Voluntary enrollment in UC SHIP for undergraduate and graduate students and/or their dependents is managed by Academic Health Plans (AHP) for all health insurance plans (i.e., medical, dental and vision). Application for voluntary enrollment coverage and associated payment of insurance premiums is completed online on AHP’s online enrollment portal. Paper enrollment forms will no longer be accepted. Please see the links to AHP's enrollment portals below. There are two enrollment portal links: One for registered students and/or their dependents and a separate portal for non-registered students and/or their dependents.
Students enrolled in voluntary UC SHIP are not eligible to receive services at the Student Health Center. Exceptions are made for purposes of short-term continuity of care (e.g., not to exceed 90 days following the end of the term) until the student has made arrangements to continue care with a community provider. For students who have purchased voluntary coverage, please note that a referral from SHC is required if you seek medical services from community providers including primary care providers, specialists and/or other types of providers (e.g., imaging centers, physical therapy practices, etc…). Contact the SHC Insurance Services department to obtain a referral by email shc-insurance@uci.edu or by calling 949-824-2388. Referral guidelines and the exceptions to the referral requirement can be found here: How to use SHIP.
Voluntary/Dependent Enrollment Costs, Dates of Coverage and Enrollment Periods/Deadlines
Dependents of Students
All registered students who are enrolled in UC SHIP may enroll eligible dependents in the voluntary plan. The plan provides medical insurance and the option to add dental and vision benefits. NOTE: If both student parents are covered by UC SHIP, their children may be covered as the dependents of either student, but not both.
Voluntary plan benefits are the same as those for registered students who are enrolled in UC SHIP. Refer to plan materials located here >>> UC SHIP Benefits and Plan Information.
Coverage of eligible dependents will not be effective prior to that of the insured student or extended beyond that of the insured student. Dependent enrollment or re-enrollment in the plan is not automatic. Eligible dependents must be re-enrolled in each subsequent term in order to continue coverage under the dependent plan. If a student decides to disenroll their dependent(s) during an academic term, then the premiums are non-refundable. Dependents are not eligible to receive services at the Student Health Center. Dependents do not need a referral from SHC to receive medical services from community providers.
Voluntary Enrollment Due To Qualifying Event
Registered students and/or eligible dependents may enroll in UC SHIP during the coverage period if they experience one of the following Qualifying Life Events:
- Involuntary loss of other health insurance coverage
- Turn 26 years of age and lose coverage as a dependent on a parent's or guardian’s plan
- Marriage or divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Declaration or termination of a Domestic Partnership
Registered students who have a Qualifying Life Event during the coverage period must notify the UCI SHC Insurance Services department at shc-insurance@uci.edu within 31 days of the loss of your coverage. You must provide an official written letter of termination from the previous health insurance carrier. You will be enrolled in UC SHIP as of the date of your involuntary loss of other coverage if notification is received within 31 days of the loss of your coverage. If notification is not received within that 31-day period, coverage will be effective on the date on which you pay the full UC SHIP premium.
To enroll a dependent into the plan, please fill out the dependent form for all qualifying event enrollments. This form must be submitted online to Academic Health Plans within 31 days of your qualifying event date.
NOTE: Premiums are not prorated for any enrollment occurring after the start of a coverage period with the exception of premiums for newborns added as a dependent.
Documentation To Show Proof of Dependent Status
Students are required to provide proof of dependent status when enrolling their dependents in the plan. The following documents are acceptable:
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Spouse - marriage certificate
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Same-Sex or Opposite-Sex Domestic Partner - a marriage certificate or a court appointed, legal, domestic partnership certificate
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Natural Child - a birth certificate showing the student is the parent of the child
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Stepchild - a birth certificate and a marriage certificate showing that one of the parents listed in the birth certificate is married to the student
- Adopted or Foster Child - documentation from the placement agency showing that the student has the legal right to control the child's health care
Voluntary UC SHIP Enrollment
Prior to enrolling in voluntary UC SHIP, please view Academic Health Plan’s Enrollment Student Experience Guide for instructions.
Registered Students and/or Their Dependents
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Registered students who are enrolled in UC SHIP may enroll their dependents in the voluntary Medical, Dental and Vision Plans.
To enroll, please click on the link below. You will be directed to Academic Health Plans’ voluntary enrollment portal.
Non-Registered Students and/or Their Dependents
Non-Registered students include the following categories:
Approved Filing Fee Status
This status refers to non-registered students on approved “Filing Fee Status” who are completing work under the auspices of the University of California but are not attending classes. Filing Fee students are allowed to purchase UC SHIP for a maximum of one semester or quarter. The student must have been covered by the plan in the term immediately preceding the term for which the student wants to purchase.
Approved Leave of Absence
This status refers to non-registered students on approved “Leave of Absence”. These students are allowed to purchase UC SHIP for a maximum of one semester or two quarters. The student must have been covered by the plan in the term immediately preceding the term for which the student wants to purchase.
Continuation Coverage Following Graduation
This status refers to undergraduate or graduate students who are enrolled in UC SHIP and will be graduating this term. These students may purchase "continuation coverage" to be effective once UC SHIP coverage expires.
Continuation - Graduating students (undergraduate and graduate) may purchase UC SHIP for themselves and/or their dependents for one additional quarter/semester immediately following the term in which they graduated as long as they were enrolled in the plan during their final academic term.
To enroll, please click on the link below. You will be directed to Academic Health Plans’ voluntary enrollment portal.
Voluntary Enrollment for Non-Registered Students and/or their Dependents
Voluntary/Dependent Enrollment FAQs
Enrollment is open 31 days prior to the start of the term and ends 31 days after the start of the term.
Dependent enrollment or re-enrollment in the plan is not automatic. Eligible dependents must be re-enrolled in each subsequent term to continue coverage under the voluntary dependent plan.
No. Students are responsible for re-enrolling their dependent(s) or spouse each term for continued coverage.
Dependents are not eligible to receive services at the Student Health Center.
Dependents do not need a referral to receive medical services. However, students do require a referral irrespective of their current enrollment status (i.e., registered student, recently graduated student, etc...) and for as long as they have voluntary coverage under UC SHIP.
Yes, a referral is required for a student who has recently graduated and for as long as they have voluntary coverage under UC SHIP.
If a student is eligible for voluntary coverage, costs vary by program. Please refer to the “Voluntary/Dependent Enrollment Cost & Dates of Coverage” section above.
A non-registered student can purchase voluntary coverage if they are on approved filing fee status, approved leave of absence, or for one term immediately following graduation, as long as the student was enrolled in UC SHIP in the term preceding their voluntary enrollment. For more information on the three statuses of a non-registered student, please reference the “Non-Registered Students and/or Their Dependents” section above.
No. Students are responsible for enrolling in continuation coverage after graduation. In order to be eligible, the student must have been enrolled in UC SHIP during the term prior to graduating. For more information on continuation coverage after graduation, please refer to the “Continuation Coverage Following Graduation” section above.
Only one term can be purchased for the term immediately following graduation.
For More Information
Contact:
Academic Health Plans
(855) 427-3206 (6:00 AM - 4:00 PM PST)
(855) 858-1964 (Fax)
3500 William D. Tate Avenue, Suite 200
Grapevine, TX 76051
email: ucship@ahpservice.com