phone: 919-681-9355 | email: insurance@studentaffairs.duke.edu | studentaffairs.duke.edu/studenthealth
PLEASE SHOW THIS TO YOUR PARENTS OR GUARDIAN. ACTION IS REQUIRED FOR EVERY STUDENT.
All students enrolled at duke are required to maintain adequate medical insurance, as defined by Duke University. Duke offers a Student Medical Insurance Plan (SMIP) that is tailored to a Duke student’s specific needs in Durham, NC. General information about SMIP is available on the Student Health website, studentaffairs.duke.edu/studenthealth/health-insurance. This summer, every student will be automatically charged for Duke SMIP. You will need to enroll in Duke’s plan, or you can follow the steps to submit a waiver, which, if approved, confirms your current policy is sufficient and the charge will be removed from your bill. You will receive an email with more specifics in June. If you need to understand the components of the Student Blue plan coverage please visit http://studentbluenc.com/#/duke/benefits
IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE:
You may be able to keep your current policy as long as it meets certain criteria outlined below. You will need to submit a form online at Forms and Requests on dukehub.duke.edu to remove the Duke SMIP charge, and it will have to be approved. If the submitted waiver form does not meet the criteria for exemption, you will have to enroll in Duke’s SMIP.
CRITERIA FOR ADEQUATE COVERAGE:
- The student does not hold an F1 or J1 visa
- The Claims administrator is based in the United States and has a U.S. telephone number and address for submission of claims and the insurance policy has not been issued outside the U.S.
- The policy is not a traveling policy
- The plan provides both emergency and nonemergency health care and mental health benefits in the Durham, NC area
- The plan has participating hospitals, physicians, pharmacies and mental health providers in the Durham, NC, area to include Duke Medicine
- The plan provides inpatient and outpatient mental health care (with at least 30 visits per year) and chemical dependency benefits are comparable to the coverage provided by the Duke SMIP
- The plan provides coverage for prescription medication
- The lifetime benefit is at least $500,000 or more
Please note: Out-of-state Medicaid and state Children’s Health Insurance Plans, HMOs and Kaiser Insurance do not cover non-emergency care in Durham and DO NOT qualify for a waiver. While your current insurance policy may be sufficient, you may still want to consider that it may not provide the kind of coverage provided by our student plan.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE OR IF YOUR POLICY DOES NOT MEET DUKE’S CRITERIA:
You must enroll in Duke’s insurance via DukeHub (dukehub.duke.edu). A charge for the SMIP will be placed on your tuition bill/ bursar account. If you have insurance but need to enroll in SMIP instead, please request a certificate of creditable coverage (proof of insurance coverage letter) from insurance@studentaffairs.duke.edu. You will have 30 days from the effective date (8/1) of the student plan to terminate your current plan. Enrolling in SMIP is considered a qualifying life event (QLE).
FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS
If you are currently receiving need-based financial aid, you may be eligible to have the cost of the Duke SMIP covered by grant assistance. Please refer to the financial aid website at financialaid.duke.edu/health-insurance for a step-by-step guide to complete this requirement. If you receive Duke University grant aid and are required to purchase Duke insurance, your grant aid will be increased to cover the cost once you complete the process.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If you are an international student holding an F1 or J1 Visa, participation in the Duke SMIP is mandatory. You will be automatically enrolled, so no action is required on your part. Please note that travel insurance or medical insurance policies issued from your country of origin or outside the U.S. will not be acceptable as a means to waive the Duke SMIP.
DUKE INSURANCE INFORMATION
For specific questions, please contact Calvin Vennie, Duke Insurance Coordinator via phone at 919-684-1000 or insurance@studentaffairs.duke.edu. For open enrollment, call 919-684-1000. We can also be reached online at studentaffairs.duke.edu/studenthealth/health-insurance