Student Health Plan
About the Plan
UNM offers a health plan to eligible students as defined below in the Eligibility section. Students covered by this health plan may also purchase health insurance for their dependents, as well as optional dental and vision benefits.
The UNM Student Health Plan is administered by BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) through Academic HealthPlans (AHP), Inc. AHP is a separate company that provides program management and administrative services for the student health plans of BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico.
Students eligible for this benefit include:
- Graduate Students holding a Teaching Assistantship (TA)
- Graduate Assistantship (GA)
- Graduate Fellowships (GF)
- Research Assistantship (RA) or Project Assistantship as determined by the Office for Academic Personnel
- Medical Doctorate Students (MD)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Pharmacy Doctorate (PharmD)
- Medical Health Profession (MHP) Students
- Master of Science in Anesthesia Students
- Graduate Nursing Students (DNP, PHD, and Post-Graduate Certificate Program)
Students not eligible for this health plan can receive medical care at Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) for nominal fees. SHAC is available to all currently enrolled UNM students and health insurance is not required. For more information regarding services available at SHAC and to get help with researching other insurance options, call 505.277.3136 or visit the SHAC website.
UNM pays the premium, on a semester-by-semester basis, for eligible Graduate Assistants and Fellows.
MD, PharmD, PA, Medical Health Professionals, MSA, and Graduate Nursing (DNP, PHD, and Post-Graduate Certificate Program) students are billed their premium each semester through the UNM Bursar’s Office.
Students that meet the eligibility requirements will be automatically enrolled in ‘Student Only’ health coverage and will receive a registration email from Academic Health Plans (AHP) with additional information including how to submit a waiver request to opt-out of the health plan, how to enroll dependents, and how to elect dental and/or vision benefits.
To opt out of coverage, students must visit the AHP website to submit a waiver request and proof of other coverage documentation within the required timeframe for the applicable semester. AHP will send follow-up emails to students if additional information is needed. Additionally, AHP will send a confirmation email when the waiver request has been approved. Students should save the confirmation email for their records.
Yes. During the enrollment/waiver period, eligible students enrolled in the student health plan may also enroll their eligible dependents who are:
- A spouse or domestic partner residing with the covered student. See UAP 3790 for information on domestic partner eligibility.
- Child(ren) under age 26 (Medical coverage only)
Enrolling a Dependent
Contact Academic HealthPlans at 855.865.0352 or visit their website. A dependent may be enrolled for coverage under the student health plan at the time the student enrolls or within 31 days of a qualifying change in status event. See Qualifying Change in Status page for a list of Qualifying Events.
| QUESTIONS ABOUT | CONTACT: |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Questions about waiver process, initial enrollment, adding dependents, qualifying change of status event |
|
| Medical Plan Questions about plan coverage, ID cards, provider networks, prior authorization, prescriptions claims, billing, transitional care |
|
| BlueCare Dental Questions about enrollment, plan coverage, claims, dental providers |
|
| EyeMed Vision Questions about enrollment, plan coverage, claims, vision providers |
|
| Academic Emergency Services (AES) Academic Emergency Services covers emergency services, including emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage, if you were to experience an emergency while traveling 100 miles from home or outside your home country. |
|
UNM Student Health and Counseling (SHAC)
In order to receive the highest level of benefits under the UNM Student Health Plan, enrolled students are encouraged to utilize UNM Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) for all outpatient primary health care services. SHAC is located on main campus north of Johnson Center. Services include but are not limited to primary care and specialist visits, physical therapy, pharmacy, and counseling services. For a complete list of health services available at SHAC call (505) 277-3136 or visit the SHAC website.
UNM Team Health Network
If services are not available at SHAC, enrolled students and eligible dependents should seek treatment from facilities, doctors, and other health care providers in the UNM Team Health Network. A list of preferred providers is available by calling 844.866.2224.
BCBSNM PPO Network
If services outside of SHAC or the UNM Team Health Network are needed, enrolled students and eligible dependents should seek treatment from facilities, doctors, and other health care providers in the BCBSNM PPO Network. Contact UNM Team Health at 844.866.2224 for assistance in receiving services from the BCBSNM PPO Network.
Out-of-Network
Only emergency services are covered out-of-network. Health care professionals and facilities not contracted with SHAC, UNM Team Health or BCBSNM as preferred providers are considered out-of-network. Notify UNM Team Health first before receiving services from an Out-of-Network provider to ensure benefits can be obtained.
Dental benefits are available to students and their spouse or domestic partner. See the BlueCare Dental informational sheet for details on covered services, procedures and expected member cost share under the plan.
Enroll in Dental insurance by following the steps in the UNM Dental Enrollment User Guide.
Vision benefits are available to students and their spouse or domestic partner. See the EyeMed Vision informational sheet for details on the benefit, expected copays for services and additional discounts available through each of the plan options.
2026 - 2027 Documents
- Student Health Plan Participant Booklet
- Student Benefit Presentation
- Student Health Plan Highlight
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage (Coming Soon)
- UNM Student Health MRF (Hosted by BCBSNM)
- Student Health Plan Rates
2025 - 2026 Documents
The Transparency in Coverage Rule, issued in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of the Treasury, requires insurers and group health plans to publish machine-readable files starting July 1, 2022. These files contain in-network rates and out-of-network allowed amounts. Under the Transparency in Coverage Final Rule, plans and issuers will disclose pricing information to the public through machine-readable files accessible via a table of contents file. One file requires disclosure of negotiated rates between plans and providers for covered items and services, known as the In-Network File. The second file discloses unique allowed amounts and billed charges for out-of-network services, known as the Out-of-Network Allowed Amount File.
The machine-readable files for UNM Medical Plans can be accessed from the “UNM Student Health MRF” links above.




