What is it and why is it provided by the University?
How does UC SHIP work?
When does UC SHIP coverage begin and end?
Can I waive UC SHIP?
If I waive UC SHIP can I still use Student Health?
If I'm enrolled in UC SHIP can I go to any doctor I want?
Can I use UC SHIP at other UC campuses?
Are there deductibles with UC SHIP?
Is there an annual limit to my out-of-pocket payments?
What do I do if I have to go to the emergency room?
How does coordination of benefits work if I have an HMO (except Kaiser) and UC SHIP?
If I am outside of California, how do I obtain medical care?
Can I use UC SHIP when I am abroad?
What do I do if I receive a bill for a medical visit?
Can my dependents enroll in UC SHIP?
Can I obtain a brochure describing UC SHIP coverage?
Still have questions?
What is it and why is it provided by the University?
To understand how UC SHIP works, it is important to understand that your health plan at UCSB consists of two parts:
- Student Health Service (SH)
SH is a complete outpatient health center for all UCSB students, providing medical, mental health and preventive care. Our clinicians serve as your "family doctor" while you're at UCSB. All registered students may use the services of SH, regardless of what type of major medical insurance they have. Services are supported by registration fees and are provided at moderate fees covered by UC SHIP. Non-SHIP students pay additional fees for services.
- The Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP)
As voted in by students and passed by the UC Regents, the University requires all students to have major medical insurance, and provides the Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) to meet this requirement. While SH provides primary care to students, UC SHIP covers care outside of SH, including hospitalization, off-campus or out-of-area care while traveling, and some specialty services not available at SH. UC SHIP also provides dental coverage. Students are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP. Students can choose to keep UC SHIP, or they can waive enrollment if they have comparable coverage. Most students keep their UC SHIP enrollment because it is a solid, comprehensive plan; it is convenient, it covers them 12 months a year anywhere in the world, offers excellent benefits, and is affordable. Also, UC SHIP and SH work hand-in-hand, as discussed in the next question.
How does UC SHIP work?
As a student, most of the health care services you will need are available at Student Health. When you need medical care, go online, call (805) 893-3371, or visit Student Health to make an appointment. There are no claims to file for SH visits.
If you need services at another health care facility, UC SHIP and SH work together to provide a comprehensive health care plan, coordinating the care you need both on and off campus. SH Clinicians will coordinate your medical services, and Student Health Insurance Office staff will provide referrals for covered services and ensure that your claims are handled accurately. Please note that with the exception of an Urgent Care or Emergency Room visit, a referral from SH is required for off-campus care and must be authorized by the Student Health Insurance Office prior to receiving services. For off-campus care, UC SHIP contracts with Anthem Blue Cross to provide medical and mental health services through their extensive network of hospitals and providers.
When does UC SHIP coverage begin and end?
For 2011/12 insurance:
- Fall quarter coverage begins September 18, 2011 and ends January 8, 2012
- Winter quarter coverage begins January 9, 2012 and ends April, 2012
- Spring quarter coverage begins April 2, 2012 and ends September 22, 2012
- Registered UCSB students enrolled in UC SHIP in the Spring quarter have coverage until the beginning of the next academic year.
For 2012/13 insurance:
- Fall quarter coverage begins September 23, 2012 and ends January 6, 2013
- Winter quarter coverage begins January 7, 2013 and ends March 31, 2013
- Spring quarter coverage begins April 1, 2012 and ends September 21, 2013
- Registered UCSB students enrolled in UC SHIP in the Spring quarter have coverage until the beginning of the next academic year.
Can I waive UC SHIP?
Yes, if you have coverage through a major medical insurance plan comparable to UC SHIP. For waiver instructions, forms, and FAQs, please see Waiving UC SHIP.
If I waive UC SHIP, can I still use Student Health?
Yes, all registered UCSB students can be seen at UCSB Student Health.
If I am enrolled in UC SHIP, can I go to any doctor I want?
Student health is the primary care provider for students enrolled in UC SHIP. This means that unless you are out of the area or need urgent care when Student Health is closed, you should see a SH clinician when you need medical attention. We encourage students to see the same doctor or nurse practitioner for each visit, if possible. Knowing your clinician makes visits more comfortable and contributes to the most healthful outcome.
