UC SHIP Waiver Requirements: Why Travel Plans Fail

The UC SHIP waiver requirements for 2026 to 2027 ask for a plan that gives full, local, nonemergency care with no dollar caps. At UC SHIP campuses such as UCLA, the published criteria require an in network doctor and hospital near campus, all essential health benefits, an out of pocket maximum of $10,600 or less for an individual, and no dollar limits on medical, pharmacy or mental health care. International students must also show no lifetime maximum, no pre-existing condition exclusion, and a US claims office. UCLA states plainly that travel plans do not meet the waiver criteria.

So the verdict is clear: a travel medical plan will not get you out of UC SHIP. Private cover still has a role for the arrival and graduation gaps, which this guide maps.

Key facts at a glance

• The UC sponsored SHIP waiver criteria for the 2026 to 2027 plan year are effective August 1, 2026, and the local access rule applies to every plan type, including Medi-Cal, Medicare and employer plans.
• UCLA lists travel plans, healthcare sharing ministries, County Medical Service Plans and SIMNSA as not meeting the waiver criteria.
• International students' plans must have no lifetime maximum, a US claims payment office, at least $50,000 a year for medical evacuation and at least $25,000 for repatriation.
• UCLA's 2026 to 2027 calendar lists the fall waiver period as August 1 to September 20, 2026, with fall coverage from September 21, 2026.
• UC Berkeley runs its own Berkeley SHIP, with 2026 to 2027 criteria effective July 1, 2026 and a final fall waiver deadline of August 15, 2026.
• Both UCLA and Berkeley require a new waiver every fall to avoid automatic enrollment.

What are the UC SHIP waiver requirements, line by line?

The UC sponsored criteria document, published by UCLA for the 2026 to 2027 plan year, has three layers. First, every plan must give unrestricted access to an in network primary care provider, an in network hospital, and full nonemergency medical and behavioral health care within a reasonable distance of campus, set by each campus. Second, coverage must be active and maintained for the whole academic year.

Third, the plan must either be a government or exchange plan (Medi-Cal or Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, VA benefits, Covered California or another exchange, or a UC employee plan), or an employer or individual plan that:

• Has an annual out of pocket maximum of $10,600 or less for an individual, or $21,200 for a family.
• Covers mental health and substance use conditions the same as other medical conditions.
• Covers doctor visits for medical, mental health and substance use conditions.
• Covers all essential health benefits.
• Is not a reimbursement plan where you pay first and claim back.
• Has no dollar limits on medical, pharmacy or mental health benefits.

What extra rules apply to international students?

For international students living in the US, the UC criteria add nine requirements. The plan must have no per condition maximum, cover suicide related conditions, cover injuries from recreational activities and amateur sports, have no pre-existing condition exclusion (or an expired waiting period), have no lifetime maximum, be written in standard English in US dollars, have a claims office with a US address and phone number, pay at least $50,000 a year for evacuation, and pay at least $25,000 for repatriation of remains.

Berkeley's own 2026 to 2027 criteria are shorter. They require Minimum Essential Coverage, active coverage from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, the ten essential health benefits, and for international students an English master policy in US dollars with the same $50,000 evacuation and $25,000 repatriation minimums.

Why are travel plans rejected by UC SHIP?

UCLA excludes travel plans by name, and the criteria explain why. Travel medical plans are designed for emergencies away from home. They usually carry a policy maximum, exclude or limit pre-existing conditions, often pay on a reimbursement basis outside a network, and do not follow the essential health benefits structure. Any one of those fails the list above.

International student plans from travel insurers are closer, but still short. In Ombrela's plan catalog, IMG's Student Health Advantage caps benefits at $500,000 or $300,000 per incident depending on tier, which is a per condition maximum. Plans from travel insurers, including WorldTrips' Student Secure, are not built around the UC criteria, and we do not suggest trying to waive with one. Our university versus private F-1 insurance guide covers how to weigh the two in general.

