Health Insurance Benefits for Graduate Assistants
Overview
For the 2024-25 academic year, the Board of Visitors approved a health insurance subsidy rate of 88% for graduate assistants, matching the university's share of other employee health insurance programs. The insurance covers the period from Aug 1-Jul 31, and the premium is paid fully between August and May through the Office of the University Bursar.
Contact the Student Medical Insurance office for information on enrollment, rates, coverage plans and other related information.
Students must meet the following criteria to receive this benefit:
- Maintain at least a half-time graduate assistantship (10 hours per week) for a period between August 10 and May 9
- Enroll in the university-sponsored health insurance plan
The insurance benefit is prorated and applied to your student bill through the Office of the University Bursar between August and May. Students must maintain at least a 50% assistantship for the entire academic year (August 10 to May 9) to receive the full benefit amount. Students who are employed for a shorter period will receive the benefit only during the period of their assistantship. Please review the FAQ section for a more detailed explanation.
The insurance subsidy is not available to students who choose to have alternate medical coverage.
To Claim the Benefit
To claim this benefit, eligible graduate assistants must sign up for the insurance plan through the VT Student Medical Insurance website. The insurance benefit will be automatically provided in a prorated amount, and the student's portion of the insurance cost will be applied as a charge to the student account. Normal University Bursar procedures for billing and payment will apply.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Insurance Benefit
Yes. Students who have a qualifying assistantship may only use the insurance benefit toward the university-sponsored health insurance plan.
No. The insurance subsidy is not available for non-VT-sponsored insurance plans.
No. The insurance benefit is a component of the graduate assistantship compensation. Only graduate students employed as graduate assistants (GA), graduate teaching assistants (GTA), or graduate research assistants (GRA) and who meet the above criteria are eligible.
If your appointment is effective August 10, the insurance office will send the adjustment to the Office of the University Bursar, so that your student bill is adjusted appropriately. The insurance policy would be effective August 1. You must apply for the insurance during the open enrollment period that begins July 1 and ends August 31.
If your assistantship begins later in the year and you meet the above criteria, you will begin receiving the benefit as soon as your assistantship appointment is entered in the system and your student bill will be adjusted. However, you will receive the benefit only for the period of your assistantship appointment.
Students who maintain assistantships for the entire academic year (August 10 through May 9) will receive the full benefit amount. If you are employed for a fraction of that time, you will receive the associated percentage of the benefit. For example, if you are on assistantship from January 1 to May 9, you are employed for one-half of the academic year. You will be eligible for approximately one-half of the benefit.
Students who purchased the university-sponsored health insurance for the academic year can remain on the insurance through the end of the coverage year (Jul 31) even if they graduate in May.
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