Should you need a service not offered at SH, your clinician will refer you to an off-campus health care provider. Your SH clinician may suggest a specific provider, or you can choose a provider. However, we strongly recommend that UC SHIP students see providers who belong to the Preferred Provider Network (PPO). Use of the PPO network insures the least out-of-pocket costs to UC SHIP members.
Can I use my UC SHIP at other UC campuses?
The Student Health Center at each University of California campus gladly offers reciprocal access to its student health services to currently registered students from all other UC campuses under the same conditions that apply to its own students who are not enrolled in its campus Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). However, UCSB students with UC SHIP will pay non-SHIP rates at the other UC Student Health Centers and may then submit their bills to UC SHIP.
Are there deductibles with UC SHIP?
Yes, there is a $200 per plan year deductible for some medical services provided outside of SH. The deductible does not apply to services with fees at SH, pharmacy claims or to outside visits with co-payments.
Is there an annual limit to my out-of-pocket payments?
Students are responsible for no more than $3,000 of in-network out-of-pocket expenses each plan year. If you have paid $3,000 in in-network co-insurance and deductibles (excluding Pharmacy and other co-payments), you will no longer be required to pay co-insurance for the remainder of the plan year. The out-of-pocket maximum does not apply to amounts exceeding stated benefit limits (for example, Pharmacy or Physical Therapy limits), or to services not covered by the plan, and increased to $6,000 for out-of-network expenses.
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What do I do if I have to go to the emergency room?
No authorization from the Student Health Insurance Office is required for visits to an emergency room or urgent care center. Please provide the facility with your UC SHIP insurance card. Claims provided to UC SHIP will be processed according to the UC SHIP benefits.
All follow-up care must be at SH or authorized in advance by the Student Health Insurance Office.
UC SHIP provides 100% coverage of emergency hospital charges and 100% coverage of professional fees (the emergency room doctors' fees) after a $100 co-payment (waived if admitted to hospital). If UC SHIP determines that the reason for the visit was not an emergency, the coverage of emergency room charges is reduced to 80%. If you are admitted to the hospital, UC SHIP covers 90% of inpatient charges.
How does coordination of benefits work if I have an HMO (except Kaiser) and UC SHIP?
If a student is seen at SH for care and needs a referral to a specialist you need to contact your primary care physician under the HMO and indicate that you were seen at SH and was recommended to see a specialist. You will need to find out who the HMO recommends you see within their medical group, and ask the physician to begin a referral request on your behalf. Next you should call SH and let them know what specialist you are being referred to from your HMO medical group. We will confirm that this specialist is also a UC SHIP network provider and give you a referral from SH to that specialist. This will result in less out-of-pocket expenses for you. If you don't get a referral from your HMO, the HMO will deny services and the UC SHIP plan will have to pass as primary insurance.
If I am outside of California, how do I obtain medical care?
UC SHIP provides worldwide coverage. UC SHIP covers 100% of Customary and Reasonable (C&R) hospital charges for severe and life-threatening emergency room visits and 90%for non-emergent care. For non-emergent care, you must first obtain a referral by calling insurance services at UCSB at 805-893-6133.
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Can I use UC SHIP when I am abroad?
UC SHIP provides worldwide coverage. UC SHIP covers 100% of Customary and Reasonable (C&R) hospital charges for severe and life-threatening emergency room visits and 80% of C&R professional emergency fees (see Glossary for more about Customary and Reasonable rates).
There are many services offered to UC SHIP plan members while traveling abroad. These services are coordinated by Mondial Assistance, a sub-contractor of Anthem’s Blue Card Worldwide program. All of these services are provided to UC SHIP members at no additional charge.
Students can access this information by calling the “Coverage While Traveling” number on the back of the UC SHIP member ID card.
What do I do if I receive a bill for a medical visit?
All bills for services received outside of SH need to be directed to the UCSB Student Health Insurance Office.
Can my dependents enroll in UC SHIP?
The Student Health Insurance Plan is available for registered UCSB students and their dependents. However, SH does not see or treat dependents. See Insurance for Dependents.
Can I obtain a brochure describing UC SHIP coverage?
Click here for a printable brochure that provides an overview of UC SHIP coverage.
Still have questions?
Please contact the Student Health Insurance office at (805) 893-2592 or e-mail us at insurance@sa.ucsb.edu.
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