Student Health Insurance Plan
Clemson University offers a comprehensive Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), administered by BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of South Carolina through Academic HealthPlans (AHP). The SHIP is available to eligible students, legal spouses and dependents of students at competitive premiums.
Student Health Services, located in Redfern Health Center, is an in-network provider for the SHIP. Claims are filed in-house. The Pharmacy at Redfern is a preferred pharmacy for the SHIP; enrollees have no deductible and lower copays.
Open enrollment begins Nov. 26, 2024 and ends Jan. 31, 2025 for Spring 2025.
Benefit Information
- Overview of Plan Benefits
- AcademicLiveCare (ALC): Telehealth for medical/urgent care, therapy, nutrition and psychiatry; available 24-hours a day from anywhere – ALC Flyer
- Academic Student Assistance Program (ASAP)
- Tier 1 and BRIO Providers
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Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate domestic students are not required to have health insurance. If you want to enroll in the SHIP, please follow the instructions for Voluntary Student on the SHIP website: Clemson University My AHP Care
If you are an undergraduate international student, please view the drop-down box below.
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Graduate and International Students
Health insurance is REQUIRED for the following students who are considered Mandatory Students:
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Graduate students enrolled in nine or more credit hours in an on-campus or blended delivery program.
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Graduate students classified as graduate assistants (GAs) at all campus locations (GAs receive a per-semester student insurance subsidy when enrolled in the SHIP).
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International students with an F1 or F2 visa.
If you fall into one of these categories, you are charged for the SHIP on your bill in iROAR. Please follow the steps found in the "Activate Enrollment" drop-down box below. You may submit a waiver if you have alternate insurance coverage that meets University requirements.
If you do not fall into one of these categories and are not charged for the SHIP on your bill in iROAR, you can still enroll in the SHIP as a Voluntary Student .
Please note: Check your bill in iROAR at the beginning of the semester and after any changes to your schedule. Changes to your schedule can cause the insurance charge to drop off or be added your account.
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Activate Enrollment
If you are considered to be a Mandatory Student (students required to have health insurance and are charged for the SHIP on their bill in iROAR) and you do not submit a waiver, you must complete the steps below to activate your enrollment. This can only be done during the open enrollment period.
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Register for classes and wait 48 hours.
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When it’s been 48 hours since you registered for classes, visit Clemson University My AHP Care.
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Click on the link for "Mandatory Students" and follow the steps.
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After Graduation
Clemson University's Student Health Insurance Plan offers a continuation coverage to graduating students to extend coverage for up to three months. You can purchase this continuation of coverage by going to Clemson's AHP Enrollment webpage and scrolling down to Continuation Coverage. If you graduate at the end of the Fall semester, your insurance coverage goes until the end of December but can be extended until the end of March. If you graduate at the end of the Spring semester, your coverage will end in July, but you can purchase coverage that will go until the end of October.
Continuation coverage is purchased directly from AHP and is the same BCBS plan.
Please note: BCBS will display your coverage from August 1 to August 1, but if you graduate at the end of the Fall semester, the coverage ends December 31.
My AHP Care
Redfern Payments and
Outside Insurance Billing
Health Fee
Medical Clearance
and Immunizations
Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System for International Students:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Why do I see a charge for student insurance on my tuition bill?
You are either an international student or a graduate student meeting certain requirements to be considered mandatory.
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How do I know if I am a mandatory student?
You are mandatory if you are a graduate student enrolled in nine or more credit hours in an on-campus degree program, have a graduate assistantship or you are an international student.
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What if I do not see the charge for student insurance on my tuition bill?
You are considered a voluntary student because you do not meet the above requirements.
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Can I purchase the student insurance if I am voluntary?
Yes, you can purchase the student health insurance as voluntary at a higher premium. You have the option to setup a payment arrangement with AHP if you are unable to pay the full premium at the time of enrollment.
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When can I enroll or waive the student insurance?
We have open enrollment periods before the start of each semester. You will find the open enrollment dates on the Clemson My AHP Care website.
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I have my own insurance and would like the charge for student insurance removed. How do I remove the charge?
You can waive out of the student insurance with a qualifying health insurance plan.
Please note that submitting a waiver does not mean the charge is removed. The waiver must be approved or verified before an exemption is placed on your tuition bill.
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My waiver was approved/verified, but there is still a student insurance charge on my tuition bill. Why was the charge not removed?
The student insurance charge will remain on your tuition bill, but they will place a student insurance exemption credit on your tuition bill to offset the charge.
