Health Insurance Information

Health Insurance Info

Learn more about Merrimack College health insurance requirements, insurances accepted, costs and deadlines. 

Health Insurance Accepted at Hamel Health

  • Insurances accepted
    • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Aetna, Cigna, Fallon, Harvard Pilgrim, MassHealth, Tufts, UnitedHealthcare
  • Copayment at time of visit (all major credit cards)
  • Most out of state insurances will pay for services limited to Emergency Services only
  • If you have any other insurance (BCBS Anthem, BCBS of TX, etc.) you must call your insurance provider and request an out of network rider and review the No Surprise Billing Act information below.
  • If your health insurance is out-of-network you may request a Good Faith Estimate.

In order to ensure our community members have access to high-quality medical care, students, faculty or staff who use Hamel Health Center will be charged directly through their own health insurance as they would at other medical facilities or their own doctor’s office.

Health Insurance Requirement

All full-time graduate and undergraduate students attending Merrimack College must carry health insurance. You are automatically enrolled in the College-offered health insurance plan. If you prefer to carry your own health insurance policy, please fill out a waiver to document coverage. In order to ensure our community members have access to high-quality medical care, students, faculty or staff who use Hamel Health Center will be charged directly through their own health insurance as they would at other medical facilities or their own doctor’s office.

Student Health Insurance Deadlines and Costs

No Surprises Billing Act

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, like a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible. You may have additional costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” means providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan to provide services. Out-of-network providers may be allowed to bill you for the difference between what your plan pays and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your plan’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. Surprise medical bills could cost thousands of dollars depending on the procedure or service.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get out-of-network care. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

If you think you’ve been wrongly billed, contact: