Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Health insurance is a requirement for students meeting specific eligibility criteria. An affordable Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is offered through Student Blue from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, or students may elect to keep their current health insurance coverage if they are already covered by an individual plan or through a parents’ plan.
Deadline to take action (either enroll in, or waive out of, SHIP):
Fall semester September 10
Spring semester January 31
*If either date falls on the weekend, the deadline date will be deferred to the first campus business day after the deadline date to submit the waiver.
Why is health insurance required?
How SHIP works with the Health Service Fee
SHIP benefits and rate information
Enroll in Student Health Insurance Plan
Decline or Waive out of Student Health Insurance Plan
Why is health insurance required?
When students who are uninsured become seriously ill or injured, their academic careers are seriously threatened by substantial health care debt, disability, or both. As a result, all state institutions in North Carolina, including East Carolina University, require students meeting specific eligibility criteria to have health insurance.
Students who do not have insurance, or who have inadequate coverage, can enroll in the university sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Those students who already have their own coverage, or who are still covered under a parent or guardian plan, can “waive out” of the requirement by providing documentation of their coverage.
SHIP is offered to students at a reasonable base rate with benefits including wellness incentives, prescription benefits and basic vision coverage. This plan provides coverage that is billed per semester via the student’s tuition bill. Coverage periods are from August 1 to December 31 for fall semester and January 1 to July 31 for spring semester. ECU SHS will file claims to SHIP for services rendered at SHS. It is the policy holder’s responsibility to file claims or follow up for claims and/or correspondence from outside providers.
Eligibility requirements
Undergraduate Students must be:
- in a degree seeking, ON-CAMPUS program
- enrolled in 6 or more credit hours each semester (Fall/Spring)
- pay the health fee with tuition
Graduate Students must be:
- in a degree seeking, ON-CAMPUS program
- enrolled in 3 or more credit hours each semester (Fall/Spring)
- pay the health fee with tuition
How SHIP works with the Health Service Fee
SHIP works in partnership with the “Health Service Fee” that students pay with tuition to provide seamless health care at a reasonable cost to students. SHIP helps cover office visits and ancillary charges such as lab, x-ray, supplies, medications, etc. that are not covered by the Health Service Fee. SHIP is utilized just as any other health insurance plan. This policy can be used for outside provider appointments as well as services rendered at SHS.
SHS files claims for SHIP and most Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Coventry, First Health Network, MedCost, TRICARE East, and UnitedHealthcare policy holders. Please be advised that we may not be in network for other insurance carriers. It is strongly advisable that a student consults their individual policy regarding benefits and coverage before seeking care.
Effective February 1, 2023, charges for medical services rendered to patients who are insured with an out-of-network insurance carrier will immediately be charged to the University Cashier’s Office. SHS will continue to courtesy file insurance claims to out-of-network insurance carriers on behalf of its patients. Please note: out-of-network insurance carriers may send payment or denial information directly to the subscriber/insured. It is the responsibility of the patient to make any necessary payments to the cashiers office or follow-up on any denied claims with their insurance carrier.
SHIP benefits and rate information
Student Blue has a website just for ECU parents and students. To view plan benefits, including a general summary, medical benefits, and health/wellness benefits, visit the Student Blue for ECU benefits page.
Rate information (billed on a semester basis)
- Fall Semester $1,392.40* (effective dates 08/01/23 — 12/31/23)
- Spring Semester $1,392.40* (effective dates 01/01/24 — 07/31/24)
Need help deciding? Check out these resources for more information:
- Plan Comparison Tool: use this to compare the Student Blue plan to other coverage options.
- 2023-2024 Student Blue Brochure
Enroll in SHIP
Students that meet the eligibility requirements will be billed automatically with tuition for SHIP. If a student intends to keep SHIP, the student should enroll prior to the effective date. This would allow utilization of the policy once coverage begins, instead of waiting to receive an insurance card in the mail after the University completes the automatic import which occurs after the deadline.
Once registered for classes, students can enroll in SHIP.
How to enroll:
Visit Student Blue of North Carolina for enrollment info.
Click on “Find Your School” and select “East Carolina University” to continue to the secure website for ECU students.
Choose “Enroll” and follow the instructions.
*We have been notified that certain browsers (particularly Internet Explorer) may cause users to experience error messages–SHS recommends users access the Student Blue site via Google Chrome if possible.
Waive out of SHIP
Students who are already covered by existing health plans can easily waive out of SHIP. To waive out, students must provide current policy information through a secure online system. Once insurance has been verified, the SHIP charge will be waived on the student’s tuition account. Waivers must be completed by the deadline for each respective semester: Fall deadline is September 11 and the Spring deadline is January 31. The verification process can take up to 2 weeks.
Once registered for classes, students can submit a waiver.
How to waive out:
- Gather your insurance information and visit Student Blue of North Carolina.
- Click on “Find Your School” and select “East Carolina University” to continue to the secure website for ECU students.
- Choose “Waive” and follow the instructions.
Once an online waiver has been successfully submitted, the student will instantly receive a confirmation number followed by a confirmation email. Once the provided insurance information has been verified, the student will receive an email stating the outcome of the verification (Approved/Denied) including instructions if more information is needed.
Please note: in order to have your waiver approved and the credit applied to your account, you must submit proof of creditable health insurance coverage that was effective on or before September 1st (Fall semester waivers) or February 1st (Spring semester waivers).
*We have been notified that certain browsers (particularly Internet Explorer) may cause users to experience error messages–SHS recommends users access the Student Blue site via Google Chrome if possible.
Post Doctoral Students
The health plan for ECU Post Doctoral Students is also provided through Student Blue from Blue Cross Blue Shield but has a separate page specifically for Post Doc students. Visit the Student Blue for ECU Post Docs welcome page to find plan information, a benefit summary, and other resources.