About SHIP: Frequently Asked Questions

To understand how SHIP works, it is important to understand that your health plan at UC Berkeley consists of two parts:

1. University Health Services (UHS)
University Health Services is a complete outpatient health center for students, providing medical, mental health and preventive care. Our clinicians serve as your "family doctor" while you're at Cal. All registered students may use the services of UHS, regardless of what type of major medical insurance they have. Services are supported by registration fees and are provided at no extra cost or for moderate fees covered by SHIP. See Student Services A-Z for a list of programs and services at UHS.

2. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
As voted in by students and passed by the UC Regents, the University requires all students to have major medical insurance, and provides the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to meet this requirement. While UHS (above) provides primary care to students, SHIP covers care outside of UHS, including hospitalization, off-campus or out-of-area care while traveling, and some specialty services not available at UHS. SHIP also provides dental coverage. Students automatically are enrolled in SHIP, and there is a charge on the CARS bill. Students can choose to keep SHIP, or they can waive enrollment if they have comparable coverage.

Most students keep their SHIP enrollment because it is a solid, comprehensive plan; it is convenient, it covers them 12 months a year anywhere in the world, offers excellent benefits, and is affordable. Also, SHIP and UHS work hand-in-hand, as discussed in the next question below.

As a student, most of the health care services you will need are available at University Health Services. When you need medical care, call or visit the Tang Center to make an appointment. SHIP members pay only 20% of most UHS fees, and there are no claims to file for UHS visits.

If you need services at another health care facility, SHIP and UHS work together to provide a comprehensive health care plan, coordinating the care you need both on and off campus. UHS Clinicians will coordinate your medical services, and Student Health Insurance Office staff will provide authorizations for covered services and ensure that your claims are handled accurately. Please note that all referrals for off-campus care must be authorized by the Student Health Insurance Office prior to receiving services. For off-campus care, SHIP contracts with Blue Cross of California to provide medical and mental health services through their extensive network of hospitals and providers. (See SHIP and Blue Cross -- What's the Connection?)

• Fall semester coverage begins August 15 and ends January 14 each year.
• Spring semester coverage begins January 15 and ends August 14 each year.

Registered Berkeley students who enroll in SHIP for the Fall and Spring semesters have year-round health insurance coverage.

If I waive SHIP, can I still use University Health Services at the Tang Center?

University Health Services is the primary care provider for students enrolled in SHIP. This means that unless you are out of the area or need urgent care when the Tang Center is closed, you should see a UHS clinician when you need medical attention. We encourage students to see the same doctor or nurse practitioner for each visit, if possible. Knowing your clinician makes visits more comfortable and contributes to the most healthful outcome.

Should you need a service not offered at UHS, your clinician will refer you to an off-campus health care provider. Your UHS clinician may suggest a specific provider, or you can choose a provider. However, we strongly recommend that SHIP students see providers who belong to the Blue Cross of California Preferred Provider Network (PPO). Use of the Blue Cross of California PPO network insures the least out-of-pocket costs to SHIP members (see SHIP and Blue Cross - What's the Connection?).

Are there deductibles with SHIP?

Is there an annual limit to my out-of-pocket payments?

What do I do if I have to go to the emergency room?

In the event of an emergency, go immediately to the nearest medical facility for treatment.

Retroactive authorization is required for visits to an emergency room or urgent care center prior to November 1, 2007. You must contact the Student Health Insurance Office at (510) 642-5700 to ensure that your services will be covered appropriately.

No authorization from the Student Health Insurance Office is required for visits to an emergency room or urgent care center on or after November 1, 2007. Please provide the facility with your Blue Cross card. Claims submitted to Blue Cross will be processed according to the SHIP benefits.

All follow-up care must be authorized in advance by the Student Health Insurance Office.

SHIP provides 100% coverage of emergency hospital charges and 80% coverage of professional fees (the emergency room doctors' fees). If Blue Cross determines that the reason for the visit was not an emergency, the coverage of hospital charges is reduced to 80%. If you are admitted to the hospital, SHIP covers 90% of inpatient charges.

If I am outside of California, how do I obtain medical care?

As a member of SHIP, you can expect to receive a white ID card from Blue Cross of California as proof of coverage. The card will be mailed to you at the local address held by the UCB Office of the Registrar within six weeks of enrolling in SHIP. Please take this card with you whenever you seek medical attention outside of UHS. (Note that this card is different from the gold Medical Record card issued by UHS. The gold card is the student's ID for Tang Center services - not insurance.)

Before your permanent ID card arrives, you can print a temporary card online. Also, if your permanent card does not arrive within six weeks or if you should lose it, you can request a replacement permanent card.

Here's how to print a temporary card and/or request a new permanent card:

• Go to the Blue Cross of California website. (The preceding link will open in a new window so you can refer back to these instructions.)
• You will need to register and log in:
  • Click the Register button on the left.
  • Complete the registration process. (Note that you can use your Social Security Number in place of your Member ID when registering.)
  • Once you are logged in, you will be directed to a menu screen. Click the Request ID Card link.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process of printing the temporary card and/or requesting a new permanent card.

Please direct questions to the Student Health Insurance Office at (510) 642-5700.

The Student Health Insurance Plan is available for registered UC Berkeley students only. However, several plans are available for spouses and children of Berkeley students. See Insurance for Dependents.

Dependents 17 years or older of registered UC Berkeley students may be seen at UHS on a fee for service basis.

Click here for a printable brochure that provides an overview of SHIP coverage.

Note that this brochure is updated semi-annually, most recently in Januarry 2007. Check the Important SHIP Changes page for any changes since the last update.

Yes. See SHIP Pharmacy Benefits - Tracking How Much You've Used.