SHIP Fees and Enrollment

Spring 2025 coverage is effective 1/1/25 for eligible registered students who are enrolled in a minimum of 0.5 units of classes.

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). 

Note: If you are in a graduate program that was excluded from SHIP in the previous semesters and have a comparable alternate plan, you will now have to apply for a SHIP waiver during the open waiver period if you do not wish to have dual coverage. 

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
Coverage for Continuing/Graduating Students in Master of Financial Engineering (MFE)
Spring Semester 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

*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 Financial Engineering (MFE) - incoming March class only
  2. Incoming and returning students in the following programs: 
  • Master of Information and Data Science 
  • Master of Cybersecurity 
  • Master of Advanced Study in Engineering 
  • Master of Public Affairs
  • Master of Arts in Teaching (LEAD, BTEP & PLI)
  • 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