UC Irvine Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the UC Irvine Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), meet every UCI waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, UCI-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a UC Irvine health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at UC Irvine 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 Irvine automatically enrolls all registered students in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), administered through Blue Shield of California, and bills it to your account each semester. A waiver is simply how you tell UCI: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the UC SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets UCI’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, UCI removes the UC SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the UC Irvine SHIP?
The UC Irvine UC SHIP is a solid plan backed by Blue Shield of California. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate regardless of age. For graduate students especially, the $7,772 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.
Closely aligned with UC Irvine’s waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the Irvine 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 UCI Student Health waiver portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
UCI waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the UC Irvine SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet UC Irvine’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 UCI Irvine 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 UCI 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 Orange County area. Note: UC Kimber plans are not ACA-compliant in the traditional sense, but are structured to meet UC Irvine’s waiver requirements.
UCI waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the UCI Student Health waiver portal by the deadline below. There is also a late deadline, but submitting early avoids any risk of remaining enrolled and billed for the semester.
September 14th 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 UCI waiver process works
UC Irvine 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 — UCI Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | UC Irvine SHIP On-Campus |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
UC Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
UC Kimber Core Most Popular |
UC Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium |
$3,214 (Undergraduate) $7,772 (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 | Blue Shield of California | UnitedHealthCare | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare |
| Maximum insured amount | Not specified | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $300 | No deductible | $50 | $600 | $1,250 |
| Co-insurance | 90% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | Not specified | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Urgent care | $25 copay | $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay |
| Emergency services | $200 copay/visit waived if admitted |
$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) | $15/$40/$55 | $5/$40/$60 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from UC Irvine SHIP and Kimber Health plan documents. Verify current rates at kimberhealth.com before enrolling.
What that means in savings (ages 17–24, undergraduate comparison)
Compared with the UC Irvine SHIP undergraduate rate of $3,214, here is what you save for the most common student age group. Graduate students save even more against the $7,772 rate:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. UC Irvine SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$754 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$1,279 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,391 | $600 / 80% | ~$1,823 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$2,013 |
What that means in savings (ages 17–24, graduate comparison)
Compared with the UC Irvine SHIP graduate rate of $7,772, here is what graduate students save at the same age bracket:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. UC Irvine SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$5,312 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$5,837 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,391 | $600 / 80% | ~$6,381 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$6,571 |
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 ~$754 per year compared to the UCI undergraduate UC SHIP rate. For graduate students, the savings are far more significant at over $5,300 annually against the $7,772 rate. Even at UC Kimber Basic, you keep a fully UCI-qualifying plan at a fraction of the graduate rate.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same UCI-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 UCI’s requirements.
UC Kimber plans are structured to closely align with UCI’s waiver criteria. While not traditional ACA-compliant plans, they are built to meet UC Irvine’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 UCI 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 UCI’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 UCI Student Health waiver portal 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.
UCI waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at UCI?
Can I waive the UC Irvine SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the UC Irvine SHIP?
What is the UCI waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the UC Irvine SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, UCI-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the UC Irvine 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 Irvine international students explore affordable, UCI-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com/uci →
