Insurance Grants

Fall 2026 Health Insurance Grant Deadline: September 15 by 5pm ET

Spring 2026 Health Insurance Grant Deadline: February 15 by 5pm ET

This need-based grant program helps to offset the cost of purchasing health insurance for PhD students whose insurance is not covered by their program or another source. The Health Insurance Grant Program provides need-based grants of up to $1,000 per semester ($2,000/year) to PhD students who meet certain eligibility criteria. This grant is funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Graduate Student Center and the Office of Student Registration & Financial Services. 

The grant is intended to offset out-of-pocket costs for purchasing health insurance and is not an up-front subsidy. Students are responsible for the full cost of purchasing insurance. In cases where insurance is billed to a student account, late fees may be incurred if these charges are not paid on time. 

Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically by official deadlines.  Awards are disbursed on a semesterly basis. Students who apply in the fall must submit updated documentation to be considered for a Spring grant, but do not have to submit a second full application. Full instructions below. 

Fall 2026 Insurance Grants
Application opens: August 10 | Deadline: September 15 at 5:00PM ET 
Notification: by October 31

Spring 2027 Health Insurance Grants
Application Opens: mid-January | Deadline: February 15 by 5:00 PM ET
Notification: by March 31

Please read all guidelines carefully. No extensions or exceptions can be made for those who miss the deadline or do not meet eligibility criteria.

Eligibility 
To be eligible, applicants must: 

• Show they have personally purchased the Penn Student Health Insurance Plan (PSIP)  for the period covered by the grant.
  • Students enrolling in PSIP must provide documentation that they have personally paid all associated charges for coverage.
     
• Be enrolled full-time in years 1-8 of a Penn PhD program. Students in year 9 or beyond are not eligible.
  • Students enrolled in joint or dual degree programs must be actively registered in the PhD portion of their degree throughout the period covered by the grant. 
  • Students enrolled in other doctoral research programs are not eligible.
     
• Remain registered and in good academic standing throughout the period covered by the grant.  
  • Students on leave (except family or medical leave) during either semester are not eligible. Students on family/medical leave must have an active aid profile for the current year in order to receive funds
     
• Not be receiving a full fellowship (covering tuition, fees, insurance) from their program, the University, or an external funding body.
   
• Be in residency at Penn during the year in which they receive the grant. Students who are temporarily away from campus for academic research travel or coursework must be registered with the Penn travel registry or provide documentation that they are engaged in full time study while away from campus  in order to be eligible.

Grants amounts are determined on the basis of demonstrated financial need. 

Submit the completed online application and all required documentation by the posted deadline. Incomplete forms, forms submitted without documentation, and forms submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

A complete application includes:

• Online Application (link will work only when application is live)
   
• Required documentation uploaded into this online document submission form 
  Select the following options from the drop-down menus:
  • ​​​​​SRFS Office: “Financial Aid and Student Employment”
  • Document type: “Other Financial Aid Forms”

Please have digital copies (PDF or JPG only) of all relevant documentation ready before you begin the application. Failure to provide all necessary documentation will result in delays reviewing your application or rejection of application. You may be asked to provide additional documentation or information needed to evaluate your application. 

*We are committed to ensuring the security of your information. We have put in place reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access to, or use of, the information collected online. 

• Grants are not guaranteed. Grants are disbursed as funding allows, with priority given to the students who demonstrate the highest financial need.
   
• Grants are awarded in the range of $500 - $2,000. The maximum grant for one semester is $1,000. The maximum annual grant is $2000. 
   
• Grants are awarded annually, and you must reapply each year.
   
• Academic Year and Fall Semester-only grant recipients are typically notified by late October, with funds disbursed in November. Spring semester grant recipients will be notified by mid-March and funds will be disbursed in late March to early April. 
   
• Funds will be processed through your student account. This is a separate system from Workday. You must you must set up direct deposit in in PennPay via a U.S. bank, FlyWire, or PayMyTuition or a paper check will be mailed to the permanent address listed in your Penn Profile. 
   
• If you have an outstanding balance on your student account, the grant will be applied to your bill. Any remaining funds will be disbursed to you as a student account refund, leaving a zero balance on your student account. If you have outstanding charges in excess of the grant amount, the grant will apply to those charges and no refund will be processed. 
   
• All University grants to individuals may be considered taxable income by the government. You are responsible for reporting the grant income and paying any applicable taxes.  Depending on your tax status, taxes may be withheld prior to the grant disbursement. Such taxes may be refunded when students file annual taxes with the IRS. The SFS website provides additional information regarding withholding taxes on grants and aid for non-U.S. citizens.  
   
• If you are receiving student loans or other forms of aid, this grant could reduce your loan amount or exceed your semester budget maximum. Students who are receiving funding up to or beyond their approved aid budget are responsible for contacting Student Financial Services to understand how receiving this grant may affect their aid package. There may be options available to you for a budget adjustment or other steps in order to receive all awarded funds, depending on your individual circumstances. Contact graduateaid@pobox.upenn.edu or schedule an appointment with a Graduate Financial Aid Counselor to discuss your account status.
   
• If you do not remain in good academic standing during the period covered by the grant, some or all of the grant funds may be rescinded.
   
• Applicant funding status and fellowship stipend amounts will be verified with graduate groups and school finance administrators. You are responsible for notifying us if your funding status changes during the period covered by the grant. Failure to do so will result in grant funds being rescinded.
   
• If you provide false or misleading information or documentation in your grant application, the grant funds will be rescinded, and  you will be referred to the Center for Community Standards and Accountability (CSA) for disciplinary action. 

Direct all questions to grad-grants@upenn.edu.

Fall 2026 Dependent Health Insurance Grant Deadline: September 15 by 5pm ET

Spring 2027 Grant Deadline: February 15 by 5pm ET

Summer 2027 deadline (new dependents only): July 15 by 5pm ET

This program provides grants to help eligible PhD students and stipended graduate workers offset the cost of purchasing qualified dependent health insurance coverage through the University for their eligible dependents. Grants are provided in amounts up to 50% of documented premium costs for the covered period, until available funds are exhausted.  Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically by the official deadline. 

The grant is intended to help offset out-of-pocket costs for purchasing health insurance and is not an up-front subsidy. The grants are not intended to cover costs associated with supplemental insurance plans, such as dental or vision insurance, or nor are they intended to cover costs associated with insurance coverage not purchased through a plan other than the University’s student plan. 

Students are responsible for the full cost of purchasing insurance. In cases where insurance is billed to a student account, late fees may be incurred if these charges are not paid on time.

To be eligible, applicants must: 

• Have a dependent child or children under the age of 26 or disabled residing with them full-time and/or have a spouse.
  • Children must be born by November 30 for Fall applications. Children must be born/adopted by March 31 for Spring applications.
  • Those expecting babies/children after the application deadline should still apply by the deadline then submit the proof of child documentation after the baby/child is born/adopted. Please indicate this late document in the application.  
     
• Show they have personally purchased a qualifying health insurance policy through the Penn Student Health Insurance Plan (PSIP) for their dependent(s)/spouse for the relevant period. 
   
• Remain registered, enrolled, and in good academic standing throughout the period covered by the grant.  
  • Students on approved family or medical leave who have an active aid profile for the current year and meet all other program criteria are eligible. 
     
  • Students on other leaves of absence are not eligible during the leave period. 
     
• Be in residency at Penn during the year in which they receive the grant. Students who are temporarily away from campus for academic research travel or coursework must be registered with the Penn travel registry or provide documentation that they are engaged in full time study while away from campus in order to be eligible
   
• Be currently enrolled in years 1-8 of your PhD program or an annual stipend-funded graduate worker covered by the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Pennsylvania and GETUP-UAW at the time of application. 
  • Students enrolled in joint or dual degree programs must be actively registered in the PhD portion of their degree throughout the period covered by the grant.
  • Students enrolled in other doctoral research degree programs are not eligible. 

Below are the required documentation* items that must be submitted via the online document submission form (instructions below).  Have all of your documents ready when you begin the application. If you are unable to provide a required document you must provide a written explanation of its absence. 

• Copies of the 2024 U.S. tax returns and 2024/2025 W2s for student and spouse/partner. (instructions for accessing Penn W2s are available here)
  • Fall applicants should submit 2024 W2s; Spring applicants submit 2025 W2s
• Copies of the most recent two pay stubs for all working adults in the household. (Stipend and campus employment pay stubs can be found in Workday.)
• Proof that you have personally purchased health insurance for your dependents/spouse. Document must include the amount paid for the insurance, this can be an invoice and must list the names of the family members enrolled in the plan. Dental and Vision insurance not included in this program.
• A benefits summary for the health insurance plan, unless it is PSIP. Benefit summary must outline what the insurance plan covers so we can verify it meets our insurance requirements. Dental and vision insurance plans are not included in this grant program.
• Documentation of any other major costs or expenses reported in your application, as relevant. 

*Our office is committed to ensuring the security of your information. We have put in place reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access to, or use of, the information collected online.

Before you apply, you should know:

• Grants are not guaranteed. Grants are disbursed as funding allows, with priority given to the students who demonstrate the highest financial need.
   
• Grants are awarded in the range of $250-$1000 for the fall cycle and $250-500 for the spring cycle. (Families with higher household income and assets may receive grants less than the maximum award amount.)
   
• If you are applying for an insurance grant for a spouse who is also a Penn PhD student, they should apply directly for the health insurance program for PhD students.
   
• Grants are awarded annually, and you must reapply each year.
   
• Fall 2025 and 26-26 AY grant recipients will be notified by late October, with funds disbursed in November 2025. Spring 2025 grant recipients will be notified by early March and funds will be disbursed in March 2025. 
   
• Funds will be processed through your student account. This is a separate system from Workday. You must you must set up direct deposit in in PennPay via a U.S. bank, FlyWire, or PayMyTuition or a paper check will be mailed to the permanent address listed in your Penn Profile. 
   
• If you have an outstanding balance on your student account, the grant will be applied to your bill. Any remaining funds will be disbursed to you as a student account refund, leaving a zero balance on your student account. If you have outstanding charges in excess of the grant amount, the grant will apply to those charges and no refund will be processed. 
   
• All University grants to individuals may be considered taxable income by the government. You are responsible for reporting the grant income and paying any applicable taxes.  Depending on your tax status, taxes may be withheld prior to the grant disbursement. Such taxes may be refunded when students file annual taxes with the IRS. The SFS website provides additional information regarding withholding taxes on grants and aid for non-U.S. citizens.  
   
• If you are receiving student loans or other forms of aid, this grant could reduce your loan amount or exceed your semester budget maximum. Students who are receiving funding up to or beyond their approved aid budget are responsible for contacting Student Financial Services to understand how receiving this grant may affect their aid package. There may be options available to you for a budget adjustment or other steps in order to receive all awarded funds, depending on your individual circumstances. Contact graduateaid@pobox.upenn.edu or schedule an appointment with a Graduate Financial Aid Counselor to discuss your account status.
   
• If you do not remain in good academic standing during the period covered by the grant, some or all of the grant funds may be rescinded.
   
• Applicant funding status and fellowship stipend amounts will be verified with graduate groups and school finance administrators. You are responsible for notifying us if your funding status changes during the period covered by the grant. Failure to do so will result in grant funds being rescinded.
   
• If you provide false or misleading information or documentation in your grant application, the grant funds will be rescinded, and  you will be referred to the Center for Community Standards and Accountability (CSA) for disciplinary action. 

