UC Davis Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the UC Davis Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), meet every UC Davis waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, UC Davis-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for less.
What is a UC Davis health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at UC Davis on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you have likely seen a health insurance charge appear on your student account. The good news: you do not have to pay it.
UC Davis automatically enrolls all registered international students in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), administered through Anthem Blue Cross, and bills it to your account. A waiver is simply how you tell UC Davis: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the UC SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets UC Davis’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, the university removes the UC SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the UC SHIP?
The UC SHIP is a solid plan backed by Anthem Blue Cross. But at $3,924 a year for undergraduates and $8,820 a year for graduate students, that charge adds up quickly, especially for graduate students. International students often look for an outside plan because they want:
Strong co-insurance, a manageable deductible, and the same quality of care as the school plan, without paying the school rate.
Closely aligned with UC Davis’s waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the Davis campus and a U.S.-based insurer.
Built around the actual profile of international students, not a flat campus rate that ignores age and individual needs.
Step-by-step help navigating the UC Davis waiver process so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
UC Davis waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the UC SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet UC Davis’s minimum criteria. A qualifying plan must:
General criteria
Must qualify under ACA standards as Minimum Essential Coverage.
Unrestricted access to in-network physicians and hospitals within a reasonable distance of the Davis campus.
Mental health and behavioral health benefits comparable to physical health coverage.
Must include prescription drug benefits with reasonable cost-sharing.
Additional requirements for international students
Plan must be written in standard English, with all benefits clearly expressed in U.S. dollars.
All claims must be processed and paid directly to U.S. providers from a U.S. office.
Must include medical evacuation benefits for coverage while outside the U.S.
Must include repatriation of remains coverage as part of international benefits.
The Kimber difference
Every Kimber Health UC Davis plan is designed to closely align with ACA standards, with a U.S.-based insurer, a U.S. claims address, and in-network access to providers across the greater Davis and Sacramento area. These plans are purpose-built to meet UC Davis’s specific waiver requirements for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.
UC Davis waiver deadline
Submit your 2026–2027 waiver request before the deadline below. Submitting early avoids any risk of remaining enrolled and billed for the UC SHIP.
September 1st comes up faster than most students expect, especially with orientation, housing, and visa requirements all happening at once. Enrolling early means one less thing to stress about.
How the UC Davis waiver process works
UC SHIP vs. Kimber Health
Cheaper is only half the story. What matters just as much is how much you pay when you actually use your insurance, and that comes down to your deductible and co-insurance.
Kimber uses age-based pricing. Rates below are shown for ages 17–24 and 25–27. Verify your exact rate at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
| School Plan | Kimber Health — UC Davis Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | UC SHIP Yearly |
UC Kimber Basic Most affordable |
UC Kimber Core Strong coverage |
UC Kimber Premium Most Popular |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
| Annual premium |
$3,924 (Undergraduate) $8,820 (Graduate) |
$1,201 (17–24y) $1,799 (25–27y) |
$1,391 (17–24y) $1,945 (25–27y) |
$1,935 (17–24y) $2,321 (25–27y) |
$2,460 (17–24y) $2,832 (25–27y) |
| In-network provider | Anthem Blue Cross | UnitedHealthcare Options PPO | UnitedHealthcare Options PPO | UnitedHealthcare Options PPO | UnitedHealthcare Options PPO |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $250 | No deductible | $1,250 | $600 | $50 |
| Co-insurance | 80% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | 100% | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Urgent care | $45 | $50 copay | 80% of Allowable Charges + $50 copay | 80% of Allowable Charges + $50 copay | 80% of Allowable Charges + $50 copay |
| Emergency services | $250 | $200 copay per visit | 80% of Allowable Charges $250 copay, waived if admitted |
80% of Allowable Charges $250 copay, waived if admitted |
80% of Allowable Charges $250 copay, waived if admitted |
| Prescriptions (Tier 1/2/3) | $5/$15/$35 | $5/$40/$60 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from UC Davis SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com and with UC Davis before enrolling.
What that means in savings (graduate students, ages 17–24)
Compared with the UC SHIP graduate rate of $8,820, here is what you save for the youngest age bracket:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. UC SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$7,619 |
| UC Kimber Core | $1,391 | $600 / 80% | ~$7,429 |
| UC Kimber Premium Most Popular | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$6,885 |
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | No deductible / 100% | ~$6,360 |
Undergraduate students: compared with the UC SHIP undergraduate rate of $3,924, savings run lower, roughly $1,464 to $2,723 per year depending on plan and age band.
Comprehensive, not just cheap
World Elite Plus has no deductible and 100% co-insurance, meaning you pay nothing for eligible in-network care, while still saving roughly ~$6,360 per year (ages 17–24, graduate) compared to the UC SHIP rate. Even at UC Kimber Basic, you keep a fully UC Davis-qualifying plan at a fraction of the school’s cost.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same UC Davis-qualifying coverage. Here is how:
We negotiate on your behalf.
As a licensed U.S. broker, Kimber shops and negotiates across multiple insurers to find competitive rates, then passes those savings directly to students.
We price by age.
University plans charge one flat rate by student level regardless of age. Kimber uses age-based pricing, so younger students pay less and are not subsidizing others.
We specialize in international students.
International students often have a lower overall claims profile. A plan built around that reality can be priced more efficiently than a general campus plan.
Designed to meet UC Davis’s requirements.
Kimber Health’s UC Davis plans are purpose-built to closely align with the university’s waiver criteria, meeting UC Davis’s specific qualifying standards for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.
Get money back after you graduate
Because student insurance plans are typically billed lump sum, if you graduate before your coverage period ends, you may be eligible for a refund for unused months, potentially around 25% of your annual premium back.
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | ~3-month refund | Effective net cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | ~$300 | ~$901 |
| UC Kimber Core | $1,391 | ~$348 | ~$1,043 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | ~$484 | ~$1,451 |
| World Elite Plus | $2,460 | ~$615 | ~$1,845 |
Note: Refund eligibility and the exact amount depend on your plan terms, your cancellation or graduation date, and whether you have used your plan yet. Confirm terms at the time of enrollment.
Why UC Davis students choose Kimber Health
- Licensed, U.S.-based, and trusted, a real broker with a physical U.S. office, a U.S. claims address, and real human support (exactly what UC Davis’s waiver rules require).
- Coverage across all 50 states, new city, new campus, same coverage.
- Step-by-step waiver guidance, we walk you through the UC Davis waiver process so there is no guesswork.
- Options for every budget, four plan tiers ranging from UC Kimber Basic to World Elite Plus, so you choose the right balance of premium and deductible.
UC Davis waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at UC Davis?
Can I waive the UC SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the UC SHIP?
What is the UC Davis waiver deadline for 2026–2027?
Where do I submit the UC SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, UC Davis-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the UC SHIP?
What is the difference between UC Kimber Basic, Core, Premium, and World Elite Plus?
Ready to waive and save?
Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps UC Davis international students explore affordable, UC Davis-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com →
