In August 2009, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors implemented a hard waiver student health insurance requirement for all sixteen campuses in the University of North Carolina system. Beginning the Fall of 2010, if all of the conditions listed below (known as invoking criteria) are true for you, then the State-Level Student Health Insurance Requirement applies.

Students enrolled in Distance Education courses only are not eligible for health insurance and therefore are not required to submit a waiver.

Undergraduate Students are eligible if:

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program, and
• Enrolled in six (6) or more on campus credit hours, and
• Eligible to pay the university Student Health fee

Graduate Students are eligible if:

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program, and
• Enrolled in one (1) or more on campus credit hours, and
• Eligible to pay the university Student Health Fee

If the requirement applies to you, you must prove you have health insurance coverage each semester you are enrolled by submitting an online waiver to StudentBlue that shows evidence of existing credible coverage or you will be automatically enrolled and charged the premium.

If you’re still not sure whether the State-Level Health Insurance Requirement applies to you, contact our office at 919.515.2563, option 6 or email at student-health-insurance@ncsu.edu. 

Special Student Populations

International Students

Beginning January 1, 2026, International students holding F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant statuses are required to participate in the UNC System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and are not able to opt out of the medical plan unless they meet one of the conditions outlined in this guidance from Student Blue.

Study Abroad, Co-op, and Student Interns

Degree-seeking students participating in a UNC system campus-sponsored study abroad program, are eligible for, but are not required to have, the UNC System SHIP.  If you are one of these students, you may purchase SHIP for the entire semester or for the portion of the semester when you are not in Study Abroad. Study Abroad students are not automatically enrolled or charged for the plan.  Study Abroad students MUST enroll themselves into the plan in order to participate in the plan.

Degree-seeking students participating in a Co-op program or as a student intern, are eligible for, but are not required to have the UNC System SHIP. Co-op students and Student Interns are not automatically enrolled or charged for the plan.  Co-op students and Student Interns MUST enroll themselves into the plan in order to participate in the plan.

UNC System Student Health Insurance Plan Premiums 

The UNC System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) premium will appear on your student account once you register for courses and if you meet all of the invoking criteria. The premium can be removed from the account by submitting an online waiver by the posted deadline.  Be aware that if you fail to waive coverage, the premium for SHIP is non-refundable after the posted deadline each semester. If you wish to enroll in SHIP, we encourage you to do so during open enrollment. This ensures you will receive an insurance card as quickly as possible.

To compare plan premiums and coverage options, please use this UNC System SHIP Comparison Tool.

Please note, if you neither waive nor enroll in SHIP by the posted deadline, you will automatically be enrolled after the posted deadline.

Spring 2026 Waive/Enrollment Deadline: January 31, 2026

Health Insurance premiums are not included in the total cost of attendance. Students who purchase SHIP may contact their financial aid counselor to request the expense be included in their individual cost of attendance.

Medically necessary services, rendered by Campus Health providers, are typically covered 100% (no copayment, no deductible) with the Student Blue Health Insurance Plan. Prescriptions filled by Student Health Pharmacy are typically covered with a $15 co-payment per prescription or refill.

Visit the StudentBlue website for more information on plan benefits, and to waive or enroll in these plans.