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I have a graduate assistantship and my own insurance. Am I eligible to waive the student insurance?
Yes, you can waive the insurance, but with a graduate assistantship, you are provided a subsidy to offset the cost of student insurance. If you choose to waive and the waiver is approved, you will receive a student insurance exemption and the insurance subsidy will be removed.
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I have a graduate assistantship starting in the summer semester, but I do not see a subsidy – why is that?
For students starting in the summer, the Graduate School does not provide subsidies. You will have to pay the full insurance charge, but once fall semester starts, you will begin to see the subsidy as long as you have the GA position.
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I have insurance with my parents but turn 26 during the semester. Can I enroll in the student insurance plan after open enrollment?
Yes, you can enroll in the student insurance as a qualifying life event. Be sure that if you are voluntary, you click on QLE voluntary, and if you are mandatory, you click on QLE mandatory. These will be sent to the student insurance coordinator to confirm your student status. Charge is not applied to your tuition bill; you will be expected to pay at time of enrollment.
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I am a graduate assistant with my parents’ insurance but turn 26 during the semester. Will I get my insurance subsidy back if I choose to enroll in the student insurance after open enrollment?
No. If you choose to waive out of the student insurance initially, you will lose the subsidy and will have to pay out of pocket at the time of enrollment. It is best to enroll during the open enrollment period so that you keep your subsidy.
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I initially submitted a waiver that was approved but would like to be enrolled in the student insurance plan. Is there a way to reverse the waiver?
Yes, you can contact Academic Health Plan at 855-856-2384 or reach out to the student insurance coordinator and let them know you would like to enroll in insurance and remove the waiver on file.
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I am a voluntary student and did not purchase during the open enrollment period. Can I still enroll in the student insurance?
If you missed the open enrollment period, you must wait until the next open enrollment to purchase the student insurance. The only way to purchase student insurance during the semester is through an approved qualifying life event.
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What is considered a qualifying life event?
A qualifying life event is a major life change that affects your health insurance needs. For more information on what meets the requirements, please go to the AHP website.
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When can I enroll my spouse and/or dependents?
Once you have activated your insurance coverage, you will be able to enroll your spouse and/or dependents in the student insurance. Please note your tuition bill will only reflect your charge for the student insurance. You will be expected to pay out of pocket for your spouse and/or dependents.
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What is the cost to enroll my spouse and/or dependents?
The premium paid by the student is the same for spouse or dependents. GA subsidies do not apply to spouse or dependents.
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I missed the deadline for the waiver but have other insurance – can I waive?
Once you miss the deadline for the waiver, there is no extension. You may contact the student health insurance coordinator with any questions about this.
Please note: The only way an exception can be made is if your charge was placed on the deadline or after.
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I enrolled – when can I start using my insurance?
You can begin to use your insurance starting August 1 for the Fall semester, January 1 for the Spring semester and May 1 for the Summer semester.
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When can I get my insurance card?
Your insurance card is mailed to the address on file with AHP. If you are an international student, the insurance card will possibly come to Redfern, but you can submit a ticket to change your address.
You can also download the My Health Toolkit app for BCBS and use the member ID to setup an account.
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Where can I get my member ID for the BCBS app?
You can contact the student insurance coordinator or login to the AHP portal to retrieve your member ID.
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Where can I go to change my address with AHP?
You can submit a ticket on the AHP Submit a Request webpage.
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I am a J1/J2 visa holder – do I have to enroll with AHP?
You will be enrolled through GBG plan, and this will be emailed directly to you. There is no action required on your part.
Waivers are not allowed under this plan. If you have questions about this, please reach out to the International Office.
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I am a graduate student at a Clemson Innovation Campus or REC and do not have access to Redfern Health Center on the main campus. How do I find a list of Tier 1 providers in my area, and how much will I have to pay?
To access the list of Tier 1 providers in your area, please see the attachment at the top of the page. In-office physician visits for Tier 1 providers will charge a $20 copay at the time of service. Other services outside of this Tier 1 provider will be subject to deductible and out-of-pocket. Please see your plan's "Summary of Benefits and Coverage" information on the Clemson My AHP Care Website, or you can contact the SHIP coordinator directly by phone at 864-656-9493.
Contact the Student Health Insurance Plan Coordinator
The Student Health Insurance Plan Coordinator is in room G-22 in Redfern Health Center (when you enter Redfern, proceed downstairs and follow the signage). If you need to contact the Student Insurance Coordinator, call 864-656-9493 or email.