SHIP Waiver Tips from ASUC SAO

ASUC Student Advocate's Office

The ASUC Student Advocate's Office 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@berkeleysao.org.

 See Waiving SHIP resources. 

Local Provider 

Many waivers are denied because students do not have a local provider assigned within 50 miles of UC Berkeley's campus. This is especially important for students on Medi-Cal to note as the process of switching counties is lengthy.  

Impact on Financial Aid 

Waiving out of SHIP does not guarantee "more financial aid." The budget used to determine a student's financial aid package adjusts, depending on whether a student waives or enrolls in SHIP. 

International Students 

Most international health insurance plans will fail to meet the SHIP waiver criteria even if they are advertised to do so. We encourage students to check the details of their insurance plans with the SHIP waiver criteria instead of relying on external parties' claims. 

Appeals  

Upon receiving a denial of a waiver application, a student has 10 business days to appeal this decision via the eTang portal if they feel they were wrongly denied. Students should check their insurance plan's details and the waiver criteria to identify the reason for denial.

Audits

SHIP audits about 25% of all waiver applications to ensure that students have adequate health insurance. Additionally, the following parties are ALWAYS audited: international students, students on Medi-Cal or in Health Maintenance Organizations plans, and waiver appeals.   

What about the Spring Semester?

If you successfully waived out of SHIP in the Fall semester, you do NOT need to waive for the Spring and Summer semesters. But if you waived for the Fall semester and wish to re-enroll in SHIP for the Spring and Summer semesters, you can submit a waiver reversal via the eTang portal. If your waiver was denied in the Fall, you can submit a new waiver in the Spring.

Topics

SHIP Insurance topic page

Important SHIP Dates

SHIP Coverage

  • Fall coverage: August 1 to December 31
  • Spring coverage: January 1 to July 31

SHIP Waiver Periods

  • For academic year
    • May 1: The SHIP waiver period opens
    • July 15: Deadline w/out $75 late fee
    • August 15: Final deadline w/ $75 late fee
  •  For the spring semester only 
    • December 1: Spring semester waiver period opens
    • January 1: Deadline w/out $75 late fee
    • January 15: Final deadline w/ $75 late fee 
NOTE: If you feel your application was wrongfully denied, you have 10 business days to fill out an appeal via the eTang portal.

Contact:

  • Student Health Insurance Office: Specializes in SHIP benefits, referrals, waivers, and claims/billing issues with health providers phone: (510) 642-5700 email: ship@berkeley.edu
  • ASUC Student Advocate's Office: A student-run office that provides free and confidential advice and representation to students who experience issues or conflicts with the university.
    phone: (510) 642-6912  email: help@berkeleysao.org