What are the UC SHIP waiver deadlines at UCLA and Berkeley?

Deadlines are set by campus. According to UCLA's 2026 to 2027 calendar, the fall waiver period for undergraduates and graduates runs from August 1 to September 20, 2026, with an appeal deadline of October 9, 2026. UCLA's waiver page adds that late waivers may be accepted until Friday of week 2 of the term, with a $50 late fee if approved. The calendar lists winter and spring waiver periods of December 1 to 20 and March 1 to 20.

At Berkeley, the regular fall 2026 waiver period ran from May 1 to July 15, 2026, followed by a late period to August 15 with a $75 fee. Other UC campuses publish their own dates, so check your campus page rather than relying on either of these.

How do you cover the arrival gap before SHIP starts?

Your arrival gap depends heavily on campus. At UCLA, fall quarter UC SHIP coverage for most undergraduates and graduates starts on September 21, 2026, according to its calendar; some law, medicine and business programs start earlier. Study in the States notes that a new F-1 student may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on the I-20, so a student who lands in late August could spend several weeks in Los Angeles before SHIP begins. At Berkeley, fall coverage begins on August 1, so the gap is usually small or absent.

For a gap of a few weeks, you can compare student plans on Ombrela. Per the plan catalog, IMG's Student Health Advantage can start from 5 days, while Student Secure has a 30 day minimum. Availability depends on your country: Student Health Advantage is not sold to residents of countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Iran and Venezuela, and Student Secure is not sold to citizens of Cuba or Ukraine.

What about coverage after graduation on OPT?

UCLA's 2026 to 2027 calendar shows spring quarter coverage running from March 24 to September 19, 2027, and Berkeley's spring coverage runs to July 31, 2027. After that date, SHIP no longer covers you, even if you are still in the US on OPT or waiting for an employer plan to begin. WorldTrips' Student Secure is listed in the catalog as available to OPT holders, and our guide to insurance after graduation covers the timing. Use the plan finder to narrow options for your dates.

Download our free UC SHIP Waiver Eligibility Worksheet below. It lists the criteria line by line, explains why travel plans fail, tracks campus deadlines, and maps your arrival gap and OPT coverage dates.

How to get covered

If you are an international student without a US employer or exchange plan, plan on keeping UC SHIP and insuring only the dates outside it. Get student insurance quotes for those exact dates. Premiums depend on age, trip length, policy maximum and deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I waive UC SHIP with travel insurance?

No. UCLA states that travel plans do not meet the UC SHIP waiver criteria. The criteria also require no dollar limits on medical, pharmacy or mental health care, an out of pocket maximum of $10,600 or less for an individual, and, for international students, no lifetime maximum and no pre-existing condition exclusion. Travel medical plans are not built to meet those standards.

Does UC SHIP require a US claims office?

For international students, yes. The UC sponsored 2026 to 2027 criteria require the plan to have a claims payment office with an address and phone number in the United States, along with a complete master policy in standard English with benefits in US dollars. Berkeley's own criteria require the English master policy in US dollars, plus the evacuation and repatriation minimums.

Do I have to waive UC SHIP every year?

Yes. Both UCLA and Berkeley require a new waiver each fall, even if your plan was approved last year. Berkeley warns that students who do not reapply by the deadline are enrolled in SHIP and charged the premium on their tuition bill. Put the waiver window in your calendar as soon as your campus publishes it.

When is the UC SHIP waiver deadline at UCLA and Berkeley?

For fall 2026, UCLA's calendar lists a waiver period of August 1 to September 20, 2026, with late waivers possible until Friday of week 2 for a $50 fee if approved. Berkeley's regular period ended July 15, 2026, with a late period to August 15 and a $75 fee. Other UC campuses set their own dates, so always check your campus page.

Use the worksheet to settle the waiver question early, then compare student plans on Ombrela for the arrival and OPT gaps UC SHIP leaves open.