The Graduate Student Benefits Committee was established to oversee the benefits available to graduate students in collaboration with the Office of Graduate Student Services. The benefits committee members answer graduate student questions related to graduate student benefits, advocate for enhancement of existing benefits, and recommend new benefits for graduate students to the Office of Graduate Student Services. All new benefits are subject to approval by the Office of Graduate Student Services, the University, and availability of funds.
Each enrolled graduate student is responsible for an annual graduate student activity fee that is charged to the student’s account at the beginning of the fall semester. The fee for the academic year 2019-2020 is $40/student. The graduate student activity fee allows the GSA to provide the following benefits to graduate students each year:
- GSA sponsored social events such as end of semester GSA barbecue, Graduate Student Speaker Series, ice-cream social, GSA happy hour etc.
- GSA travel grant
Covid19:
Wesleyan University is committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment in which every member of its community can thrive. As COVID-19 has evolved, so has our response to it. We have moved from a state of emergency to a state of watchful concern, much like our concern with seasonal health risks.
Please visit Keep Wes Safe for details on current Covid19 measures that the university is taking.
Health Insurance
University policy requires all graduate students to maintain health insurance. There are several health coverage plans available through Wesleyan University, via Arthur J. Gallagher & Co and CIGNA. These plans are subsidized by the university for graduate students who receive a stipend.
Enrollment period Nov – Dec.| Plan | Student Cost (2022 – 2023) | Payment Info |
| Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Student Insurance Plan): Enrollment by September 14th | ||
| Graduate Student with Stipend | $ 829.00 | Once per year, billed to student account in August/September. Payment plans available. |
| Graduate Student not on Stipend | $ 3,859 | Once per year, billed to student account in August/September. Payment plans available. |
| CIGNA: Only available to students who receive a stipend. hese rates are for Single subscribers. | ||
| Open Access Plus – Open Access Plus – In Network Only (HMO) | $244.36 | Monthly, deducted from stipend payments.($2932.32 per year) |
| Open Access Plus – Open Access Plus (POS) | $288.79 | Monthly, deducted from stipend payments.($3,465.48 per year) |
| Open Access Plus – High Deductible Health Plan (HSA) | $182.52 | Monthly, deducted from stipend payments.($2190.24 per year) |
| EyeMed Vision Care | $4.71 | Monthly (in addition to other CIGNA Plan), deducted from stipend payments.($56.52 per year) |
| Employees whose annualized full-time base salary is less than or equal to $65,396 are eligible for Monthly Premium Subsidy. | ||
| Employee | $67.88 | Subsidy credits are applied to the employee paycheck based on pay frequency. |
| Employee Plus Child(ren) | $146.11 | |
| Employee Plus Spouse/Domestic Partner | $146.11 | |
| Family, Including Spouse/Domestic Partner | $146.11 | |
More information regarding the costs of health coverage is available here.
Information about health services provided through Wesleyan University can be found at Davison Health Center.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Plan Information:
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (usually referred to as Gallagher-Koster) provides a Student Injury and Sickness Insurance plan.
- The health coverage insurance plan (Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan) is a PPO insurance plan available to all graduate students.
- This plan covers semester breaks, summer vacation and international travel.
- Most of the procedures performed at the Davison Health Center do not require a co-payment if covered by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co insurance plan.
- Vision care benefits (see plan details pg.14 for more information)
- Dental care benefits are available for students under the age of 26 including two annual exams (see plan details pg.13 for more information)
- Frequently asked Questions about this plan
- 2022-2023 Insurance Rates
- 2022-2023 Plan Details
To sign up, go to Benefits Dashboard at Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk
NOTE: Students covered under an insurance plan other than that offered by A.J. Gallagher & Co. (including plans offered by CIGNA through the University) must submit an Online Petition to Waive this health insurance at the start of each academic year.
CIGNA Plan Information:
This plan is limited to full-time, degree-seeking graduate students who receive a stipend.
