UC San Diego Health Insurance Waiver Guide for International Students (2026–2027)
How to waive the UC San Diego Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), meet every UCSD waiver requirement, and get comprehensive, UCSD-qualifying coverage from Kimber Health for far less.
What is a UC San Diego health insurance waiver?
If you are an international student at UC San Diego 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 San Diego automatically enrolls all registered students in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), administered through Anthem Blue Cross PPO, and bills it to your account each semester. A waiver is simply how you tell UCSD: “I already have qualifying coverage, so please remove the UC SHIP charge.”
If your alternate plan meets UCSD’s requirements and you submit before the deadline, UCSD removes the UC SHIP charge from your student account.
Why do international students waive the UCSD UC SHIP?
The UC San Diego UC SHIP is a solid plan backed by Anthem Blue Cross PPO. But it is priced as a flat, one-size-fits-all rate regardless of age. For graduate students especially, the $6,660 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 San Diego’s waiver requirements, with full in-network access near the La Jolla 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 UCSD Student Health waiver portal so the submission is done correctly the first time.
A plan built specifically for international students can deliver all four.
UCSD waiver requirements (2026–2027)
To waive the UCSD UC SHIP, your alternate coverage must meet UC San Diego’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 UCSD La Jolla 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 UCSD 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 San Diego area. Note: UC Kimber plans are not ACA-compliant in the traditional sense, but are structured to meet UC San Diego’s waiver requirements.
UCSD waiver deadline
Submit your fall 2026 waiver request through the UCSD 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 11th 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 UCSD waiver process works
UCSD 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 — UCSD Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | UCSD UC SHIP On-Campus |
World Elite Plus Recommended |
UC Kimber Premium Strong coverage |
UC Kimber Core Most Popular |
UC Kimber Basic Most affordable |
| Annual premium |
$3,195 (Undergraduate) $6,660 (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 | Anthem Blue Cross PPO | UnitedHealthCare | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare PPO | UnitedHealthCare |
| Maximum insured amount | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $500 (network providers) | No deductible | $50 | $600 | $1,250 |
| Co-insurance | 80% | 100% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Student health center | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Urgent care | $50 copay | $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay | 80% of allowable charges + $50 copay |
| Emergency services | $150 copay deductible waived |
$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) | $10/$40/$100 | $5/$40/$60 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 | $10/$20/$40 |
Data from UCSD UC 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 UCSD UC SHIP undergraduate rate of $3,195, here is what you save for the most common student age group. Graduate students save even more against the $6,660 rate:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. undergrad UC SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$735 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$1,260 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,391 | $600 / 80% | ~$1,804 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$1,994 |
What that means in savings (ages 17–24, graduate comparison)
Compared with the UCSD UC SHIP graduate rate of $6,660, here is what graduate students save at the same age-based premium:
| Plan | Annual premium (17–24y) | Deductible / co-insurance | You save vs. graduate UC SHIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Elite Plus Recommended | $2,460 | None / 100% | ~$4,200 |
| UC Kimber Premium | $1,935 | $50 / 80% | ~$4,725 |
| UC Kimber Core Most Popular | $1,391 | $600 / 80% | ~$5,269 |
| UC Kimber Basic | $1,201 | $1,250 / 80% | ~$5,459 |
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 ~$735 per year compared to the UCSD undergraduate UC SHIP rate. For graduate students, the savings are far more significant at over $4,200 annually against the $6,660 rate. Even at UC Kimber Basic, you keep a fully UCSD-qualifying plan at a fraction of the graduate rate.
Why can Kimber Health be so much cheaper?
Lower price, same UCSD-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 UCSD’s requirements.
UC Kimber plans are structured to closely align with UCSD’s waiver criteria. While not traditional ACA-compliant plans, they are built to meet UC San Diego’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 UCSD 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 UCSD’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 UCSD 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.
UCSD waiver FAQ
Do international students have to have health insurance at UCSD?
Can I waive the UCSD UC SHIP with an outside plan?
Is an outside plan as comprehensive as the UCSD UC SHIP?
What is the UCSD waiver deadline for fall 2026?
Where do I submit the UCSD UC SHIP waiver?
Is Kimber Health a real, UCSD-qualifying option?
How much can I save by waiving the UCSD 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 San Diego international students explore affordable, UCSD-qualifying coverage with confidence.
Get started at kimberhealth.com/ucsd →
