Each academic year all students are enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) automatically. If you are currently insured with a qualifying health plan and do not wish to keep UC SHIP as secondary coverage, you may submit a waiver request. Before you submit a waiver request please be sure your insurance plan meets the Waiver Criteria established by the University of California. The distance requirement is 50 miles from the student’s residence while in Santa Barbara.
GAP coverage ensures that students with APPROVED waivers have access to in-house medical care at Student Health while attending UCSB. If the health insurance plan for an APPROVED waiver has a provider network limited to a county outside of Santa Barbara (e.g., MediCal or other State plans which can only be used in their home county), we strongly advise students to enroll in GAP. Choose the GAP link for more information
If a waived student’s health insurance plan has a provider network limited to a county outside of Santa Barbara yet still within the 50-mile accepted radius(e.g. MediCal or other State plans which can only be used in their home county), we strongly recommend students sign up for the Gaucho Access Plan (GAP). GAP is a pre-paid access plan and ensures that waived students have access to most in-house services at UCSB Student Health.
To waive (opt-out) of UC SHIP coverage, the student must upload evidence of comparable health coverage into our secure waiver portal AND receive confirmation that their waiver was accepted. Email confirmation that the waiver was approved will be sent to the student's UCSB email account.
UC SHIP INSURANCE GRANT
Depending on your financial need, you may be eligible to have your UC SHIP premium fully or partially covered by a UC Health Insurance Grant from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Please note that your financial aid award will change if you waive out of UC SHIP.
Important Notice:
Note:
- Approved waiver(s) will remain in effect for the remainder of the current academic year (unless the student withdraws or cancels their enrollment).
- If you experience a loss of coverage and need to cancel your waiver, you must reach out to the insurance office at UCSB Student Health.
Submit Insurance Waiver Form Online
To check the status of your waiver, log into the Student Health "Patient Portal Gateway"
NOTE: It will take our system 3-5 business days to update your status AFTER you receive your APPROVED WAIVER email.
UC SHIP WAIVER PERIOD: UPCOMING FALL 2023
|
Quarter |
Waiver Period (Opens) |
Waiver Period (Closed) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | 07/31/2023 | 10/02/2023 | |
| Winter 2024 | 11/01/2023 | 01/02/2024 | |
| Spring 2024 | 02/01/2024 | 04/01/2024 |
If you miss the deadlines above, contact the Insurance Department to submit a late waiver. You will be charged $50.00 if your waiver is accepted. We can't accept late waivers after the following dates for Academic Year 2023-2024:
- Fall: 10/16/23
- Winter: 01/15/24
- Spring: 4/15/24
For Waived Students
The UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) fee is removed from your BARC account within 5-10 business days of your waiver being approved. If your UC SHIP Health Fee is not removed from your BARC account after 10 business days please contact the Insurance Office. Thank you for your patience!
Please Note: The Insurance Office performs routine semi-annual verification of insurance plans for students who were granted a waiver from the mandatory UCSB student health insurance program. Many insurance plans change every January, and those students who fail the verification process will be notified in a series of emails and/or text communications asking for proof of current insurance coverage. If a student does not provide their updated proof of insurance coverage for verification, they will be charged the quarterly premium for enrollment in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) on their next billing statement (BARC) and the student will be enrolled in UC SHIP.
For more information
If you would like further information to help you decide if you should waive UC SHIP or stay enrolled, please contact the UCSB Student Health Insurance Office by email at shswaivers@sa.ucsb.edu.