2010.

* These are subject to change when the University recalculates the minimums.^In cases where an employee's contract spans both time periods outlined above such that the appropriate coverage period cannot be definitively determined, the applicant may be offered the option to choose which of the two six month coverage periods he or she would prefer. In all other cases, the employee's coverage must be designated for the six month period that overlaps the majority of their term of employment.


When Graduate Employees Become Ineligible for the Plans
If you graduate, you will lose your eligibility at the end of the plan period you are currently enrolled in (i.e. if you are enrolled for the spring period of the plan and you graduate in May, your coverage will end October 31; if enrolled for the spring period of the plan and you graduate in September, your coverage will end October 31; if enrolled for the fall period of the plan and you graduate in February, your coverage will end April 30).

If you withdraw as a student from the university, fail to be enrolled as a student, or terminate your employment prior to earning the minimum earnings required above, you will lose your eligibility thirty (30) days after the aforementioned event occurs.

If you lose your eligibility, you have the option of continuing your coverage for up to 18 months by paying 102% of your monthly premium, per the federal COBRA legislation.