Mandatory Insurance FAQs

The waiver requirement calls for “existing CREDITABLE coverage”.  What exactly is CREDITABLE coverage?

The term "creditable coverage" comes straight out of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Visit the Pearce and Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company website for the complete answer about Creditable Coverage.

If specific or detailed information is needed please call Pearce and Pearce Inc., a Chartis company at 888-622-6001, or email them at: unc-ch@studentinsurance.com or visit FAQ's on the Pearce and Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company website at www.studentinsurance.com. Under Navigation, choose Pre-Existing, then Definition.

When will charges be applied to student bills?  

The Student Health Insurance Fee will be applied to all student bills in July for the Fall semester; and in November for the Spring semester.

Does Fall coverage begin August 1 even if a student enrolls in the plan and pays later? 

Yes, except in Qualifying Event enrollment.

What if a student is enrolled in the plan then drops out of school in late September?  What if charges have incurred? 

• If a student cancels/withdraws from school within the first ten days of classes: the student will be cancelled from the plan and the premium will be removed from their Univerisy account. Any benefits paid will be recouped by Pearce and Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company.
• If a student cancels/withdraws from school within the first ten days of classes due to an illness or injury: the student can remain on the plan and the premium will remain on their Univeristy account. Coverage will end at the semester termination date.
• If a student cancels/withdraws from school after the first ten days of classes: the student will remain on the plan and there will be no premium refund. Coverage will end at the semester termination date.

What if a student first enrolls in less than 6 credit hours (CH) but later increases to more than 6? 

This is considered a qualifying event and the student should enroll in the University sponsored insurance and will be charged the semester premium.  Each qualifying event will be handled on a case by case basis in collaboration with Pearce and Pearce, Inc a Chartis company. Qualifying event enrollment is handled directly with Pearce and Pearce.

How do students who enroll late in the University get enrolled or waived in the UNC System Wide Student Health Insurance Plan? 

Late enrollment is considered a qualifying event and they should be enrolled into the University sponsored insurance and will be charged the semester premium.  Qualifying event enrollment is handled on a case by case basis in collaboration with Pearce and Pearce Inc., a Chartis company.

If late enrollment in the University is past the semester waive deadline, the student is not required to waive.

Will waivers be checked and verified each semester? Does a student need to waive each semester?

Waivers are checked and verified each semester. Students are required to have an accepted waiver for each semester.

Do I have to submit my insurance information each semester?

Yes,  during the fall waive process there will be an option to pend your insurance information for the spring semester, but remember that insurance waivers will be verified each semester and an approved waiver is required each semester to remove the Student Health Insurance Fee. It is the students responsibility to verify that they have an approved waiver each semester.

What if a student waives but a week later drops their plan? 

It is a requirement of enrollment for all eligible students to have health insurance. Dropping your insurance may be a breach of the student conduct code since continuous insurance coverage is required for each semester.

When will students receive their insurance coverage card? 

Insurance cards will be sent to students upon actively enrolling in the student insurance plan. Students that choose the "Go Green" option should print their card from the Pearce website.

Students that do not actively enroll in the plan will receive their insurance cards after open enrollment closes.

It is recommended that students who wish to participate in the UNC System-Wide Student Health Insurance Plan enroll online to activate their coverage, each semester, before open enrollment closes.

Does the student who is purchasing the Student Insurance (either by opting in or because they did not waive out) need to submit any information to the insurance company?

Yes. If students wish to participate in the student insurance, we encourage them to enroll online, so they will receive their insurance card prior to visiting a doctor or filling a prescription. It is suggested that enrolling students send Pearce and Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company a Certificate of Creditable Coverage from their previous insurance company.

If no waiver action is taken before the semester deadline students will automatically be enrolled in the UNC System-Wide Student Health Insurance Plan and the semester Student Health Insurance Fee will be the responsibility of the student.

How are students billed the premium - on an annual basis or each semester? 

The Student Health Insurance Fee is calculated with tuition and fees each semester. 

What plan did the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill endorse? 

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill endorses the UNC System Wide Student Health Insurance Hard Waiver Plan. It is administered by Pearce and Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company. All North Carolina State Universities participate in the same insurance plan.

