Students may waive the Duke SMIP if the following criteria are met:

• The student does not hold a 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 non-emergency health care and mental health benefits in the Durham area, N.C. area
• Out of state Medicaid and state Children’s Health Insurance Plans do not cover non-emergency care in Durham
• The plan has participating hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, and mental health providers in the Durham, N.C. area, including 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
• The policy does not have a pre-existing condition waiting period

International Students
 
If you are an international student holding a F1 or J1 Visa, enrollment in the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan is mandatory. Follow directions to enroll.  Please note that neither traveling insurance nor medical insurance policies issued from your country of origin or outside the U.S. or Canada will be accepted as a means to waive the Duke SMIP.
 
Please contact your insurance carrier to inquire if Duke University Health Systems and physicians (Private Diagnostic Clinics) known as Duke Medicine are in-network for non-emergency care. 
 
If the Duke SMIP is waived, the student or guardian is responsible for any medical bills that occur and are not covered by your insurance. Please contact your insurance company for specifics on benefits. Duke Student Health employees are not able to determine your out-of-pocket cost and are not able to negotiate with Duke Medical Center’s billing services on your behalf.

If you have any questions, please contact Anna Kenyon, Student Medical Insurance Manager at anna.kenyon@duke.edu.

As you move on from Duke, we would like you to be aware of your health insurance coverage options. Some of you will be moving on to jobs that offer health insurance coverage. For those who are not, you have several options:

The cost of coverage is based upon your age and will be posted to your student account by the Bursar's Office. If your age as of August 1, 2013 is:

• Under 24, the annual charge is $1,895.
• 24 to 34, the annual charge is $2,280.
• 35 to 44, the annual charge is $3,200.
• 45 to 54, the annual charge is $4,695.
• 55+, the annual charge is $6,510..
• Spouse, the annual charge is $3,760. (in addition to the student's annual charge)
• Child(ren), the annual charge is $2,140. (in addition to the student's annual charge)
• Family, (all dependents) the annual charge is $5,715. (in addition to the student's annual charge)

A portion of the cost of the SMIP is retained by Duke University to pay for administrative costs incurred by the University and for reserve funds. Any portion of the cost of the plan retained by Duke University is encumbered solely for the purpose of funding plan expenses or the equitable and non-discriminatory benefit of plan participants.

Undergraduate students receiving need-based financial aid who do not have comparable coverage (and apply for and are denied a health insurance waiver) will receive an increase in their Duke grant after Fall add/drop to cover the cost of the annual insurance.

Preventive care services will be available to SMIP subscribers at 100% coverage. Please refer to this link provided by BCBSNC for specific services covered. Please visit the StudentBlue website at https://www.bcbsnc.com/content/studentblue/duke/index.htm for additional information concerning the student medical insurance.

In addition, we are pleased to announce the following benefit enhancements for the new plan year beginning August 1, 2012:

• STI screening will be covered at 100% (there will be a limit on the number of annual screenings).
• Generic oral contraceptives will be covered at 100%.
• There will be no limit on the number of visits with Dietitians.
• The immunization benefit limit (currently $500) will be removed (immunizations covered by the plan are subject to CDC and AAP guidelines).

With the addition of these enhanced benefits, we are excited to announce that there will be a modest premium increase of only 3% for the new plan year. Please see below for the new rates.

Please click here for details on the BlueCard Worldwide program, which provides benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation.

Although dental services are not available through Duke Student Health Center, all students enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan are eligible for discounted dental visits through BASIX (see website for participating practices).

DentalBlue dental insurance is available for purchase here.