The healthcare plans offered via CIGNA include both Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Point of Service (POS) options. Information regarding CIGNA plans can be found on the Graduate Student Services webpage. These plans may be of interest to graduate students with complex medical issues, those with families, or those with plans to become pregnant. These are the same plans offered to professors and other staff.
The CIGNA vision benefit covers in-network eye exams at no cost or $75 reimbursement for out-of-network eye exams. Additional coverage for eyeglasses and contacts are offered in the optional EyeMed offers an optional vision package. This is the only vision plan offered through Wesleyan and is not subsidized.
Dental Insurance
Voluntary dental coverage plan is offered through Wesleyan, via Standard Life Insurers. This is a stand alone dental plan with in-network providers located nationally. Plans run from September 1 to September 1 of the following year. Enrollment is completed on-line at http://Wesleyan.dental-enroll.com. Click here for dental plan flyer and detail about eligibility, plan options and enrollment which can be found under the dental insurance tab.
2022-2023 Academic year
| High Option DPO/DPO -Copay $25 per visit -Plan Max: $3,000 | -Covers basic (90%), diagnostic, & preventive care (100%) -Covers basic services (80%) -Covers major services in the second year (50%) | $685.68 yearly, $57.14 per month enrollment fee of $35.00 |
| Medium Option DPO/DPO -Copay $25 per visit -Plan Max: $1,500 | -Covers basic (90%), diagnostic, & preventive care (100%) -Covers basic services (80%) -Covers major services in the second year (50%) | $571.32 yearly, $47.61 per month enrollment fee of $35.00 |
| Low Option DPO/DPO Service Class -Copay $25 per visit -Plan Max: $1,500 | -Covers basic (80%), diagnostic, & preventive care (100%) -Covers basic services (80%) -No major services covered. | $351.96 yearly, $29.33 per month enrollment fee of $35.00 |
Information regarding health insurance and dental coverage outside of that provided and subsidized by Wesleyan can be found through the state health insurance exchanges https://www.healthcare.gov or at ehealthinsurance.com. If you have an insurance plan with a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual, you could be eligible to use a Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to pay for deductibles and other medical expenses.
Please note that graduate students are not eligible for dental insurance through Delta Dental.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
CAPS provides comprehensive short-term mental health services through multidisciplinary integration with the Davison Health Center and WesWell. Wesleyan provides an on-campus registered nurse practitioner (PMH-APRN) to aid students managing prescriptions. Students who utilize CAPS services may discuss in confidence any worries, distressing feelings, or difficult situations they are currently experiencing. CAPS goal is to assist students as they navigate through life’s challenges within the context of a highly rigorous and demanding academic environment.
Valuable resources for students, faculty and staff, including information on how to schedule an appointment with a counselor, how to get help in an emergency, and useful resources on various mental health topics can be found at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website. Accommodations for graduate students are coordinated by Accessibility Services.
A list of outside providers that accept student insurance can be found here.
Prescriptions
The following are the nearest pharmacies to Wesleyan campus and offer over-the-counter as well as prescription medications. Many times the pharmacists on call can also answer questions over the phone about illnesses and medications. If your prescription is not covered by your insurance, GoodRX is an online tool for comparing out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines at different pharmacies. CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy, and Price Chopper Pharmacy are all accessible using The Ride grocery shuttle service through Wesleyan.
Miscellaneous Benefits
All Wesleyan graduate students have access to the following benefits, which are provided and supported by various offices around campus:
- Free Adult Fitness Classes (open to staff and graduate students)- virtual and in-person
- Online library guides for graduate students
- Access to experienced career counselors (two appointments held for graduate students each week)
- Workshops (Career center, CAPS, Writing workshop)
- Free printing at library printers
- Box office discounts
- Dining on campus using middletown cash
- Subsidized parking fees
- Dependency allowance (for qualifying dependents)
- Two free classes per semester for qualifying spouses and domestic partners
- Freeman athletic center membership (free for graduate students, $120 for spouses/domestic partners and $90 for dependents)
- Neighborhood preschool (Dependents of MA/PhD students may be eligible for scholarships)
For questions not addressed here, please contact the Benefits Committee.