Will club sports be covered under the new student health insurance plan? 

Yes, students that participate in club sports will have the same policy benefits as any other student.

Is there a short-term plan that can be purchased through Pearce and Pearce for the summer if a student starts in the summer instead of the fall? Is the plan for all of summer or can it be for only 1 month? 

New summer students that meet the eligibility requirements for the Base (Voluntary) Plan have the option to purchase a 3 month summer plan (May, June, July), a 2 month plan (June, July) or a one month plan (July only) plan directly through Pearce and Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company.

Will charges be applied when Financial Aid is applied?

The cost for UNC-Chapel Hill’s student health insurance policy is included in the cost of attendance budgets for all financial aid applicants.  If the Student Health Insurance Fee is on the student's University account within  10 days of the beginning of each semester, financial aid funds will automatically pay off that charge if aid funds are sufficient after other Univeristy charges are paid.  If the health insurance fee is applied after aid funds are dispersed, or if the student's total aid is not sufficient to cover all university charges, the Student Health Insurance Fee will be the students responsibility to pay. 

What is covered under the Wellness/Preventive Services benefit?

Wellness/Preventive benefits can be found at www.healthcare.gov . Choose the Prevention, Wellness and Comparing Providers button at the top of the webpage.

Who is required to show proof of insurance?

Undergraduates enrolled in 6+ campus credit hours and graduate students in 1+ credit hours who are in a degree-seeking program will be required to show evidence of an existing creditable health insurance policy, or buy their own health insurance policy outside the University, or purchase the University-sponsored plan.

I pay a Campus Health Fee on my UNC-Chapel Hill bill each semester. How is health insurance different?

The Campus Health Fee is part of tuition and fees at UNC-Chapel Hill and covers routine visits to providers, (Physicians, Physician Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners), and most Counseling and Psychological visits. Items with a charge (example: labs and x-rays) are offered at prices competitive with the community. Health insurance offsets the cost of services not covered under the Campus Health Fee. Insurance gives students access to services outside of Campus Health Services and it has benefits for services such as hospitalization, required surgery or specialty services for illnesses or injuries.

Why is the UNC System requiring health insurance?

Unexpected health care expenses such as those associated with illness, accidents, or mental health care can destabilize a student’s financial situation and derail his or her progress toward a degree. These potential barriers to attendance and degree completion are reduced when students have health insurance. Conversely, students without health insurance who do not have access to needed specialty care or hospitalization may attempt to continue their academic pursuits but fail to reach their full potential due to their untreated illness.

I am covered already by health insurance. What do I need to do so I don't get billed?

Students who are already covered by a creditable insurance policy (i.e. through parent plans, family plans, employer-sponsored plans, or student health insurance), submit their insurance policy information for verification through the secure website at www.bcbsnc.com/student. The waive process is not complete until you receive a return email stating your waiver has been approved. After an approved waiver, the charge will be removed from the student’s University account. Students who do not submit verifiable health insurance information will be enrolled automatically in the UNC System Wide Student Health Insurance Plan and will be responsible for the Student Health Insurance Fee. An approved waiver is required for each semester.

What happens when I graduate before the plan ends?

When a student graduates, they are still covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan until the semester termination date (Dec 31 for fall and July 31 for spring/summer). If they wish to continue to have coverage through Pearce & Pearce after July 31, 2013 contact Pearce & Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company about purchasing a 3 month Medigap policy.  Students wishing to purchase a gap plan after December 31, 2013 should contact Student Blue.

What does the University-sponsored insurance plan cover?

For detail information about the insurance plan benefits please go to www.bcbsnc.com/student choose UNC Chapel Hill.

I worry about identity theft. Why do I have to provide my private information?

We understand that concern. This is why Pearce & Pearce, Inc., a Chartis company will not sell our students' information to anyone, including direct mail marketing vendors. They are also certified with the International Standard of Information Security and are the first and only Student Insurance Agency in the United States to be certified with this Information Security Standard. Great care is taken to minimize the potential for security breaches that might lead to fraud or other malicious use of personal information.