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Tools
for making your decision Contents:
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Am I Eligible to Waive SHIP Enrollment?
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You must have comparable
health insurance coverage in order to waive SHIP.
See what SHIP covers. |
| I Have Insurance - Why Do I Need SHIP? |
- While all Berkeley students have access to services at UHS-Tang
Center, students with SHIP pay 20% of any fees at the time of
service and UHS bills SHIP for the remaining 80%.
- UHS will file claims only to SHIP. If you have another plan,
you must pay UHS fees for services, file a claim to your plan,
and wait for reimbursement.
- Many HMO and PPO insurance plans will not cover fees for services
provided at UHS. For example, a student without SHIP has a sports
injury and comes to UHS. The visit with the clinician is free,
but there will be fees for the x-ray and any supplies, such
as a splint or sling. Many HMO and PPO plans will not pay for
the x-ray and supply charges.
- Many HMO and PPO plans require you to use a service provider
within their network. Check to see if your plan's network includes
providers in the Berkeley area, and that those providers are
accepting new patients (many may not). The nearest Kaiser facility
is 7 miles from campus, in downtown Oakland.
- Many HMO and PPO plans provide worldwide coverage only for
emergencies. When students move to Berkeley from outside the
Bay Area, travel to visit family or friends, or study abroad,
routine care may not be covered.
- SHIP is a group plan, comparable in benefit levels to group
plans provided to employees by employers. Individual plans,
purchased directly from an insurance company by people who do
not have access to a group plan, often cost more and provide
fewer benefits.
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| Why Have Dual Coverage? |
For the reasons listed above, we recommend students keep SHIP,
even if they have another plan. Dual coverage results in lower
out-of-pocket costs during the school year, and students appreciate
the convenience of on-campus care. Students who waive SHIP their
first year at Cal often struggle to coordinate care on their own,
then join the plan the following year.
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| How to Compare
SHIP to Other Plans |
Compare carefully the cost, benefits, and limitations of your
plan to SHIP. In general, we recommend you compare the following:
- Cost of the plan
- Deductibles, co-pay amounts and co-insurance amounts
- Annual and lifetime maximum amounts covered
- Services covered as well as any limitations
- Service area (will your plan cover care provided in the Berkeley
area?)
Our Health Plan Comparison Worksheet
can help you compare the medical, mental health and dental benefits
of SHIP to your plan. You may also find the Glossary
of Insurance Terms helpful.
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| Waiver Deadlines |
For all undergraduate and continuing graduate students, the deadline
for waiving SHIP enrollment for Fall 2009 has been extended to
August 15th 2009. For new graduate students, the deadline is August
31st, 2009.
Waivers submitted after the deadline will be subject to a $50
late waiver service fee billed to the student's E-Bill.
No waivers will be accepted after September 15th, 2009.
Please note that students who have waived SHIP enrollment for
Fall 2009 will have enrollment automatically waived for Spring
2010.
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| To Continue, Choose an Option |
or
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No waivers will be accepted after September 15, 2009.
To complete the online SHIP Waiver Request, you will need
an active CalNet ID and details about your health insurance
plan, including the company name and phone number, group number,
the policy's holder identification number, and the name of
a Bay Area health care facility covered by the plan.
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Questions
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Have a question? See Frequently
Asked Questions About Waivers or call the Student Health Insurance
Office at (510) 642-5700.
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Back to Waiver home page>
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