Your union, the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO/UAW Local 2322), and the University of Massachusetts have agreed on a grievance settlement for the out-of-pocket (OOP) health insurance expense amounts that graduate employees in are required to pay for plan year 2011-2012. Under this settlement agreement, the University agrees that the out-of-pocket maximum for graduate student employees covered under the student health insurance plan (AETNA Student Health) for Plan Year August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2012 is $3,000.  Out-of-pocket expenses include coinsurance payments but exclude deductibles, copays and precertification penalties.

If you were a graduate student employee that paid over $3,000 in out-of-pocket expenses during the 2011-2012 plan year (08/01/11-07/31/12), you should have received an email from Aetna Student Health with instructions about how to get your refund.  This email would have also included an important release that must be signed to process your reimbursement.  Please don’t hesitate in completing and returning the forms.  Be assured that Aetna Student Health will only release your student ID #, name and the total amount that has exceeded $3,000 of out-of-pocket costs.  No diagnostic or clinical information will be shared with the University or your union.  If you paid more than $3,000 in out-of-pocket costs and you did not receive an email from Aetna Student Health, please contact a staff member at the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO/UAW Local 2322) at (413) 545-0705 or geo@external.umass.edu .  This agreement along with the saving of the laboratory and pharmacy at University Health Services are tremendous wins for the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO/UAW Local 2322).  Congratulations to everyone that participated in all of the collective actions leading up to this victory.