Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. See our After Hours handout for more information. You have a few options:

For out-of-network providers or facilities, your out-of-pocket maximum is $9,000.

• If you can wait until we open, come to Student Health Services during business hours. There is no copay.

• If it is an urgent issue but not a life-threatening emergency, go to an Urgent Care facility. The copay is $25.

• If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and/or go to the nearest emergency room. The copay is $200 if you are not admitted, and $0 if you are admitted.
  • UC SHIP covers 85% of hospitalization costs. You are responsible for 15%.
  • Your maximum out-of-pocket expense is $4,500 when using UC SHIP in-network providers and facilities.
  • For out-of-network providers or facilities, your out-of-pocket maximum is $9,000.

There are a few important things to know about UC SHIP during leaves:

• If you’re enrolled in UC SHIP in the current quarter when requesting a Withdrawal or Leave of Absence, you’ll lose UC SHIP coverage once your request is processed.
• If you are taking a Leave of Absence and need to keep your UC SHIP coverage, you can re-enroll for the first quarter of your leave. Contact: insure@ucsc.edu or call (831) 459-2389.
• For in-absentia students, read the University of California Office of the President’s memo on the mandatory insurance plan policy (pdf). Here’s the direct link to the systemwide policy regarding In-Absentia.
• If you have not waived UC SHIP, you will be charged the quarterly fee.
• If you want UC SHIP, you can purchase voluntary insurance if you were enrolled in UC SHIP during the current or immediately preceding quarter.
  • Voluntary insurance can be purchased 30 days before or after the start of the quarter.
  • There is a two-quarter limit per academic career.
  • Applies to:
    • Students on Planned Educational Leave (two-quarter limit)
    • Graduate students on Filing Fee Status (one-quarter limit)

To enroll, complete the Continuation Voluntary Enrollment forms in the Insurance Forms & Helpful Links section.

Here’s what to do:

1. Download the Blue Cross Global Core app from our mobile app webpage.
2. For non-emergency care, contact the Student Health Insurance Department at (831) 459-2389 for a referral.
3. Call Blue Cross Global Core 24/7:
   • 1-800-810-2583 (BLUE)
   • Or collect at 1-804-673-1177
4. Search for a doctor or hospital at bcbsglobalcore.com or use the app.

View the UC SHIP Blue Cross Global Core website for more information.

When you have both UC SHIP and another health insurance plan, here’s how the coordination of benefits is handled:

Step 1: Submit a Photo of Your Insurance Card

To submit a photo of your private health insurance card (front and back):

1. Log in to Health e-Messenger
2. Select Messages from the main menu
3. Click New Message
4. Choose Insurance as the message topic
5. Select Submit picture of private health insurance card
6. Upload your image and submit the form

Step 2: Understanding Billing and Claims

• For care at the Student Health Center (SHC):
  SHC will submit claims directly to Anthem (UC SHIP).
• For care outside the SHC:
  • Your other insurance is considered the primary plan and pays first.
  • UC SHIP is the secondary plan and may cover remaining eligible charges after the primary insurance pays.

Exceptions

UC SHIP becomes the primary plan (and your other coverage is secondary) if you’re covered by:

• TriCare 

• Medi-Cal

• MRMIP (Major Risk Medical Insurance Program)

Most Medi-Cal plans only cover care in your home county. If your permanent address is outside Santa Cruz County, you may be able to transfer Medi-Cal coverage to Santa Cruz. Contact your Medi-Cal office or UCSC Financial Aid to see if you qualify for a grant to help cover UC SHIP.

Yes. While dependents can’t be seen at UCSC Student Health Services, they are covered if you enroll them voluntarily.

Here’s what to know:

• Take your dependent to any primary care provider in UC SHIP’s Anthem Blue Cross PPO network. No referral is needed.
• For specialist care, your Anthem provider can refer them.
• Your dependent has access to Urgent Care, hospitals, mental health, pharmacy, vision, and dental services.
• A UC Family discount applies at UC Medical Centers.
  

To enroll, use the Voluntary Enrollment forms in the Insurance Forms & Helpful Links section.

Yes—this is called reciprocity.

• Students from other UCs visiting UCSC: You’ll be treated like a UCSC student. If you don’t have UC SHIP, you’ll need to pay fees at the time of service and submit for reimbursement.

• UCSC students visiting another UC: You’ll be treated like a student of that UC. At UC Berkeley and UCSF (non-UC SHIP campuses), you may have to pay upfront and submit for reimbursement. You’ll be charged in-network rates.

Contact our waiver partner, Academic HealthPlans (AHP) at: UCSHIP@ahpservice.com.

Contact the insurance staff at insure@ucsc.edu. They will assist you.

• Go to any provider in UC SHIP’s Anthem Blue Cross PPO network for primary care—no referral needed.

• Note: Student Health Services is not available under this plan.

• Specialist visits require a referral from your Anthem PCP.

• You have access to Urgent Care, hospitals, mental health, pharmacy, vision, and dental services.

