Medical Insurance Subsidy: Graduate Assistants, Fellows & Instructors
To be eligible for the subsidy program, a graduate student must meet the following requirements:
- Already enrolled in Student Accident and Sickness Insurance, which is available to all Mizzou students.
- At least a quarter-time (25% FTE, or 10 hours per week) assistant or instructor with a minimum salary or stipend amount of $2,452.00 per semester, or a fellow with the same minimum stipend level. If the student has a half-time assistantship or instructor position (50% FTE, or 20 hours per week), the minimum amount of the salary required is $4,903.00 for 2008-2009. These amounts may be updated each year.
- Has a qualifying title, as defined by the Graduate Faculty Senate
- Working toward an advanced degree in a degree-seeking program (master’s, doctoral, educational specialist)
Qualifying students may also be eligible for a tuition waiver.
More Information
Frequently Asked Questions: Eligibility
If my research assistantship is paid by a grant, either my own or that of a faculty member, will my insurance premium be charged against the grant?
The insurance premium will not be charged against any grant written before August 2002. New grants written after August 2002 need to include the insurance subsidy premium in their budget. The grants are charged for the insurance subsidy at the end of each semester, and the charge is pro-rated over all qualifying appointments.
If I have a teaching assistantship for only one semester, can I get the insurance and the subsidy for just this semester?
Yes. The insurance policy is offered on an annual basis, but also for fall semester only, spring and summer semester together, and summer semester only.
If I have a teaching assistantship for only the fall semester, will I receive a subsidy for both fall and spring semesters?
No. You will only receive a subsidy for the semester that you hold a position that qualifies you for the subsidy. You, the student, will be responsible for the premiums for the insurance policy for any semester you do not hold a position that qualifies you for the subsidy.
Am I eligible for a summer term subsidy if I am a teaching or research assistant for the previous two semesters, or even for one semester?
The insurance policy is set up such that you must take the policy for both spring semester and summer semester together; therefore, if you have a qualifying position in the spring semester, you will automatically get the insurance coverage for the summer, as well as receive the subsidy. If you had a qualifying position for the spring semester, you will also receive the subsidy for the summer, whether or not you have a qualifying position in the summer.