Why did I get charged for a "health insurance fee" on my CalCentral statement? I didn't ask for health insurance.
All registered* students at the University of California are required to meet the university’s health insurance mandate as set by the UC Regents. Registered* UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) as a way to meet this mandate. SHIP premiums are charged as part of registration fees.
*Registered students refers to students registered in programs eligible for SHIP. See the SHIP Fees and Enrollment for more details on who is eligible to enroll in SHIP.
What do I do if I already have health insurance and I don't need the insurance offered by UC Berkeley?
If you have other major medical health insurance that meets the SHIP waiver criteria and do not wish to have dual coverage, you can submit an online waiver application to waive your enrollment in SHIP and receive a credit for the health insurance fee.
What are the requirements for waiving out of SHIP?
To waive SHIP, you must be enrolled in a medical health insurance plan that meets ALL of the waiver criteria for the entire SHIP term (Fall semester: August 1-December 31, Spring semester: January 1-July 31).
How do I apply for a waiver?
An online waiver application is available for Berkeley students. To complete the form, you will need your student ID number and details about your health insurance plan, including the company name and phone number, group number, the student's policy identification number, the policy holder's relationship to the student, and the summary of benefits.
Please use the waiver worksheet to gather this information in advance of using the online waiver tool, as you will only be able to submit the waiver application one time (even if you make a mistake). You will receive a confirmation number upon completion of the online waiver application. Save or print the confirmation page for your records.
What are the deadlines for submitting a waiver?
For the academic year: The Fall 2024 waiver period is from May 1, 2024 to July 15, 2024. Waivers must be received by July 15, 2024 to avoid a late fee of $75. All waivers received between July 16, 2024 and August 15, 2024 will be subject to a late fee of $75. No waivers will be accepted after August 15, 2024.
For the spring semester only: The Spring 2025 waiver period is from December 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025. Waivers must be received by January 1, 2025 to avoid a late fee of $75. All waivers received between January 2, 2025 and January 15, 2025 will be subject to a late fee of $75. No Spring waivers will be accepted after January 15, 2025.
What are the waiver deadlines for students in Special Summer Programs?
Special Summer Programs include:
- Master of Law (LL.M Executive Track)
- Incoming and returning students in the following programs:
- Master of Information and Data Science
- Master of Informationand Cybersecurity
- Master of Advanced Study in Engineering
- Master of Public Affairs
- Master of Arts in Teaching (LEAD, BTEP & PLI)
- Master of Molecular Science and Software Engineering
- Master of Business Administration (EWMBA & EMBA)
- Online/On-Campus Master of Public Health (OOMPH)
- Master of Urban Design
- Master of Real Estate Development + Design
- Master of Computational Social Science
- 11-month Master of Public Health
- Master of Biotechnology
What options do I have if my waiver is denied?
If you have submitted your online waiver and it was denied, you may submit a waiver appeal if you believe your insurance does meet the criteria. Your appeal must be submitted within 10 business days for your waiver to be considered. You must have already completed the online waiver and received a denial to use this form.
To securely submit your SHIP Waiver Appeal, log onto the eTang portal with your Calnet ID and passphrase.
- From the welcome page, click "MESSAGES" on the left side menu. Select "New Message".
Note: You may need to complete the Notice of Privacy Practice and Statement of Financial Responsibility before proceeding to "New Message". Please go to the home page and click on "Medical Clearances" on the left to complete these forms and then follow the rest of the instructions below. - Under "Student Health Insurance Office (SHIO)", select "Request Student Insurance Plan (SHIP) Waiver Forms". Select "SHIP Appeal Form".
- Fill out the form completely and click the "Send" button.
Note:
- If you do not receive a response to your appeal within 30 days, please contact the insurance office at (510) 642-5700 or ship@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail). Please note, that you may be contacted via secure message in the eTang patient portal if additional documentation is needed to process your appeal.
My waiver was approved. When will the credit appear on my CalCentral account?
The credit for the SHIP fee will appear on your CalCentral account within five days from the date your waiver was approved. If you do not see this credit within five days, contact the SHIP office at (510) 642-5700, email ship@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail), or send a secure message through the eTang portal.
Do I have to submit a separate waiver every semester?
No. Academic year waivers approved for the Fall are automatically approved for the following Spring semester only. If you were unable to submit a waiver application for the Fall, you will have an opportunity to submit a waiver for the Spring semester only. If you submitted a waiver for the Spring semester only, you must also submit an academic-year waiver for the next school year to continue to receive the health insurance fee credit. Approved Spring waivers are valid for the Spring semester only.
I submitted a waiver for the academic year and received the credit for the Fall semester. When will I receive the credit for the Spring semester?
The credit for the SHIP fee will appear in CalCentral beginning in mid-December.
My waiver was approved. Will the SHIP office audit my waiver?
To ensure students have adequate health insurance, the SHIP office audits a random sample of all waiver applications, including all Medi-Cal, HMO, and international plans. Waiver audits may occur anytime throughout the academic year.
We audit the insurance plan submitted on your waiver application and we may contact your insurance company to verify benefits and coverage information. If the insurance information provided on your waiver application is found to be inaccurate, invalid, or does not meet the waiver requirements, your waiver will be canceled without the opportunity to make changes or appeal (including submitting documentation for a new plan). The full premium will be billed to your CalCentral account and you will be enrolled on SHIP. Communication will be sent to you by secure message through the eTang portal and you will receive an email notification.
My waiver was approved but I have a new insurance plan. Do I need to submit a new waiver?
No. However, you are required to report any changes to the SHIP office by sending a secure message through the eTang portal. In the message, include a copy of your new insurance card (front and back). If additional information or documentation is needed, we will reach out to you. We will confirm if your new insurance plan meets the waiver criteria. If your new plan does satisfy all the requirements, you will continue to be waived out of SHIP for the remaining academic year. If your plan does not satisfy all the requirements, your waiver will be canceled and you will be enrolled on SHIP.
I submitted a waiver but now I no longer have other insurance. How can I get covered under the Student Health Insurance Plan?
Please submit a waiver reversal by logging onto the eTang portal with your Calnet ID and passphrase.
- From the welcome page, click "MESSAGES" on the left side menu. Select "New Message".
Note: You may need to complete the Notice of Privacy Practice and Statement of Financial Responsibility before proceeding to "New Message". Please go to the home page and click on "Medical Clearances" on the left to complete these forms and then follow the rest of the instructions below. - Under "Student Health Insurance Office (SHIO)", select "Request Student Insurance Plan (SHIP) Waiver Forms". Select "SHIP Waiver REVERSAL Form".
- Fill out the form completely and click the "Send" button.
If I waive SHIP can I still use the University Health Services at the Tang Center?
Yes, all registered UC Berkeley students can be seen at the University Health Services, regardless of the type of insurance they have.
I have a problem with my waiver. Who can I talk to about it?
Contact the Student Health Insurance Office at (510) 642-5700, ship@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail), or currently enrolled students can send a secure message to the SHIP office via the eTang portal.
The ASUC Student Advocate's Office(link is external) is a student-run office that provides free and confidential advice and representation to students who experience issues or conflicts with the university. If after contacting the SHIP office, you would like additional support regarding SHIP, completing waiver appeals, or billing, please contact them at (510) 642-6912 or help@sao.asuc.org(link sends e-mail).