• UC Family discounts apply at UC Medical Centers.
• Find Anthem providers in your area.

You are covered for medical services only—dental and vision are not included.

Important: A referral from the Student Health Center is required for all care outside SHC except for:

• Emergency room visits
• Urgent care
• Pediatric care
• Obstetrics
• Gynecology
• LiveHealth Online visits

Steps to find care:

1. Visit anthem.com/ca/find-care.
2. Search as a member (log in) or guest (basic search).
3. Select:
   • Type of plan/network: Medical
   • State: Where you need care
   • How you get insurance: Medical (Student Health)
   • Plan or network: UCSHIP PPO
4. Enter your ZIP code or city/county and search. You can also search by provider or service type.
5. Filter results by list or map view.

¿Prefieres obtener información en español? Tienes opciones. Puedes visitar www.anthem.com/es/ca.

1. Pay for care up front.
2. Download the international claim form (pdf).
3. Complete the form and submit it with original bills to Blue Cross Global Core. Submit via app, email, or mail.
4. Keep a copy for your records.

View the traveling outside of the United States section on the SHIP website for more info.
For help, contact: insure@ucsc.edu.

SB-729 doesn’t apply to UC SHIP. It’s a new California law meant for large employer health plans and doesn’t include student health insurance.

Compare your insurance plan to the list of requirements and the UC SHIP Mandate letter from the UC Regents (pdf). Your health insurance must have primary care, behavioral health, and emergency coverage within 30 miles of your local residence while you attend UCSC. UCSC asks for the name of your primary care provider in Santa Cruz County to ensure that you can receive local medical care.

Yes, waivers must be submitted annually. If your health insurance situation changes, please notify us at insure@ucsc.edu.

Yes. All UCSC students are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP, including students taking remote classes. This applies to undergraduate, graduate, and international students. Even if you don’t plan to be on campus, you must complete the waiver each year if you do not want UC SHIP.

AHP is the health insurance waiver administrator and broker for UC SHIP. We partner with them to ensure your waiver meets UC-wide health insurance criteria. AHP may contact you if they have questions about your waiver application or voluntary enrollment plan or if they need more information from you.

Sometimes, your waiver is approved at the same time the UC SHIP fee is added to your bill. These fees will be credited back to your student account within 30 days. If the fee remains on your portal/AIS account after 30 days, please contact us at insure@ucsc.edu.

During the summer, students receive at least 6 notices about the waiver opportunity:

• 2 postcards (home address)
• 2 emails
• 2 portal messages
• Additional emails from AHP
• Reminders on social media
• Orientation reminders for new students

The UC SHIP premium fee is added to your AIS account before the deadline to ensure coverage begins on the first day of the quarter. If you miss the deadline, you will have UC SHIP for that quarter. You’ll be notified of the next waiver opportunity for the following quarter. Waivers must be submitted online to AHP and will be audited. If accepted, the UC SHIP fee will be credited back within 30 days.

Download the Waiver Reversal Form (pdf).

If you’re experiencing issues related to your online waiver—technical errors, additional documentation requests, or appeals—please contact AHP at ucship@ahpservice.com.

You must contact insure@ucsc.edu to request a late waiver. Late waivers must be submitted by the late waiver deadline and will incur a $50 fee.

Please see UCOP’s Proof of Insurance section.

Use AHP’s Student Guide to access your 1095-B form online:
Step 1: Go to the AHP website

If you completed your waiver and received an approval email from AHP, you may disregard the reminder. It will be automatically removed on 10/10/25.

In the waiver site, under Student Information, you’ll see a box labeled Parent/Alternate Email. Enter the email address there.

If you plan to waive UC SHIP using Kaiser, Medi-Cal, or another HMO, follow these steps:

1. Confirm that your plan provides non-emergency care within 50 miles of UCSC. This is a waiver requirement. If your plan only provides emergency or urgent care in Santa Cruz, your waiver will be denied.
2. Contact your insurance provider (Kaiser, Medi-Cal, or HMO) and let them know you’re attending college in Santa Cruz. Ask them if you’re covered for non-emergency and non-urgent care locally.
   • Most HMO plans, including Medi-Cal, limit routine care to your assigned Primary Care Physician (PCP) or medical group. Unless your PCP is located in Santa Cruz, this will be an issue.
   • Most PPO plans do not have this restriction and will cover all types of care in Santa Cruz.

If you do not have the required coverage, ask your provider how to transfer or expand your coverage to include Santa Cruz. The process typically takes 30 days. Use the guide below:

If You Have:

Once your coverage is transferred:

• Know how to schedule appointments

• Keep your insurance contact info

• Know your assigned PCP

Signing up to receive online claims takes only a few minutes. Just follow these four simple steps:

1. Log in to anthem.com/ca. If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll need to register to log in.
2. Choose Profile.
3. Select Communication Preferences, then Plan Notifications.
4. Scroll down to Plan Information and select Email under Explanation of Benefits to receive your EOB electronically.

1. Log in to anthem.com/ca.
2. Choose My Plan, then Claims.
3. Scroll to the claim you’d like to view, choose the + sign, then select View or Print EOB.

