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Survival Guide

3.3 Health Insurance

All registered students must have major medical health insurances to pay for off-campus care, hospitalization, and out-of-area urgent care. You can buy the University plan and/or have your own private insurance. Students (including all undergrads and grad students) are automatically enrolled in SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan) administered by UHS, University Health Services. The semester fee is included in your registration bill; fall payment covers August 1 through December 31 and spring payment covers January 1 through July 31. Coverage is good anywhere in the world. SHIP members can also purchase a separate health insurance policy for a spouse or domestic partner and dependents.

SHIP members must receive prior authorization from UHS for off-campus care. Students requiring off-campus emergency care should call UHS Student Health Insurance Office the next working day to request authorization at the UHS Student Health Insurance Office; third floor, room 3200; 642-5700. Refer to a SHIP brochure for more information.

Students who already have comparable insurance can waive out of SHIP. The waiver process must be completed yearly. If you miss the date for filing waiver forms, you will have to pay the insurance fee. Some students want to carry two insurance plans or do not know which plan will best meet their needs. Call UHS, they will help you figure it out.

Insured students should know the following about their private coverage: the insurance company's name and address, dates of coverage, insurance group number, individual ID, and the name on the policy. SHIP members should pick up their insurance cards at UHS Insurance Office.

Remember that regardless of insurance type, all students can use the UHS. Every student has paid for primary care services through their registration fees. So if you waive out of SHIP, you can still use all of the services at the Tang Center, because you are already paying for them.

Make sure you have a health insurance plan set up for yourself. It is reassuring to know that should you need an x-ray, discover a yeast infection, find that you have come down with mononucleosis, or simply want to talk to a counselor, you have got a plan to back you up for any costs that come your way. :)

For more information on SHIP (benefits, exclusions, enrollment, waiving out . . . things like that), other optional insurance plans (like the Dental Plan), or just services offered by the Tang Center, visit www.uhs.berkeley.edu or give the Tang Center a call at 642-2000.