SHIP Fees and Enrollment

All eligible registered UC Berkeley students, including registered international students, are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and charged a health insurance fee on their CalCentral account.

Voluntary SHIP plans are available for concurrent enrollment undergraduates, filing fee graduate students, and students who have a formal medical withdrawal status or are on approved pregnancy leave. Dependent plans are also available for qualified dependents of current SHIP members.

Who is automatically enrolled in SHIP?

All eligible registered undergraduate and graduate students at UC Berkeley, including registered international students, are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). 

Effective Fall 2025, the following graduate program is not eligible for SHIP in the fall semester and will be eligible for SHIP only during the spring/summer semester:
  • Executive Track Master of Laws (LL.M)

Effective Fall 2025, the following graduate programs are not eligible for SHIP:

  • Evening and Weekend Master of Business Administration (EWMBA)
  • Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)

Note: Students who are academically dismissed are not eligible for SHIP.

SHIP Enrollment Periods

Registered Students 

All eligible registered students are automatically enrolled in SHIP when they enroll in classes. Students must enroll in at least half of a unit to trigger enrollment in SHIP each semester. The fee for SHIP is billed as part of students' registration fees in CalCentral. Note: Students can waive enrollment with proof of comparable insurance. 

Non-registered Students   

Students on filing fees, concurrent enrollment, medical withdrawal status, and approved pregnancy leave are not automatically enrolled in Voluntary SHIP and must manually enroll. For more information and to enroll, see SHIP for non-registered students.

Enrollment period for Voluntary SHIP:

Semester Enrollment Period  Period of Coverage
Fall July 1 - September 1 August 1 - December 31
Spring December 1 - February 1 January 1 - July 31

Period of Coverage

Coverage for the Academic Year for Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Fall Semester August 1 - December 31
Spring Semester January 1 - July 31
Master of Financial Engineering (MFE)
Spring Semester (incoming students) March 1 - July 31
Fall Semester (continuing students) August 1 - December 31
Spring Semester (continuing/graduating students) January 1 - May 31

Cost of SHIP 

2024-25
Undergraduate Rates Per Semester
Undergraduate Student $2,014
Spouse or Domestic Partner  $2,014
1 Child  $2,014
2+ Children*  $3,919
Graduate Rates Per Semester
Graduate Student $3,221
Spouse or Domestic Partner $3,221
1 Child $3,221
2+ Children* $6,294
2025-26
Undergraduate Rates Per Semester
Undergraduate Student $2,429
Spouse or Domestic Partner $2,429
1 Child  $2,429
2+ Children* $4,749
Graduate Rates Per Semester
Graduate Student  $3,924
Spouse or Domestic Partner  $3,924
1 Child  $3,924
2+ Children* $7,701

*Metlife caps dental premium at 1 child. 

Cost of SHIP and Period of Coverage for Special Summer Programs

Please see Special Summer Programs.

Special Summer Programs include:  
  1. Master of Law (LL.M Executive Track)
  2. Incoming and returning students in the following programs: 
  • Master of Information and Data Science 
  • Master of Information and 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

Qualifying Life Events  

A Qualifying Life Event is a major life change that may affect your health insurance needs. Qualifying Life Events may make you eligible for a special enrollment period outside the open enrollment period. Please view this PDF for more information about eligibility and how to proceed.

Obtaining an Insurance Card

Enrolled students may access their ID card on the Wellfleet website and on the Wellfleet Student mobile app.

Log into your Wellfleet account or create a new account using your email registered with campus, student ID, and date of birth.

Topics

SHIP Insurance topic page