Insurance
Contact:
Diane Mesa
Insurance Assistant
Astrid Jensen
Insurance Assistant
Phone: 831.459.2389
Fax: 831.459.4050
E-Mail: insure@ucsc.edu
Hours
8:00-5:00
Location:
Health Center
Downloads/Forms:
USHIP
GSHIP
- GSHIP Insurance Enrollment Form
- GSHIP Medical Brochure
- GSHIP Dental Brochure
- GSHIP Vision Brochure
- GSHIP Waiver Reversal
CRUZCARE
Insurance Requirement
The University of California requires that all students be covered by a health insurance plan. All undergraduate students and all full-time graduate students are automatically enrolled in the university sponsored Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Plan (USHIP) or Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP) unless they choose to submit an on-line insurance waiver with proof of comparable coverage.
2009/2010 Insurance Information
Insurance Enrollment
Individuals who fall under the following categories are not automatically enrolled in the university sponsored health insurance plans, but may enroll in the student insurance plans by completing the USHIP or GSHIP Insurance Enrollment Form (provided below, at right). Enrollment terms, conditions, and costs are provided on the enrollment forms. For detailed plan information, please refer to the USHIP or GSHIP Insurance Brochure.
- Dependents of eligible undergraduate or graduate students
- Part-time Graduate Students
- Approved Leave Of Absence (LOA)
- Summer Enrollment
USHIP
What is USHIP?
USHIP is an affordable health insurance plan tailored to the health care needs of UCSC students. It features year-round, world-wide coverage using the 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. The USHIP plan provides optimal coverage for services on campus and in the Santa Cruz community, and peace of mind for both parents and students.
Things to consider before waiving USHIP
Students and their parents should first ask: “Are We Really Covered?” Consider the following:
- Many health plans do not provide adequate coverage for treatment at the UCSC Student Health Center , or in the local community. The UCSC Student Health Center and UCSC health care providers are not contracted with any insurance companies. Most HMOs and PPOs, including Kaiser, PacifiCare, and Healthnet, will NOT cover care provided on-campus at the Student Health Center, requiring students to travel off campus even when care could be provided at the Student Health Center .
- Most HMO and PPO plans will only cover lab tests, X-rays, or care by specialists the order or referral is made by the student's primary care physician. Students coming to Santa Cruz from other locations may have to return home to have care authorized.
- For students with Kaiser insurance, there is no Kaiser facility in Santa Cruz. The nearest Kaiser facility is “over the hill” in San Jose , a difficult journey even for students who have a car available, especially when a student is ill or injured.
- Many students enroll in USHIP to supplement their existing coverage for services at the Student Health Center and in the Santa Cruz community that HMO plans do not cover.
USHIP is affordable coverage
For 2009-10 USHIP costs just $383 per quarter, paid three quarters per year. The Spring payment covers both Spring and Summer quarters so coverage is year-round -- an affordable $ 96 per month for convenient, accessible, world-wide health insurance coverage.
Before making a decision to waive USHIP, check with your insurance carrier to verify whether or not charges incurred at the UCSC Student Health Center are covered. If you choose to waive USHIP coverage consider purchasing the CruzCare prepaid access plan for on-campus care of illness or injury at the Student Health Center . For students waiving USHIP, the CruzCare access plan 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.
Accepting or Waiving USHIP
To accept enrollment in the UCSC sponsored student health insurance plan (USHIP) no action is necessary; you will automatically be enrolled, and coverage will begin 9/20/08. A booklet describing the plan benefits and conditions was included with the summer information packet sent to all new and returning students and is available as the USHIP Brochure.
To opt out of the UCSC sponsored health insurance plan for 2009-2010 you must complete an on line waiver. All waivers are now done on-line. To waive, log on to the UCSC Student portal at http://my.ucsc.edu using your user name and password. The Student Health Insurance Waiver link is found under “Academic News.” If you need help please call the Student Insurance Office at 831-459-2389.
On-Line Waiver Questions
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 or GSHIP
medical 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 2009-2010:
Fall: 9/17/09
Winter: 12/17/09
Spring: 3/18/10
GSHIP
What is GSHIP?
GSHIP is an affordable health insurance plan tailored to the health care needs of UCSC students. It features year-round, world-wide coverage using the 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. The GSHIP plan provides optimal coverage for services on campus and in the Santa Cruz community, and peace of mind for both parents and students. GSHIP includes medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Things to consider before waiving GSHIP
Students and their parents should first ask: “Are We Really Covered?” Consider the following:
- Many health plans do not provide adequate coverage for treatment at the UCSC Student Health Center , or in the local community. The UCSC Student Health Center and UCSC health care providers are not contracted with any insurance companies. Most HMOs and PPOs, including Kaiser, PacifiCare, and Healthnet, will NOT cover care provided on-campus at the Student Health Center, requiring students to travel off campus even when care could be provided at the Student Health Center.
- Most HMO and PPO plans will only cover lab tests, X-rays, or care by specialists the order or referral is made by the student's primary care physician. Students coming to Santa Cruz from other locations may have to return home to have care authorized.
- For students with Kaiser insurance, there is no Kaiser facility in Santa Cruz. The nearest Kaiser facility is “over the hill” in San Jose, a difficult journey even for students who have a car available, especially when a student is ill or injured.
- Many students enroll in USHIP to supplement their existing coverage for services at the Student Health Center and in the Santa Cruz community that HMO plans do not cover.
GSHIP is affordable coverage
For 2009-10 GSHIP costs just $958 per quarter, paid three quarters per year. The Spring payment covers both Spring and Summer quarters so coverage is year-round -- an affordable $240 per month for convenient, accessible, world-wide health, dental and vision insurance coverage.
Before making a decision to waive GSHIP, check with your insurance carrier to verify whether or not charges incurred at the UCSC Student Health Center are covered. If you choose to waive USHIP coverage consider purchasing the CruzCare prepaid access plan for on-campus care of illness or injury at the Student Health Center. For students waiving GSHIP, the CruzCare access plan 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.
Accepting or Waiving GSHIP
To accept enrollment in the UCSC sponsored student health insurance plan (GSHIP) no action is necessary; you will automatically be enrolled, and coverage will begin 9/20/08. A booklet describing the plan benefits and conditions was included with the summer information packet sent to all new and returning students and is available as the GSHIP Brochure.
To opt out of the UCSC sponsored health insurance plan for 2009-20010 you must complete an on line waiver. All waivers are now done on-line. To waive, log on to the UCSC Student portal at http://my.ucsc.edu using your user name and password. The Student Health Insurance Waiver link is found under “Academic News.” If you need help please call the Student Insurance Office at 831-459-2389.
On-Line Waiver Questions
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 or GSHIP
medical 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 2009-2010:
Fall:9/17/09
Winter: 12/17/09
Spring: 3/18/10
CruzCare- Prepaid Access to the Student Health Center
(Available only for students who successfully waive USHIP or GSHIP)
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 $60 a quarter (billed automatically to the student's account) CruzCare provides unlimited Student Health Center visits for care of illness or injury, including in-house Health Center lab and X-ray.
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
- 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 2008-2009 Academic Year
Fall: 9/17/09
Winter: 12/17/09
Spring: 3/18/10*If you purchase CruzCare for spring you will be covered for Student Health Center visits through the summer of 2010.
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.