Health insurance information for graduate students
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If you are a graduate student enrolled in at least 1 credit hour, in a degree-seeking program, and eligible to pay the student health fee at UNC-Chapel Hill, then you 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
Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP) for RAs/TAs
Important information on health insurance for graduating TAs and RAs.
If you have a Research Assistantship (RA) or Teaching Assistantship (TA), you may 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
Remember
- When your department enrolls you in GSHIP, BlueCross BlueShield will receive a notification. BlueCross BlueShield will waive you from the mandatory health insurance plan requirement and will lock your Student Blue account to prevent changes.
- 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!
Graduation
- After you graduate, you can no longer be covered by the GSHIP insurance program. If you graduate in December you will be removed effective December 31. If you graduate in May, you will be removed effective May 31. If you graduate in August you will be removed on May 31 or July 31 at the discretion of your academic department.
- If you graduate in May, you have the option of enrolling in the StudentBlue Plan (also called the mandatory plan) for the remainder of the policy year (until July 31). To select this option, you should call BlueCross BlueShield directly (800-579-8022) for assistance. Please note that you must act within 30 days from termination of GSHIP to enroll in Student Blue. After that, you are ineligible and would have to go to the healthcare exchange.
- If you graduate in December, you will be removed from GSHIP insurance coverage effective December 31 and you will not have the option to enroll in StudentBlue for the remainder of the policy year.
- When your GSHIP coverage ends, you may secure a self-paid plan through the healthcare exchange.
- Before you graduate, contact your academic programs to confirm your health insurance termination date. Visit the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program policies and procedures site for more information.
| Graduation term | GSHIP end date | Continuing coverage options |
|---|---|---|
| If you graduate in May | Your GSHIP coverage will end on May 31. | StudentBlue (through July 31) or Healthcare exchange |
| If you graduate in December | Your GSHIP coverage will end on December 31. | Healthcare exchange |
| If you graduate in August | Your GSHIP coverage will end on May 31 or July 31 at the discretion of your academic department. | Healthcare exchange |
GeoBlue Student Health Insurance Plan
This plan, made available by 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 (Student Blue)
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 Student Center account 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.