Students

Health Insurance for Dependents of Students

Health Insurance Workshops for Students with Dependents

The Student Health Insurance Office at UC Berkeley offers insurance workshops twice a year at the beginning of each semester. These workshops provide a general overview of the individual health insurance market for adults and children.

Choosing the right plan for your family is an important decision. University Heath Services (UHS) can help you learn about and get connected to health coverage for your family. Families have a choice of health insurance plans, including individual commercial insurance plans, publicly supported plans, and non-profit community-based plans. See below for contact information.

See box at right for upcoming workhops-->

NEW! Dependent Plan for UC Berkeley Students
UC Berkeley is pleased to announce that effective with the 2011-12 academic year, UC SHIP is offering a dependent health insurance plan for spouses, partners and children of UC Berkeley students. This plan is a comprehensive major medical Anthem Blue Cross insurance plan, providing medical, counseling, and prescription services; see more details here. LAST DAY TO ENROLL FOR THE SPRING 2012 SEMESTER IS FEBRUARY 15, 2012. As enrollment eligibility is determined per semester, you will have another opportunity to purchase this voluntary dependent plan in July 2012 for the Fall 2012 semester.

Dependent coverage is available only if the student is also enrolled in UC SHIP. Dependents will be enrolled for the same eligibility period the studnet is enrolled (Fall: 8/15-1/14; Sping:1/15-8/14) within 30 days of a qualifying event. This is limited term coverage only. Coverage will end on the last dateof the specified eligibility period, unless enrolling to continue insurance for an additional term. Premiums are calculated based on the plan term and will not be pro-rated (monthly premiums are not available).
Selecting a Plan The major carriers in California — including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser, and Health Net — offer many plans with different combinations of premiums, deductibles and benefits (see definitions below).

Please Note: This site is provided as a service to students. It is not meant as a University endorsement of any insurance company, plan or broker. The information provided is a summary only and is subject to change. Contact the insurance company or a broker for additional plan details and the most current information about eligibility and benefits.
   
Contact Information Brokers:
Barney and Barney LLC
  • Barney and Barney LLC (formerly Saylor and Hill Co.), UC Berkeley's health insurance broker through 2011, can provide assistance with selecting and applying for a plan. There is no fee for their service. View their flyer here, or visit http://www.barneyandbarney.com/individual-family-students/ or call (877) 428-5578.
E-Health Insurance
  • E-Health Insurance is a licensed online broker site that allows you to get quotes, compare plans, and apply for health insurance online. Visit http://www.ehealthinsurance.com or call (800) 977-8860.

PPO and HMO insurance companies:

  • Anthem Blue Cross
    Visit http://www.anthem.com/ca/ or call (800) 777-6000. For the "Tonik" plan, visit https://www.tonikhealth.com/ca/ or call (866) 333-4820. Anthem Blue Cross offers PPO and HMO plans for individuals and families. Some plans include optional dental and vision coverage.
  • Blue Shield of California
    Visit www.blueshieldca.com or call (800) 660-3007. Blue Shield offers PPO and HMO plans for individuals and families. Some plansinclude optional dental and vision coverage.
  • Health Net
    Visit www.healthnet.com or call (800) 909-3447. Health Net offers PPO and HMO plans for individuals and families with optional dental and vision coverage.
  • Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region
    Visit http://www.kaiserpermanente.org/ or call (800) 232-5100. Kaiser offers both deductible and copayment HMO plans for individuals and families. An optional Dental Assistance Plan is also available. Kaiser has a Child Health Plan for low-income families with children who meet income requirements and are not eligible for government-sponsored programs.
  • Healthy Families
    Visit www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov or call (800) 880-5305 for enrollment, residency and eligibility requirements. The Healthy Families program is for children in low income families up to age 19.
  • Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM)
    Visit www.aim.ca.gov or call (800) 433-2611 for enrollment, residency and eligibility requirements. AIM provides low cost health coverage for pregnant women.
  • Medi-Cal
    Visit http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal or call (800) 430-4263 (Health Care Options) to find out more about eligibility for state-sponsored programs for families, children, and pregnant women. You may also visit the Alameda County Social Services Agency at www.alamedasocialservices.org/public/services/medical_care/ or call (510) 777-2300 (toll free number (800) 698-1118) for Medi-Cal enrollment information.

Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan

  • Visit http://www.mrmib.ca.gov/ or call (800) 289-6574. The state-funded Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan (MRMIP) is a program that provides health insurance to Californians who are unable to obtain coverage in the individual health insurance market (usually due to pre-existing health conditions).

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

  • Visit http://www.pcip.ca.gov/ or call (877) 428-5060. The federally-funded California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is a program established as a result of the federal Affordable Care Act of 2010 that offers health coverage to medically-uninsurable individuals who live in California. The program is available for individuals who have not had health coverage in the 6 months prior to applying.  The California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) manages both MRMIP and PCIP.

Other Insurance Plans in California:

Definitions

Premium The rate you pay to be enrolled in an insurance plan, usually monthly.
Co-pay The fixedamount of money you need to pay out-of-pocket for services in addition to insurance carrier payment. Note that some lans may not pay for some services until you meet your deductible
Coinsurance Percentage of fees for services you must pay for a service, in addition to what the plan pays. Note that some plans may not pay for some services until after you meet your deductible.
Deductible The initial, fixed amount of money you need to pay out-of-pocket the insurance carrier will pay for medical services.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum Limit to dollar amount you have to pay out of your own pocket for covered health care services during set time period, e.g., yearly.
PPO Preferred Provider Plan. A plan in which you have direct access to providers in the plan network, as well as other providers at a higher cost.
Preferred, Participating or In-Network Providers A group of medical providers (doctors, hospitals and othe rmedical facilities) that contract with an insurance carrier to provide services at a negotiated or contracted rate as full payment for services. Network providers cannot 'balance bill' the insured for the unpaid amount.
Covered Expenses (“UCR”) Expenses are tied to insurer’s fee reimbursement schedule that is based on “usual, customary and reasonable charges” (non-network providers).
HMO Health Maintenance Organization. A pre-paid health plan in which you must choose a primary care physician who coordinates all your care with providers in the plan network.
Inpatient Services rendered in a hospital after you are admitted, typically involving an overnight stay.
Guaranteed Issue A legal requirement that health plans must permit you to enroll in a specific plan regardless of your health status, age, gender, or other factors that might affect your use of health services, such as a pre-existing condition. This means that you cannot be denied insurance because of your prior medical history.