The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is a comprehensive group health plan and is mandatory for all graduate and professional students. Primary care is provided at UCSD Student Health Services (SHS). When you are within a 150-mile radius of SHS, you must start your health care at Student Health Services in the absence of a medical emergency. SHIP provides annual coverage including summer and holiday periods. To be covered under SHIP over summer, a student must be enrolled in the plan for the preceding Spring quarter. The SHIP plan includes dental benefits and vision discounts at the SHS Optometry Department. Information on separate health insurance for dependents of graduate and professional students is available at the Insurance Office located in the Student Health Center.

Students already covered by health insurance that was in effect prior to acceptance as a graduate student at UCSD may qualify for a waiver of the mandatory SHIP if benefits are equal to or better than SHIP benefits. Waiver application forms must be submitted with specific documentation prior to registration and waiver deadlines. The waiver application, which lists the required documentation, is available at the Student Insurance Office or at the .

Brochures describing SHIP benefits, SHS referral requirements, policy limitations and exclusions are available at Student Health Services, the Student Insurance Office, and the Office of Graduate Studies. Additionally, the brochure may be viewed and downloaded at the . Insurance information and consultations are available on a walk-in basis at the Student Insurance Office or by phone or email.

For first-year students arriving on campus prior to the start of the academic calendar year, it is highly recommended that you review your current insurance status and purchase short-term coverage if necessary. Unless your department has arranged an alternate start date, SHIP will begin on the first day of the Fall quarter. Early SHIP coverage for students is available when their graduate department begins their orientation prior to the first day of Fall Quarter and must be arranged by the department graduate coordinator.

Insurance Office Information

General Phone: (858) 534-3300
SHIP Phone: (858) 534-2124
Fax: (858) 534-0814
Email: studenthealth@ucsd.edu
Web page: studenthealth.ucsd.edu

Student Health Services and the Student Insurance Office are closed weekends and university holidays.

Emergency Numbers

* 24 hour lines

For a more complete list of community and referral services, please visit www.sdcoe.net/nurse/resources.asp

Healthy Families
The State of California offers complete and affordable health insurance for children and teenagers. For information on eligibility and coverage contact Healthy Families at (800) 880-5305 or visit their web site: www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov.