SEHP is a NYSHIP health insurance plan that is exclusive to SUNY and CUNY graduate students who are employed by their respective school/university. Eligible employees can select Individual coverage for just themselves, or Family coverage for themselves and their families.
The health insurance premium is made up of two parts: the employer portion and the employee portion. The situations described on this page are situations where you are only paying the employee portion of the premium.
Speak with your HBA or refer to the SEHP General Information Book if you have questions.
SUNY Graduate Eligibility
For SUNY Graduate Student Employees
To be eligible for SEHP coverage, SUNY graduate students must meet one of the two requirement lists:
Full Academic Year Employment
- Work at least one half an assistantship.
- Be employed at a stipend that would, over the course of the full academic year, pay at least 50% of the minimum stipend specific in the current GSEU Contract.
Hired Mid-Academic Year Employment
- Work at least one half an assistantship.
- Be hired mid-year.
- Be employed at a stipend that, if annualized, would pay at least 50% of the minimum stipend specified in the current GSEU Contract.
CUNY Graduate Eligibility
For CUNY Graduate Student Employees
To be eligible for SEHP coverage, CUNY graduate students must meet the following requirements:
- Be a matriculated doctoral student in a CUNY graduate program
- Be simultaneously employed in one of the following Professional Staff Congress (PSC) represented titles:
- Graduate Assistant A, B, C and D
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Lecturer
- Adjunct College Laboratory Technician
- Non-teaching Adjunct I, II
SUNY Visa Holders
For SUNY Graduate Student Employees
International students are required to have health insurance. In many cases, international students will be enrolled in the SUNY-mandated or CUNY-mandated insurance policy. However, eligible graduate student employees may enroll in SEHP as employment-based insurance.
Contact your HBA for more information regarding your specific situation.
SUNY F1 Visa Holders
SUNY F1 Visa holders who meet the eligibility requirements must enroll in SEHP.
The State University may waive this requirement if the F1 Visa holder can show proof of other coverage that, in the State University's judgement, meets or exceeds the coverage provided by SEHP.
SUNY J1 and J2 Visa Holders
SUNY J1 and J2 Visa holders must enroll for coverage under the State University of New York Medical Insurance Program for International Students and Scholars, subject to the coverage requirements of federal regulations, unless the Visa holder provides proof of other coverage that meets or exceeds the federal requirements.
Summer Coverage
SEHP coverage over the summer months is available to graduate students who are both:
- Employed in the preceding spring semester.
- Are expected to return to work in a SEHP-eligible position in the following fall semester. The employee's department must verify that the employee is expected to return.
If you are going to continue SEHP coverage over the summer, your health insurance premium will be collected from you before the end of the spring semester. Speak with your HBA for more details.
Graduate students who are not eligible for continuing SEHP coverage over the summer are eligible for COBRA coverage.
Dependent Eligibility
You can cover eligible dependents under SEHP with family coverage. Visit our other webpages to learn more.
Spouse, Domestic Partner and Divorce Coverage Dependent Children Coverage