Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) FAQ for MIDS and MICS Students
UC Berkeley requires all students to have health insurance that meets the University’s criteria. Effective Fall 2024, all registered MIDS and MICS students will automatically be enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and charged the health insurance fee on their CalCentral account.
Students who wish to opt out of SHIP must have other comparable health insurance that meets all of the SHIP waiver criteria, and must complete an online waiver application by the specified deadline. Absolutely no waiver applications are accepted by the SHIP office after the late waiver deadline.
The FAQ below provides details about the SHIP timeline in relation to the MIDS/MICS academic calendar, as well as information specific to our international students. The information here is designed to supplement the following information from the SHIP website:
Students should continue to contact the SHIP office directly with questions.
SHIP Contact Information
Phone: (510) 642-5700
Email: ship@berkeley.edu
FAQ
SHIP Waiver Timelines
Q. When are the SHIP periods of coverage?
A. MIDS and MICS students should be aware that the SHIP periods of coverage align with the campus academic calendar (fall and spring) rather than the MIDS and MICS academic calendar (fall, spring, and summer). The fall period of SHIP coverage begins August 1 and ends December 31, and the spring period of SHIP coverage begins January 1 and ends July 31.
Special Summer Period of Coverage: New students who start the MIDS or MICS program in the summer semester and continuing students who re-enroll in the summer semester will need to submit a Special Summer Programs waiver application for a special summer period of coverage.
Q. How often do I need to submit a SHIP waiver?
A. The waiver must be filled out annually:
- July deadline for the entire upcoming academic year or
- January deadline for students who were not enrolled in the fall semester
Note: If you started the MIDS or MICS program in the summer semester and submitted a waiver for the special summer period, you will be automatically waived for the fall and spring periods of coverage that follow.
Q. By what deadline do I need to waive SHIP if I am re-enrolling in the MIDS or MICS program after taking a leave of absence?
Fall (August) semester re-enrollment:
Students must submit a SHIP waiver by July 15. All waivers received between July 16 and August 15 are subject to a late fee of $75. Absolutely no waiver applications are accepted after the late SHIP waiver deadline of August 15.
Spring (January) semester re-enrollment:
Students must submit a SHIP waiver by the January 1 deadline. All waivers received between January 2 and January 15 are subject to a late fee of $75. Absolutely no waiver applications are accepted after the late SHIP waiver deadline of January 15.
Summer (May) semester re-enrollment:
Students must submit a Special Summer Programs SHIP waiver by the Special Summer Program waiver deadline. Absolutely no waiver applications are accepted after the Special Summer Program waiver deadline. (See SHIP website for specific waiver deadline dates.)
International Students
Per University of California policy, all non-immigrant visa holders (e.g., H visa) are considered international students, whereas asylees, permanent resident/green card holders, and U.S. citizens are considered domestic students. International students must meet additional SHIP waiver requirements, including coverage of medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.
Q. I became a permanent resident of the United States after being admitted to the MIDS or MICS program. How do I update my student status from international to domestic in order to waive SHIP as a domestic student?
A. In order to update your status from international to domestic, email the UC Berkeley Registrar Office’s Residence Affairs unit at orres@berkeley.edu. The Residence Affairs unit will assign a “PR/Green Card (Student)” Residency Task on your CalCentral Dashboard, which will allow you to upload a picture of your document via CalCentral.
Please note that it may take up to 3–5 weeks to process your request, so we recommend starting the process 6 weeks prior to the SHIP waiver deadline.
Q. As an international student living in the United States (e.g., H-1B visa holder) with a qualifying domestic health insurance plan, how can I meet the additional SHIP waiver requirements for international students?
A. For international students who receive a waiver denial, a SHIP waiver appeal will be considered if you submit proof of a separate/standalone plan* covering the additional international student criteria, such as medical evacuation and repatriation of remains (see IV of the SHIP Waiver Requirements for additional criteria), along with proof of your main health insurance plan.
Note: you must first submit an online waiver application and receive a waiver denial before submitting a waiver appeal. A waiver appeal must be submitted within 10 business days from the denial date in order to be considered.
* Sample standalone plans offering medical evacuation and repatriation of remains include INSUBUY or ISO.
Q: As an international student living outside the United States, am I eligible to waive SHIP?
A. For international students who receive a waiver denial, a SHIP waiver appeal will be considered if you will not set foot on the University of California, Berkeley campus during the period of coverage. (You must have a plan that meets all of the waiver criteria based on your place of residence. If you have coverage in your home country, then you may waive via the appeal process) Please be sure to note this information clearly in your appeal, and make sure your address is up to date in CalCentral (i.e., with your international address).
Note: You must first submit an online waiver application and receive a waiver denial before submitting a waiver appeal. A waiver appeal must be submitted within 10 business days from the denial date in order to be considered.