California law allows students to make a request for confidentiality to their health care service plan (insurer). This request prohibits the insurer from mailing your Explanation of Benefits and other sensitive personal health information to your parent or guardian’s address if you listed it as your mailing address with the insurance company.

Contact your insurance company to request a Confidential Communications Request Form.

If your waiver was denied because you have special medical requirements that necessitate remaining on your current private insurance plan or other extenuating circumstances that may explain or support your request, you can file a grievance to contest your denial.

To file an insurance grievance through Health e-Messenger, follow these steps:

1. Go to studenthealth.ucsc.edu
2. Log in using your UCSC username and gold password
   • First-time users must read and acknowledge the Student Health Center Notice of Privacy Practices
3. Select Messages from the main menu
4. Click New Message
5. Choose Insurance Grievance as the message topic
6. Complete and submit the online form

Here are some common fees you may see:

• UC SHIP fees for anything considered the “patient responsibility,” like pharmacy copays or the 15% coinsurance for supplies or laboratory tests sent offsite. These are charged through the Student Health Center to your AIS account.
• CruzCare fees for services or supplies not covered by CruzCare are also charged through the Student Health Center to your AIS account.
• If you have an outside insurance plan, you will need to get a billing statement from the Student Health Center, which may be used to submit claims to your insurance carrier.

If the fees already appear on your AIS account, go to the Cashier’s Office at Hahn Student Services to make a payment. If the fees have not yet been sent by the Student Health Center, contact our billing specialists:

1. Log in to Health e-Messenger
2. Select Messages from the main menu
3. Click New Message
4. Choose Insurance Billing Questions as the message topic
5. Type your question and submit

All billing is completed after the visit and depends on billing for outside services, such as lab tests sent offsite. Therefore, the billing date will always be after the service date.

Please contact our medical billing specialists securely online:

1. Log in to Health e-Messenger
2. Select Messages from the main menu
3. Click New Message
4. Choose Insurance Billing Questions as the message topic
5. Type your question and submit

Yes, you must get an SHC referral for care outside the SHC, regardless of the distance from campus, except for the following:

• Emergency room care
• Urgent care visits
• Pediatric care
• Obstetrics services
• Gynecological care
• LiveHealth Online virtual visits

You will be responsible for paying a deductible and part of the cost through a copay or coinsurance (the amount you’re responsible for after UC SHIP pays its share).

You can access:

• Any of the five UC Medical Centers: Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco
• UC-affiliated facilities and providers
• Providers in the Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer PPO network — a nationwide network of 50,000+ physicians and 400 hospitals

First, you’ll pay a deductible (check your Summary of Benefits at Insurance Forms & Helpful Links), then UC SHIP will pay most of the cost, and you’ll pay the remainder via copay or coinsurance.

Please contact Anthem directly:

• All other providers: CAContractSupport@Anthem.com

• Mental health providers: CABHNetworkRelations@anthem.com

Please fill out the Disclosure of Allowable Reimbursement form and send it to Anthem Blue Cross.

Schedule an appointment with a Student Health Center clinician via:

• Health e-Messenger

• Call the appointment line at (831) 459-2500

In Santa Cruz:
Pick a provider from our provider list

Anywhere else:
Use the Sydney Health app or Anthem website:

In the Sydney Health app:

1. Tap “Care” in the main menu.
2. Choose “Find Care and Cost.”
3. Search by specialty or doctor’s name.
4. Use the funnel icon to filter results.

On the Anthem website:

1. Go to https://www.anthem.com/find-care/
2. Under “Use Member ID for Basic Search,” enter your member ID (XDP____) and click “Continue.”
3. Enter a ZIP code or city name.
4. Enter a specialty or doctor’s name, and sort results by Distance.

Yes, but we highly recommend going to an in-network specialist to avoid higher medical costs.
Out-of-network care will lead to higher copays and coinsurance.

The referral coordinator at the SHC will fax your referral to your provider.
Alternatively, you can download it from Health e-Messenger under “Referrals” and deliver it yourself.

No. You can switch to a different provider of the same specialty and use the same referral, unless:

• You have used up the visits
• The referral has expired (all referrals expire at the end of the academic year)

Yes. Schedule an appointment with a Student Health Center clinician via:

• Health e-Messenger

• Call (831) 459-2500

Yes. All referrals expire at the end of the academic year and must be renewed for the next academic year.

Some medical services are not included in the plan’s benefits. See the Full Benefit Booklet (pdf).
Always have your provider check coverage and eligibility before performing complex or expensive services or prescribing medications to avoid surprise bills.

Call Anthem Blue Cross Network Member Services at (866) 940-8306.

Everyone who sends a question will receive a response by email or phone.

Yes, Blue Cross is billed for students with UC SHIP.
Otherwise, the student will be billed directly and may submit claims to their insurance carrier.

• For students with CruzCare

• For students without UC SHIP or CruzCare: They can see a Student Health Center nurse to determine if off-campus care is needed.