Navigating university life comes with numerous responsibilities, and ensuring your health and well-being is paramount. East Carolina University (ECU) prioritizes student health, mandating health insurance for eligible students. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of ECU student health care insurance, commonly known as SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan), helping you understand your requirements, benefits, and how to enroll or waive coverage.
Why Health Insurance is Essential for ECU Students
Imagine facing a sudden illness or injury while pursuing your studies. Without adequate health insurance, you could be burdened with significant medical debt, potentially disrupting your academic journey and future. To protect students from such unforeseen financial and health risks, ECU, along with all North Carolina state institutions, requires eligible students to maintain health insurance coverage. This requirement ensures that all students have access to necessary medical care, promoting a healthy and successful academic environment.
Understanding ECU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
For students who lack existing health insurance or have insufficient coverage, ECU offers the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This university-sponsored plan is designed to provide comprehensive and affordable health care coverage tailored to the needs of students. SHIP offers a range of benefits, including wellness incentives, prescription medication coverage, and basic vision care. Billed directly to your student tuition account each semester, SHIP provides seamless coverage periods from August 1 to December 31 for the fall semester and January 1 to July 31 for the spring semester. For services received at ECU Student Health Services (SHS), claims are filed directly to SHIP, simplifying the process for students. For healthcare services obtained outside of SHS, policyholders are responsible for filing claims and managing communication with external providers.
How SHIP Works with the Health Service Fee
ECU students pay a “Health Service Fee” with their tuition, which works in conjunction with SHIP to create an integrated and cost-effective healthcare system. The Health Service Fee covers many basic services at the Student Health Services (SHS) on campus. SHIP complements this by covering costs associated with office visits and ancillary services not covered by the health fee, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, medical supplies, and medications. Think of SHIP as you would any standard health insurance plan; it can be used for appointments with external healthcare providers as well as for services at SHS.
ECU Student Health Services simplifies the insurance claim process by filing claims for SHIP and several other major insurance providers, including most Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Coventry, First Health Network, MedCost, TRICARE East, and UnitedHealthcare plans. However, SHS may be considered out-of-network for other insurance carriers. Therefore, it is crucial to verify your individual insurance policy’s coverage details and benefits before seeking medical care to avoid unexpected costs.
Effective February 1, 2023, students with out-of-network insurance will have charges for medical services immediately billed to the University Cashier’s Office. While SHS will continue to file claims as a courtesy to out-of-network insurance providers, it is important to note that reimbursements or denial notifications from these insurers may be sent directly to the student. Students are responsible for settling any outstanding balances with the Cashier’s Office and for resolving any claim disputes directly with their insurance provider.
Eligibility for ECU SHIP
To be eligible for ECU SHIP, students must meet specific criteria based on their enrollment status:
Undergraduate Students:
- Must be enrolled in a degree-seeking, on-campus program.
- Must be registered for 6 or more credit hours each semester (Fall/Spring).
- Must pay the health fee as part of their tuition.
Graduate Students:
- Must be enrolled in a degree-seeking, on-campus program.
- Must be registered for 3 or more credit hours each semester (Fall/Spring).
- Must pay the health fee as part of their tuition.
SHIP Benefits and Coverage Details
For a comprehensive understanding of the benefits offered by Student Blue, the provider for ECU’s SHIP, students and parents are encouraged to visit the dedicated Student Blue for ECU website. Here, you can explore detailed plan benefits, including a general summary, specifics of medical benefits, and valuable health and wellness resources. Visit the Student Blue for ECU benefits page to learn more.
Rate Information (per semester billing):
- Premium Plan: $1,475.32* per semester
- Value Plan: $1,182.28* per semester
*Rates are pending approval from the Department of Insurance.
Coverage Periods:
- Fall Semester: August 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
- Spring Semester: January 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025
If you need assistance in choosing the right plan or understanding the benefits, the resources provided on the Student Blue website are invaluable.
Enrolling in ECU Student Health Insurance (SHIP)
Students who meet the eligibility requirements for SHIP will be automatically billed for the insurance with their tuition. If you intend to utilize SHIP, it is advisable to enroll before the coverage start date. Early enrollment allows you to access and use your benefits as soon as coverage begins, rather than waiting for your insurance card to arrive after the university’s automatic enrollment process is completed post-deadline.
Enroll in SHIP after registering for classes.
How to Enroll:
- Go to the Student Blue of North Carolina website.
- Click on “Find Your School” and select “East Carolina University” to proceed to the secure ECU student portal.
- Select “Enroll” and follow the step-by-step instructions provided.
*Please note that some users, particularly those using Internet Explorer, have reported encountering error messages. For optimal performance, ECU SHS recommends using Google Chrome to access the Student Blue site.
Waiving Out of ECU Student Health Insurance (SHIP)
If you are already covered under an existing health insurance plan, such as a parent’s or your own private insurance, you have the option to waive out of SHIP. To do so, you must submit proof of your current insurance coverage through a secure online system. Once your insurance is verified, the SHIP charge will be removed from your tuition bill. Waivers must be submitted by the deadlines specified for each semester: September 10 for the Fall semester and January 31 for the Spring semester. Please allow up to 2 weeks for the verification process to be completed.
Submit your waiver after registering for classes.
How to Waive Out:
- Collect your insurance information and visit the Student Blue of North Carolina website.
- Click on “Find Your School” and choose “East Carolina University” to navigate to the secure portal for ECU students.
- Select “Waive” and complete all required steps as instructed.
Upon successful online waiver submission, you will immediately receive a confirmation number and a follow-up confirmation email. After your insurance details are verified, you will receive another email confirming the verification outcome (Approved/Denied) and further instructions if additional information is needed.
Important Deadlines for Waiver Approval: To ensure your waiver is approved and the SHIP credit is applied to your account, you must provide evidence of creditable health insurance coverage that was effective on or before September 1st for Fall semester waivers and February 1st for Spring semester waivers.
*Similar to enrollment, users have reported errors when using Internet Explorer. Google Chrome is recommended for accessing the Student Blue waiver portal.
Health Insurance for Post Doctoral Students at ECU
ECU Post Doctoral students also have access to health insurance through Student Blue from Blue Cross Blue Shield, but they have a dedicated page with specific plan details. Postdoctoral students can find comprehensive plan information, benefit summaries, and additional resources by visiting the Student Blue for ECU Post Docs welcome page.
Securing adequate health insurance is a crucial step in ensuring a healthy and successful academic experience at ECU. Whether you choose to enroll in SHIP or waive out by providing proof of existing coverage, understanding your options and meeting deadlines is essential. Take action today to ensure you are protected.
