2011/2012 Insurance Information
Contact:
Diane Mesa
Insurance Assistant
Astrid Jensen
Insurance Assistant
Phone: 831.459.2389
Fax: 831.459.4050
E-Mail: insure@ucsc.edu
Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM M-F
Location:
Health Center
Downloads/Forms:
UC SHIP
- UC SHIP Brochure
- UC SHIP Voluntary Student/Dependent Enrollment Form (Undergrad)
- UC SHIP Voluntary Student/Dependent Enrollment Form (Grad)
- UC SHIP Dental Plan Highlights
- UC SHIP Vision Plan Highlights
- UC SHIP Waiver Reversal
CRUZCARE
Insurance Requirement
The University of California Regents mandate that all students be covered by a health insurance plan. All full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students are automatically enrolled in and charged for the University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) unless they choose to submit an on-line insurance waiver confirming they have comparable health insurance coverage.
University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP)
Important Note: The UCSC Student Health Insurance Plan is now part of a UC system-wide plan called UC SHIP. While the plan has been enhanced overall and offers greater security and affordability, please be advised to carefully review your benefits prior to using the plan as some benefits have changed. A referral is now REQUIRED for ALL off-campus care with the exception of urgent or emergent care. To direct access the UCSHIP web site please click here.
What is UC SHIP?
UC SHIP is an affordable health insurance plan tailored to the health care needs of UCSC students. The medical plan features year-round, world-wide coverage using the Anthem Blue Cross network, and includes prepaid access to care at the UCSC Student Health Center for illness or injury. This means students can receive convenient, high quality on-campus care when they are sick or injured without having to be concerned about cost or availability of the care they need. Preventive health care visits are covered at the Student Health Center at 100% for one physical per year. The UC SHIP plan provides optimal coverage for services on campus and in the Santa Cruz community, and peace of mind for both parents and students. The dental plan is provided by Delta Dental; the vision plan is provided by Anthem Blue Cross (see plan brochures for detailed benefits).
UC SHIP fees 2011/12
Undergraduate Students
For 2011-2012 the undergraduate plan costs just $472 per quarter, paid three quarters per year. The Spring payment covers both Spring and Summer quarters so coverage is year-round -- an affordable $118 per month for convenient, accessible, world-wide health insurance coverage.
$90.83 per quarter (optional voluntary dental coverage)
$20.68 per quarter (optional voluntary vision coverage)
Graduate Students
For 2011-2012 the graduate plan costs just $889 per quarter, paid three quarters per year. The Spring payment covers both Spring and Summer quarters so coverage is year-round -- an affordable $222 per month for convenient, accessible, world-wide health insurance coverage, dental coverage, and vision coverage.
Voluntary Insurance Enrollment
Individuals who fall under the following categories are not automatically enrolled in the UC SHIP plans, but may enroll on a voluntary basis by completing the UC SHIP Insurance Enrollment Form (provided at right and on our Forms page). Enrollment terms, conditions, and costs are provided on the enrollment forms. For detailed plan information, please refer to the UC SHIP Insurance Brochure.
- Students on Planned Educational Leave or Approved Withdrawal (2 quarters limit)
- Graduate students on Filing Fee status (1 quarter limit)
- Students who have graduated (1quarter immediately following graduation only)
- Dependents of eligible undergraduate or graduate students
Considering waiving UC SHIP?
Students and their parents should first ask: "Are We Really Covered?" Consider the following:
- If you have Kaiser as your insurance plan. Before waiving the UC SHIP insurance plan, we ask you to consider the distance from campus to the nearest Kaiser facility. There is no Kaiser facility in Santa Cruz County. The nearest Kaiser facility is "over the hill" in San Jose (a 35 mile/>1 hour drive). There is no direct public transportation to get there, and a sick or injured student may not be well enough to spend more than a half a day on multiple bus rides just to get there. For families who live close enough to drive their student or the student has a car, Kaiser may be an option. For families not within an hour or so of Santa Cruz, other insurance is recommended.
- If you have an HMO plan such as Health Net, PacifiCare, as your insurance plan. Before waiving the UC SHIP insurance plan, please note that the HMO plan only covers you for medical care from your designated primary care provider or upon referral from that person. It is not automatically a portable plan. In order to seek non-emergency care in Santa Cruz County using this plan, the student must select a new doctor in our area and transfer their care to that person.
- Most HMOs and PPOs, including Kaiser, PacifiCare, and Health Net, will NOT cover care provided on-campus at the UCSC Student Health Center, requiring students to travel off campus even when care could be provided at the Student Health Center. The UCSC Student Health Center and UCSC health care providers are not contracted with any insurance companies. Before making a decision to waive UC SHIP, check with your insurance carrier to verify whether or not charges incurred at the UCSC Student Health Center are covered.
- Most HMO and PPO plans will only cover laboratory tests, X-rays, or care by specialists when the order or referral is made by the student's primary care physician. Students coming to UCSC from other locations may have to return home to have care authorized.
- Many students enroll in UC SHIP to supplement their existing coverage for services at the Student Health Center and in the Santa Cruz community that HMO plans do not cover.
CruzCare
If you choose to waive UC SHIP coverage consider purchasing CruzCare, an inexpensive pre-paid access plan for busy students seeking on-campus health care. For $80 a quarter (applied automatically to the student's account) CruzCare provides unlimited Student Health Center visits for care of illness or injury, including in house Health Center laboratory and X-ray. For students waiving UC SHIP, CruzCare is the best and most cost effective way to take advantage of the on-campus convenience and college health expertise available at the UCSC Student Health Center. One visit at the Student Health Center without UC SHIP or CruzCare will cost more than the cost of paying for CruzCare coverage for the entire quarter. See complete Cruz Care information below.
Accepting or waiving UC SHIP
To accept enrollment in UC SHIP no action is necessary; you will automatically be enrolled and billed for the Fall quarter premium in August and coverage will begin 9/17/11. A booklet describing the plan benefits and conditions is available.
To waive out of the UC SHIP plan for 2011-2012 you must complete an on line waiver. Note: Once accepted, the waiver is in effect for the current quarter and the remainder of the academic year. A new waiver must be submitted at the beginning of each academic year.
If you have comparable health insurance coverage and are sure that you want to waive the UC SHIP plan, follow these instructions:
- Navigate to the UCSC Waiver Site
- Complete and submit the waiver (please read the instructions regarding On-line Waiver Questions and Coverage Information before beginning the waiver process).
If you do not have access to a computer, or for waiver assistance, please contact the Student Insurance office at 831-459-2389 or email insure@ucsc.edu
On-Line Waiver Questions (Click here for 11/12 Summer Session only)
These are the questions you will be asked in our on-line waiver process - make your best effort to have all the information you need ahead of time. WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GO ON-LINE TO WAIVE PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRINT A PAGE OF THE WAIVER ACCEPTANCE/DENIAL PAGE. The Insurance office will not accept Waivers past the posted deadlines and does not accept waivers in paper format.
Health Insurance Information (complete if waiving USHIP coverage)
- Name of Insurance Company:
- Insurance Company Phone #:
- What is the subscriber's name for this coverage:
- Insurance Group #:
- Insurance Subscriber ID#:
- What is the subscriber's relationship to you?:
Coverage Information
- Is your insurance plan owned, headquartered and operated in the United States? Yes/No
- Does your plan provide primary care services within 50 miles of UCSC? Yes/No
- Does your plan provide emergency care with a 30 mile radius of UCSC? Yes/No
- Does your plan have inpatient and outpatient mental health benefits? Yes/No
- What is your plan’s deductible per individual each year?
- According to your insurance plan, what is your maximum out-of-pocket expense per individual each year?
- What is your plan’s maximum lifetime benefit?
Waiver deadlines for 2011-2012:
Fall: 9/1/11
Winter: 12/1/11
Spring: 3/1/12
- Prepaid Access to the Student Health Center
(Available only for students who successfully waive UC SHIP)
For students waiving the university sponsored health insurance, UCSC offers CruzCare, an inexpensive pre-paid access plan for busy students seeking on campus health care. For $80 a quarter (billed automatically to the student's account) CruzCare provides unlimited Student Health Center visits for care of illness or injury, including Health Center laboratory and X-ray. For students waiving SHIP, CruzCare is the best and most cost effective way to take advantage of the on-campus convenience and college health expertise available at the UCSC Student Health Center.
What is covered by CruzCare:
- Unlimited health center visits for care of illness or injury
- Unlimited in-house health center laboratory tests for illness or injury
- Unlimited in-house health center X-ray exams for illness or injury
What is not covered:
- Off campus care, including laboratory tests sent to the off campus lab
- Medications, supplies, and immunizations
- Special or elective procedures and tests
- Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter medications
- Routine clearances and health maintenance visits
- Off campus referrals for specialist care
How do I enroll in CruzCare? Is there a deadline?:
- Enrollment in CruzCare is part of the on-line waiver process. If you were unable to enroll through the on-line waiver – or you wish to cancel CruzCare, please submit the CruzCare Enrollment/Cancellation Form via fax or mail by the deadlines posted below
- Once you enroll you will be billed each subsequent quarter.
- Only registered students who successfully waived USHIP/GSHIP are eligible to enroll in CruzCare
- The deadline to purchase for the 2011-2012 Academic Year
Fall: 9/1/11
Winter: 12/1/11
Spring: 3/1/12*If you purchase CruzCare for spring you will be covered for Student Health Center visits through the summer of 2012.
Because the cost of a simple visit for a common student health problem like sore throat, urinary tract infection or sprained ankle exceeds $100 with physician visit, laboratory or X-ray charges, CruzCare pays for itself with a single visit to the Student Health Center.