Submit the completed online application and all required documentation by the posted deadline. Incomplete forms, forms submitted without documentation, and forms submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

A complete application includes:

• Online Application (link will work only when application is live)
   
• Required documentation uploaded into this online document submission form 
  Select the following options from the drop-down menus:
  • ​​​​​SRFS Office: “Financial Aid and Student Employment”
  • Document type: “Other Financial Aid Forms”

Failure to provide all necessary documentation will result in delays reviewing your application or rejection of application. You may be asked to provide additional documentation or information needed to evaluate your application. 

*We are committed to ensuring the security of your information. We have put in place reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access to, or use of, the information collected online. 

Direct all questions to grad-grants@upenn.edu. 

Read how Penn respects and protects your data. 

2025-26 Enrollment deadlines and instructions vary by program

In addition to the Provost-funded grants listed above, several of Penn's graduate and professional degree programs provide grants to assist with the cost of purchasing supplemental vision and dental insurance plans. 

Programs currently offering full or partial grants for supplemental (dental and/or vision) plans include: 

• PhD Vision Grants for BGS: The Perelman School of Medicine provide grants to reimburse costs for current PhD students in the Division of Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) who purchase the Penn Aetna Student Vision Plan. These grants are administered in conjunction with the PhD Dental Insurance Reimbursement Grant program but grant funds and details are determined by the school. BGS PhD students who purchase qualifying plans by the enrollment deadline (August 31 for Aetna Vision) will be automatically considered for the program.
   
• MD/PhD and VMD/PhD Dental and Vision Grants: The School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine provide grants to reimburse costs for students in the MD- or VMD portion of the dual degree program who purchase the Penn Dental Family Practice Student Insurance Plan and/or Penn Aetna Student Vision Plan. These grants are administered in conjunction with the PhD Dental Insurance Reimbursement Grant program but grant funds and details are determined by each school. MD/PhD and VMD/PhD students who purchase qualifying plans by the enrollment deadline (August 31 for Aetna Vision, September 20 for Penn Dental) will be automatically considered for the program. 

The following terms and conditions apply to grants administered by the Graduate Grants office. Please be sure to speak with your program administrator to confirm whether your program is administered by the Graduate Grants team. 

Students must purchase an eligible insurance plan by the insurance or grant program deadline: 

• Aetna Student Vision Plan deadline: August 31  
   

Eligible students who purchase a qualifying plan will automatically qualify for the grant. No additional application or steps are needed. Students are responsible for the full cost of purchasing a plan. You should not wait to receive the grant to pay any charges billed to your Bursar account or credit card. 

Grants are typically disbursed in October. The disbursement process involves a few steps:

• All grant funds will processed as a student account refund through PennPay. This is a separate system from Workday. You must you must set up direct deposit in in PennPay via a U.S. bank, FlyWire, or PayMyTuition or a paper check will be mailed to the permanent address listed in your Penn Profile. 
   
• If you have an outstanding balance on your student account, the grant funds will be applied to your bill. Any remaining funds will be disbursed to you as a student account refund, leaving a zero balance on your student account. If you have outstanding charges in excess of the grant amount, the grant will apply to those charges and no refund will be processed. 

Please note:

• All University grants to individuals may be considered taxable income by the government. You are responsible for reporting the grant income and paying any applicable taxes.  Depending on your tax status, taxes may be withheld prior to the grant disbursement. Such taxes may be refunded when students file annual taxes with the IRS. The SFS website provides additional information regarding withholding taxes on grants and aid for non-U.S. citizens.  
   
• If you are receiving student loans or other forms of aid, this grant could reduce your loan amount or exceed your semester budget maximum. Students who are receiving funding up to or beyond their approved aid budget are responsible for contacting Student Financial Services to understand how receiving this grant may affect their aid package. There may be options available to you for a budget adjustment or other steps in order to receive all awarded funds, depending on your individual circumstances. Contact graduateaid@pobox.upenn.edu or schedule an appointment with a Graduate Financial Aid Counselor to discuss your account status.

Direct all other questions to grad-grants@upenn.edu.