UC Santa Barbara Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the UC Santa Barbara Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), meet every UC Santa Barbara waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, UC Santa Barbara-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for less.
In this guide
What is a UC Santa Barbara health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at UC Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara automatically enrolls all registered international students in the UC Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the UC SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets UC Santa Barbara'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 it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate for every student at a given level, undergraduate or graduate, regardless of age. At $4,009 a year for undergraduates (and $9,385 for graduate students), that charge adds up quickly. 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 Santa Barbara's waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara waiver process so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
UC Santa Barbara waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the UC SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet UC Santa Barbara'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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara area. These plans are purpose-built to meet UC Santa Barbara’s specific waiver requirements for international students, rather than structured as traditional ACA-compliant plans.
UC Santa Barbara 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 6th 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | UC SHIP Yearly |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
UC Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
UC Kimber Core Most Popular |
UC Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium |
$4,009 (undergraduate) $9,385 (graduate) |
$2,460 (17–24y) $2,832 (25–27y) |
$1,935 (17–24y) $2,321 (25–27y) |
$1,259 (17–24y) $1,945 (25–27y) |
$1,138 (17–24y) $1,799 (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 | $300 | No deductible | $50 | $600 | $1,250 |
| Co-insurance | 80% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | $0–$70+ copay depending on service |
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Urgent care | $20 copay | $50 copay per visit | 80% of Allowable Charges and $50 copay |
80% of Allowable Charges and $50 copay |
80% of Allowable Charges and $50 copay |
| Emergency services | $250 copay | $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/$25/$40 | $5/$40/$60 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from UC Santa Barbara SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com and with UC Santa Barbara before enrolling.
What that means in savings for undergraduate students
Undergraduates pay the UC SHIP undergraduate rate of $4,009. Here is what you save at the lowest age band, which covers most undergraduates:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. undergraduate UC SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$1,549 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$2,074 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,259 | $600 / 80% | ~$2,750 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,138 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$2,871 |
What that means in savings for graduate students
Graduate students pay the higher UC SHIP graduate rate of $9,385. Here is what you save at the lowest age band:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. graduate UC SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$6,925 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$7,450 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,259 | $600 / 80% | ~$8,126 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,138 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$8,247 |
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 ~$1,549 per year for undergraduates and ~$6,925 per year for graduate students, compared to their respective UC SHIP rates. Even at UC Kimber Basic, you keep a fully UC Santa Barbara-qualifying plan at a fraction of the school’s cost.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same UC Santa Barbara-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 Santa Barbara's requirements.
Kimber Health’s UC Santa Barbara plans are purpose-built to closely align with the university’s waiver criteria, meeting UC Santa Barbara'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus | $2,460 | ~$615 | ~$1,845 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | ~$484 | ~$1,451 |
| UC Kimber Core | $1,259 | ~$315 | ~$944 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,138 | ~$284 | ~$854 |
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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara'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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at UC Santa Barbara?
Can I waive the UC SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the UC SHIP?
What is the UC Santa Barbara waiver deadline for 2026–2027?
Where do I submit the UC SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, UC Santa Barbara-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 Santa Barbara international students explore affordable, UC Santa Barbara-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com →
