Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Student Blue - UNC System Student Health Insurance Plan (Blue Cross NC) is $2,624–$4,733 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Billed per semester: undergraduates $1,312 each semester (x2 = $2,624); graduate students $2,366.50 each semester (x2 = $4,733). J-1 students are placed in a separate plan (Global Solutions / GeoBlue) whose premium is not published.
Waiver deadline
Submit your waiver request before the deadline above. Universities rarely accept late waivers — if you miss it, you are auto-enrolled in SHIP and billed the full premium.
Waiver requirements
According to NC State University, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Continuous coverage for the entire enrollment period, including breaks
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation $50,000+ and medical evacuation $60,000+
- Deductible max $250 per illness or $500 per year (F-1 may differ)
- Mental health: inpatient $5,000+ or 30 days; outpatient $500+ or 30 visits
- Comprehensive plan, not limited-benefit or fixed-indemnity
Private plans you could submit
These private US student health plans are in our comparison. None is automatically accepted — check the policy maximum, deductible, claims address and the other points above against the plan's terms before you buy:
- ISO Student Health Insurance — from $33/month
- WorldTrips StudentSecure — from $40/month
- Compass Student Insurance — from $43/month
- IMG Patriot Exchange Program
What a waiver can save
Your saving is the NC State University SHIP premium ($2,624–$4,733 a year) minus the price of a private plan the university accepts. Private plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band; plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more. Compare the real price of the plan you would submit before you decide.
- Premium: studentservices.ncsu.edu
- Waiver deadline: healthypack.dasa.ncsu.edu
- Waiver criteria: internationalservices.ncsu.edu