UC Berkeley Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the UC Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), meet every UC Berkeley waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, Berkeley-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a UC Berkeley health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at the University of California, Berkeley 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 Berkeley automatically enrolls all registered students in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), administered through Aetna Student Health, and bills it to your account each semester. A waiver is simply how you tell UC Berkeley: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets UC Berkeley’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, Berkeley removes the SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the UC Berkeley SHIP?
The UC Berkeley SHIP is a solid plan backed by Aetna. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate, meaning every student pays the same premium regardless of age or actual health needs. For graduate students especially, the $8,206 annual charge is significant. 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.
Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) compliant, with full in-network access near campus and a U.S.-based insurer.
Built around the actual profile of international students, not a one-size-fits-all campus rate that can be nearly double what Kimber charges.
Step-by-step help navigating UC Berkeley’s Tang Center waiver portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
UC Berkeley waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the UC Berkeley SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet UC Berkeley’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 Berkeley 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 Berkeley 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 Bay Area, purpose-built to meet UC Berkeley’s waiver requirements.
UC Berkeley waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the UC Berkeley SHIP waiver portal by the deadline below. There is also a late deadline option, but submitting early avoids any risk of remaining enrolled and billed for the semester.
The sooner you enroll in a qualifying plan and submit your waiver, the less you need to think about it once the semester begins. The deadline comes up faster than most students expect.
How the UC Berkeley waiver process works
UC Berkeley 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 Berkeley Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | UC Berkeley SHIP On-Campus |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
UC Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
UC Kimber Core Most Popular |
UC Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium |
$5,066 (Undergraduate) $8,206 (Graduate) |
$2,460 (17–24y) $2,832 (25–27y) |
$1,935 (17–24y) $2,321 (25–27y) |
$1,391 (17–24y) $1,945 (25–27y) |
$1,201 (17–24y) $1,799 (25–27y) |
| In-network provider | Aetna | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare PPO |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $450 for some medical services outside UHS | No deductible | $50 | $600 | $1,250 |
| Co-insurance | 80% for in-network medical services | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | $0–$150 copay, depending on service | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Urgent care | $50 copay then plan pays 100% | $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay |
| Emergency services | $250 copay then plan pays 100% | $200 copay per visit waived if admitted |
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) | $10/$25/$40 | $5/$40/$60 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from UC Berkeley SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (graduate comparison)
Compared with the UC Berkeley on-campus SHIP annual total of $8,206 (graduate), here is what you save:
| Plan | Annual premium (25–27y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. graduate SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,832 | None / 100% | ~$5,374 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $2,321 | $50 / 80% | ~$5,885 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,945 | $600 / 80% | ~$6,261 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,799 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$6,407 |
What that means in savings (ages 17–24, undergraduate comparison)
Compared with the UC Berkeley on-campus SHIP annual total of $5,066 (undergraduate), here is what you save for the most common student age group:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. undergrad SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$2,606 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$3,131 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,391 | $600 / 80% | ~$3,675 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$3,865 |
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 ~$5,374 per year for graduate students and ~$2,606 per year for undergraduates, compared to the respective UC Berkeley SHIP rate. Even at UC Kimber Basic, you keep a fully Berkeley-qualifying plan and save nearly $6,407 annually as a graduate student. That is rent, groceries, and textbooks.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same UC Berkeley-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 everyone the same premium 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 Berkeley’s requirements.
UC Kimber plans are structured to closely align with UC Berkeley’s waiver criteria and are purpose-built to meet Berkeley’s specific qualifying standards for international students.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus | $2,460 | ~$615 | ~$1,845 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | ~$484 | ~$1,451 |
| UC Kimber Core | $1,391 | ~$348 | ~$1,043 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | ~$300 | ~$901 |
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 Berkeley 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 Berkeley’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 Berkeley waiver portal so there is no guesswork.
- Options for every budget, four plan tiers ranging from the UC Kimber Basic to World Elite Plus, so you choose the right balance of premium and deductible.
UC Berkeley waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at UC Berkeley?
Can I waive UC Berkeley SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the UC Berkeley SHIP?
What is the UC Berkeley waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the UC Berkeley SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, UC Berkeley-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the UC Berkeley SHIP?
What is the difference between the UC Kimber plans and World Elite Plus?
Ready to waive and save?
Kimber Health provides step-by-step waiver guidance and helps UC Berkeley international students explore affordable, Berkeley-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com →
