Insurance Grants

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. 

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

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

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. 

This need-based grant program helps to offset the cost of purchasing health insurance for eligible full-time EdD students for up to two semesters immediately following the expiration of their guaranteed funding.

The EdD Graduate Worker Insurance Grant Program provides need-based grants of up to $1,000 per semester to EdD students who are employed in eligible Graduate Worker positions and meet other 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. Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted electronically by the official deadlines. 

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. 

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.
• Hold a covered position under the GETUP-UAW collective bargaining agreement where the expectation is that the student will perform 20 hours of work per week on average 
• Be currently enrolled and registered in a Penn EdD program throughout the period covered by the grant. 
• Be enrolled in year 5 and within one year immediately following the expiration of their guaranteed years of funding. 
• Remain enrolled, 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, and stipend) from their program, the University, or an external funding body during the covered 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.

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. 

Fall Dependent Insurance Grants 
Deadline: September 15 
Period covered: August – December  
 

Spring Dependent Insurance Grants 
Deadline: February 15 
Period covered: January - July 
 

Summer Dependent Insurance Grants (new dependents only) 
Deadline: July 15 (new dependents only) 
Period covered  April – July 

The number and amount of grants awarded each cycle is dependent on the availability of funds. 

Grants are not guaranteed. Grants are awarded in amounts of up to 50% of documented premiums from the applicable funding pool as funding allows and until funds have been exhausted for the year.

Due to limitations on available funding and our desire to help those most in need of assistance, grant amounts may be weighted by adjusted household income to ensure that students with the most need receive full grants to the extent possible. 

Starting in Fall 2026, the standard funding package for PhD students and EdD students receiving full institutional fellowships includes :   

• Vision: 100% cost for individual coverage under the Aetna Student Health Vision Preferred Plan for the University of Pennsylvania 
• Dental: 80% cost for individual coverage under either 1) the Aetna Student Health Dental Plan (PPO) for the University of Pennsylvania - or -  2) the Penn Dental Plan for Students 

Students must enroll in an eligible dental and/or vision plan during the open enrollment period for the Penn Student Insurance Plan, which takes place from July 1-August 31 each year. Funds to reimburse associated plan costs will be posted as a grant to students’ PennPay/Bursar account by September 30. 

Students should enroll in plans by July 31 to avoid a lapse in coverage and must enroll by August 31 to receive funding for eligible plans. Students who choose to enroll in plans after the open enrollment period will not receive grants to reimburse plan costs. 

More information about all insurance options can be found on the Wellness at Penn Student Insurance webpage. 

Vision Coverage Options

For academic year 2026-2027, students may voluntarily enroll themselves and their dependents in the Aetna Student Health Vision Preferred Plan for the University of Pennsylvania. This plan is open to all students, you don’t have to be enrolled in the PSIP insurance plan to enroll in the vision plan. 

• Stipend funded PhD students who opt to purchase the Penn-specific Aetna Student Health Vision Preferred Plan by August 31 will receive a grant to reimburse 100% of the cost of the plan for the individual student. You must pay for the full cost up front; the full cost will be credited to your student account during the fall semester.  Any costs for insuring additional individuals as dependents is not covered. 
   
• Additionally, the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) includes a vision allowance of $125 in 2026-2027. Students can apply this allowance to eyeglasses and/or contacts. This is open to all students enrolled in PSIP.

Dental Coverage Options

For academic year 2026-2027, eligible students may voluntarily enroll themselves and their dependents in the Penn Student Dental Plan or the Aetna Student Dental Plan.

Penn Student Dental Plan

• Please go to www.mypenndentist.org for details. Note: All services for this plan are rendered by Penn Dental Family Practice and this plan cannot be used elsewhere. This is plan is not affiliated with Aetna or PSIP. 
• Stipend funded PhD students who opt to purchase the Penn Student Dental Plan by August 31 will receive a grant to reimburse 80% of the cost of the individual plan. Penn Student Dental Plan will bill for the cost of the plan directly to your student account, and your school will provide a grant to cover 80% of the cost. You will be responsible for paying for 20%.  Any costs for insuring additional individuals as dependents is not covered. 

Aetna Student Health Dental Plan

• You don’t have to be enrolled in PSIP to enroll in the Aetna Student Dental Plan. You can use this plan nationwide. Please go to the Aetna Student Health website) for details.
• Stipend funded PhD students who opt to purchase the Aetna Student Health Dental Plan by August 31 will receive a grant to reimburse 80% of the cost of the Aetna Student Health Dental Plan for the individual student. You must pay for 100% of the cost up front and 80% of the cost will be credited to your student account during the fall semester.  Any costs for insuring additional individuals as dependents is not covered. 
   

Vital Savings Discount Program

• Aetna offers the Vital Savings Discount Program as an option for students to purchase on a voluntary basis. This is a discount program, not insurance. Students who select this option are responsible for covering the full cost. Please note: Penn Dental Family Practice does not accept this discount program. Please go to Aetna Student Health for more information.