Insurance information for graduate students
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All graduate students enrolled in at least 1 credit hour, in a degree-seeking program, and eligible to pay the student health fee at UNC-Chapel Hill are required to show proof of active health insurance coverage. For information about the mandatory health insurance requirement visit the Campus Health website. Proof of active creditable health insurance may include:
- An individual plan
- Coverage from a plan by a spouse or parent
- Enrollment in the Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP) as an active RA/TA
- Enrollment in the UNC System mandatory insurance plan (Student Blue), available to all actively enrolled students
GSHIP: BlueCross BlueShield Student Blue RA/TA Insurance Plan
Important note on health insurance for graduating TAs and RAs:
When an eligible student graduates, the student must be removed from the insurance program, per the University's Finance Division policies. Students who graduate in December must be removed effective December 31. Students who graduate in May must be removed effected May 31. Candidates for graduation are strongly encouraged to contact their academic programs to confirm their health insurance termination date as they prepare for graduation. Visit the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program policies and procedures site for more information.
If you have a Research Assistantship (RA) or Teaching Assistantship (TA), you will be enrolled in GSHIP by your academic department. For information on getting enrolled, contact your department’s student services manager. For more information on plan benefits, consult the BlueCross BlueShield website for the UNC-CH RA/TA plan.
The policy year is August 1 – July 31. You must meet the following requirements to be enrolled in the RA/TA insurance plan:
- Be registered as a full-time student
- Function as an active RA/TA
- Meet the minimum stipend of $8,000 per policy year, beginning fall semester 2023
REMEMBER:
- BCBS will automatically waive enrolled GSHIP students out of the mandatory Student Blue insurance plan. As BCBS receives notification of a student's GSHIP enrollment, an administrative waiver will be added to their UNC mandatory Student Blue account. The account will be locked to prevent a GSHIP enrolled student from voiding the administrative waiver.
- If you decline GSHIP because you are privately insured, you must waive out of the Mandatory Student Health Insurance Plan (see below) each semester to avoid an insurance premium charge on your student account. You need your insurance card to waive out of the Mandatory Plan. For additional information, consult the Campus Health website.
- Your insurance cards will be mailed to your local address as noted in ConnectCarolina — be sure to update your address!
- When you graduate, you can no longer be covered by the GSHIP insurance program. Students who graduate in December should be removed effective December 31. Students who graduate in May should be removed effective May 31. Students who graduate in August terminate May 31 or July 31 at the discretion of the academic department.
- Graduating students have the option of enrolling in the Student Blue Plan (also called the mandatory plan) for the remainder of the policy year. To select this option, students should contact Campus Health or Blue Cross Blue Shield directly (888-351-8283) for assistance. Please note that students must act within 30 days from termination of GSHIP to enroll in Student Blue. After that, they are ineligible and would have to go to the healthcare exchange.
- A student may secure a self-paid plan through the healthcare exchange.
GeoBlue Student Health Insurance Plan
This plan, made available in cooperation with BlueCross BlueShield, is specifically for international students. For more information on plan benefits, consult the GeoBlue website. International students will receive specific GeoBlue enrollment instructions through International Student and Scholar Services and Campus Health.
Mandatory Student Health Insurance Plan
This plan, administered by BlueCross BlueShield of NC, is for students who do not have other creditable insurance coverage. Each semester the insurance premium amount is charged to your account in your Student Center in ConnectCarolina. You must register for classes to activate your insurance coverage. For more information on plan benefits, consult the BlueCross BlueShield website for the UNC-CH mandatory plan. You will receive an email weekly from Campus Health reminding you to take action.
Hard Waiver Process
If you have other creditable insurance coverage, you must complete the waiver process each semester before the published deadline. For details on the waiver process, deadlines and procedures consult the Campus Health website.