Insurance After Graduation

As a registered student at UCSD, you are automatically enrolled in the SHIP unless you were approved for a health fee waiver. But what happens when you graduate and are no longer eligible for the SHIP? There are many questions that you will need to ask in order to plan for your health care after graduation. Some frequently asked questions are listed below. Please contact our office if you have other questions.

When does my SHIP coverage end?

Your SHIP coverage terminates at 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the quarter immediately following your last registered quarter. If you paid registration fees for Spring quarter and did not waive the SHIP, your coverage will continue through the Summer, up to the first day of Fall quarter even if you graduated in June.

For the 2009-2010 academic year, the terms of coverage are:

  • Fall: 09/21/2009 - 12/31/2009
  • Winter: 01/01/2010 - 03/24/2010
  • Spring: 03/25/2010 - 09/19/2010

What happens if I am receiving treatment for something when my coverage ends?

The SHIP includes an Extension of Benefits provision that may allow for additional benefits to be paid for a limited time after your coverage terminates. For example, if you are under a doctor's care for an illness at the time your coverage ends, the plan may pay benefits for that illness for up to 30 more days. Keep in mind that it does not mean that your insurance coverage has been extended.

You should refer to the Extension of Benefits provision in the SHIP brochure (page 21) for details regarding this provision. If you have additional questions about this provision, you should contact the SHIP claim administrator, Personal Insurance Administrators (PIA), at 1-800-468-4343.

Can I purchase SHIP for additional quarters?

You are only eligible for the SHIP during the quarters for which you pay registration fees at UCSD. The plan does not offer the option to purchase coverage for any period of time beyond your last registered quarter.

What about COBRA?

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a law that requires continuation of group health coverage. The law generally applies to health plans that are provided through an employer/employee relationship. Since the SHIP is an insurance policy provided to you on the basis of your student status at UCSD, COBRA does not apply to the SHIP.

What is a Short Term Health Insurance Policy?

In general, Short Term Health Insurance Plans are temporary insurance policies that are intended to provide financial protection from unexpected medical costs while you are waiting for coverage to begin under another policy such as through a new job. These types of plans are designed more for those without existing medical conditions and tend to have higher deductibles to keep them affordable. Unfortunately, they are not usually meant for those individuals who require insurance coverage for ongoing treatment for existing conditions. Visit www.renstudent.com for more information on Short Term Health Insurance Plans.

The State of California has a program that provides health insurance for California residents who are unable to obtain coverage in the individual health insurance market because of their pre-existing conditions. Visit http://www.mrmib.ca.gov/MRMIB/MRMIB4.html for more information.

Can I still use SHS after I graduate?

You may continue to use UCSD SHS during the quarter immediately following your last registered quarter. However, all services received at SHS will be on a fee-for-service basis. Any charges incurred at SHS will be billed to your student account unless paid for at the time of service.

If Spring quarter is your last registered quarter, your access to SHS will continue through the Summer. If you were enrolled in the SHIP for Spring quarter, your access to SHS during the Summer will be the same as it was during the Spring.