How to Waive SHIP

All students are automatically enrolled in SHIP each academic year. However, students who are able to demonstrate they have comparable coverage may be able to opt out of SHIP. Students who complete a waiver application by the waiver deadline date(s) are not guaranteed to be approved and need to check their UCSD e-mail for notifications regarding their waiver.

Waiver Periods - All Students:

Term     Waiver Period Opens     Waiver Deadline (no late fee)     Late Waiver Deadline ($50 late waiver fee)
Fall     06/01/09     09/18/09     09/25/09
Winter     11/02/09     12/28/09     1/04/2010
Spring/Summer     02/01/2010     03/19/2010     03/26/2010

How do I waive SHIP?

Students who have acceptable comparable insurance coverage may apply for a waiver to opt out of the SHIP plan. The waiver application is available online through TritonLink during scheduled waiver periods. Only one waiver per academic year may be processed through TritonLink.

If you do not see the final screen 'SHIP WAIVER: COMPLETED', contact the Student Health Insurance Office prior to the waiver deadline to complete the waiver process.

If you are unable to access or complete the waiver application through TritonLink, or if you decide to waive additional quarters after submitting your waiver application, contact the Student Health Insurance Office prior to the waiver deadline.

All waivers must be received prior to the waiver deadline date. No exceptions.

I can't access the Health Fee Waiver because I have a HOLD on my student account. What do I do?

You must resolve the hold before you will be able to complete the on-line Health Fee Waiver application. If you are unable to resolve the hold before the waiver deadline, you must contact the Student Health Insurance Office before the deadline to complete the waiver process. The waiver deadline will NOT be extended.

What are the minimum requirements to waive SHIP?

Requirements to waive SHIP coverage, ALL STUDENTS *:
Your private insurance plan must have all of the following in order to qualify for the waiver:
  • Benefits payable at 60% or greater.
  • Out-of-pocket maximum no greater than $5000 (including deductibles).
  • Lifetime maximum no less than $1,000,000.
  • Access to primary care, specialty care and inpatient/outpatient care, including mental health services, within 100 miles of UCSD.
  • Plan must be purchased, operated and headquartered in the United States. Coverage must be effective prior to the waiver deadline dates and remain active through the last day of the quarter.
  • If waiving for the Spring 2010 quarter, your insurance coverage must continue through the summer up to the Fall 2010 quarter.
* Additional requirements to waive SHIP coverage, GRADUATE and FOREIGN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
  • International students must have medical evacuation benefits of $10,000 or more.
  • International students must have repatriation benefits of $10,000 or more.
  • International students may not waive with insurance from their home country. In addition, travel insurance is not eligible for a waiver.
  • If a waiver is not submitted and approved during the first quarter for which a graduate student attends UCSD and is eligible to waive SHIP, coverage under SHIP will remain in force for the remainder of that academic year and a new waiver may not be submitted until the next academic year.

Do I have to waive each academic year?

Yes. Approved waivers are effective for the current academic year. If you wish to waive out of SHIP for subsequent academic years, a new waiver application will need to be submitted by the appropriate deadline date each academic year.

Do I have to waive for the entire academic year or can I choose to waive each quarter separately?

On the waiver application, you are given the choice to waive all quarters or just the current quarter.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: If you submit a waiver for the current quarter only, it is your responsibility to submit a new waiver application for subsequent quarters by the appropriate waiver deadline. If a waiver is not submitted by the appropriate deadline and approved, you will automatically be enrolled into SHIP for subsequent quarters and your student account will be charged accordingly.

GRADUATE STUDENTS: If a waiver is not submitted and approved during the first quarter for which a graduate student attends UCSD and is eligible to waive SHIP, coverage under SHIP will remain in force for the remainder of that academic year and a new waiver may not be submitted until the next academic year.

I waived SHIP. Why am I now being charged the health fee for SHIP?

The Health Fee is charged to ALL students as a mandatory registration fee. If you applied for a waiver, you should see a charge for the health fee AND a credit for the waiver. If you do not see the credit, or if the credit was reversed, it is possible that any one of the following occurred:

  • Your waiver was submitted during the previous academic year.
  • You submitted a waiver for one quarter only.
  • You submitted a waiver and were selected for audit but did not respond to our request for insurance documentation. As a result, your waiver credit was reversed.
  • You submitted a waiver but it was denied as not meeting the waiver requirements. As a result, your waiver credit was reversed.
  • Your waiver was approved, however a hold on your student account may have prevented the waiver from crediting the health fee.

Contact the Student Health Insurance Office to discuss the status of your waiver.

How do I know if my waiver was approved?

It is your responsibility to check your official UCSD e-mail to verify the status of your waiver. Upon successful submission of your application via TritonLink, an e-mail will be sent to you confirming that your request has been transmitted. A second e-mail will be sent within 5 business days to let you know if your waiver has been approved or selected for audit.

If selected for audit, failure to respond to the audit notification will result in your waiver being denied and the health fee credit will be reversed.

If you do not receive the e-mail notifications, it is your responsibility to contact the Student Health Insurance Office to discuss your waiver.

I waived SHIP but have private insurance. Can I still use Student Health Service?

All students who pay full registration fees are entitled to use SHS, regardless of insurance. Physician visits and nurse practitioner visits are covered at little or no cost. However, students who are not enrolled in SHIP may incur additional charges for additional services such as labs, x-rays and prescriptions. SHS does not accept or bill private insurance.

What if I waived SHIP, but no longer have comparable coverage?

All students who waive out of SHIP are required to maintain effective health insurance coverage at all times during the approved waiver period. If your insurance coverage changes or is terminated, you must contact the Student Health Insurance Office to discuss your situation and possible options for enrollment into SHIP.

I previously waived out of SHIP for the entire academic year, but now I want SHIP coverage for the remaining quarter(s)

You may not cancel a waiver for the current quarter. If you wish to cancel your previous waiver for future quarters, you must complete a Waiver Cancellation form and submit it prior to the enrollment deadline. The form is also available at the Student Health Insurance Office.

Check SHIP Tips and FAQs for answers to more questions.