Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Student Blue (Blue Cross NC) - UNC-Chapel Hill Student Health Insurance Plan is $2,624–$4,733 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Billed per semester; Fall (8/1/26-12/31/26) + Spring (1/1/27-7/31/27, incl. summer): undergraduate $1,312 x 2 = $2,624; graduate $2,366.50 x 2 = $4,733. Campus Health Fee is separate.
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 UNC Chapel Hill, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Coverage effective by Sep 1 (fall) or Feb 1 (spring)
- Must cover the entire semester being waived
- Must be creditable coverage
- J-1 students: alternative policy must meet 2026-27 UNC System waiver guidelines
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 UNC Chapel Hill 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: bcbsnc.com
- Waiver deadline: campushealth.unc.edu
- Waiver criteria: campushealth.unc.edu