UC SHIP Waiver & Medi-Cal: Understanding Your Health Insurance Options

General UC SHIP Waiver Questions

Do I need UC SHIP?

  • All UC Davis students are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP at the beginning of each academic year. 
  • If you already have health insurance that meets UC Davis’s waiver requirements, you can apply to waive UC SHIP and avoid the UC SHIP fee. This can include coverage through an employer, a parent or family member, Covered California, or Medi-Cal.
  • A new waiver application must be submitted each academic year. An approved waiver is generally valid for the entire academic year. 

When is the UC SHIP Waiver deadline?

  • Quarter Students:
    • Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters: September 1, 2026
    • Winter and Spring Quarters only: December 1, 2026
    • Spring Quarter only: March 1, 2027
  • Semester Students (Law and Vet):
    • Fall and Spring Semesters: August 15, 2026
    • Spring Semester only: December 1, 2026
  • Programs with a Summer Start Date: 
    • If your program begins during the summer term (School of Education-Teaching Credential Program, Master of Public Health, School of Nursing), your program will provide your summer-term waiver deadline.

How do I submit a UC SHIP Waiver?

  • You can find the online waiver portal at https://students.care26.com/login. 
  • You will be asked questions about your current health insurance coverage and may need to provide:
    • A copy of your current insurance ID card
    • Your plan’s benefits information
    • Proof that your coverage is currently active (if your coverage cannot be verified electronically) 
  • NOTE: If you are in the middle of making any changes to your insurance, medical provider, or address, please submit the manual waiver instead: 

My waiver was denied. What do I do?

  • If your waiver application was denied and you believe the decision was incorrect, you can file an appeal to have your application reviewed. To file an appeal, you will need to complete a Waiver Appeal Form, then submit it to Insurance Services with the required documentation ([email protected]).

I missed the waiver deadline. What can I do?

  • If you miss the posted waiver deadline, you may submit a late waiver application up to 30 days after the deadline for that term. Approved late waiver applications are subject to a $75 late waiver fee. Late waivers are processed in the order they are received and may take about 30 days to process. 
  • If your late waiver has not been processed by your fee payment deadline, UC Davis recommends paying the fees due on your account, including the UC SHIP fee. If your late waiver is approved, the UC SHIP fee will be refunded in full.
  • Late waiver applications should be emailed to [email protected] or submitted in person to the Insurance Services office located on the 3rd floor of the Student Health and Wellness Center.
  • Late Waiver Deadlines:
    • Quarter Students:
      • Fall Quarter: October 1, 2026
      • Winter Quarter: January 1, 2027
      • Spring Quarter: April 1, 2027
    • Semester Students:
      • Fall Semester: September 15, 2026
      • Spring Semester: January 1, 2027

Will financial aid pay for UC SHIP if I do not waive it?

  • Some eligible students may receive Health Insurance Assistance through their financial aid package to help with the cost of UC SHIP. The assistance is listed in your MyAwards.
  • The assistance is a combination of grant and loan funding: approximately 75% is provided as a grant that does not need to be repaid, while 25% is provided as a loan that must be repaid. Your actual amount of assistance may vary based on your eligibility. 
  • If you have questions, contact Financial Aid. 

Medi-Cal Questions

If I have Medi-Cal, can I waive UC SHIP?

  • Having Medi-Cal does not automatically qualify you for a UC SHIP waiver. Your specific Medi-Cal coverage must meet UC Davis's waiver requirements. Before submitting a waiver, make sure your Medi-Cal coverage provides:
    • An in-network primary care provider within 50 miles of campus or your residence while attending school
    • An in-network hospital within 50 miles of campus or your residence while attending school
    • Full, non-emergency medical care within 50 miles of campus or your residence while attending school
    • Full, non-emergency behavioral and mental health care within 50 miles of campus or your residence while attending school
  • Your Medi-Cal county and health plan can affect which providers and services are available to you. If you live in Davis, remember that Davis is located in Yolo County. UC Davis recommends that students with Medi-Cal contact Medi-Cal to report that they have moved to another county, whether the move is temporary or permanent.
  • Contact your county Medi-Cal office or health plan to find out how moving to Davis may affect your coverage and access to local providers.
  • If you are unsure whether your Medi-Cal coverage meets UC Davis's waiver requirements, contact UC Davis Insurance Services at (530) 752-6055 or [email protected].

What if I have Medi-Cal in a county more than 50 miles away?

  • Your Medi-Cal plan may not meet UC Davis’s waiver requirements if it does not provide the required access to care within 50 miles of campus or your residence while attending school. Having Medi-Cal does not automatically qualify you for a waiver.
  • Contact your county Medi-Cal office so you can receive the required medical and behavioral health care benefits while attending UC Davis. If you would like to stay on Medi-Cal and you are a dependent (under your parent or guardian), request a temporary change of address. If you’re independent and would like to stay on Medi-Cal, you can request an Inter-County Transfer (ICT), and your case will be transferred to your college-assigned county/updated address.
  • If your Medi-Cal coverage is in the process of being transferred or your address updated, you can submit a manual UC SHIP waiver application to Insurance Services. If you need additional time while your Medi-Cal coverage is being updated, the Fall Quarter late-waiver deadline is October 1, 2026.

What should I do if I am currently receiving treatment for a medical condition more than 50 miles away?

  • If you would like to continue treatment in a place that’s easier to access while you are at UC Davis, you can contact insurance services to make sure that UC SHIP benefits will cover your care.
  • If you would like to continue treatment at your same location, you should complete the manual UC SHIP waiver application and explain your circumstances in an email to Insurance Services ([email protected]).

How do I contact Medi-Cal?

  • If you already have Medi-Cal, contact your county’s Medi-Cal office or your Medi-Cal health plan first. They can help you understand your current coverage, provider network, and what happens if you move to Davis.
  • If you do not know which county office to contact, you can contact the California statewide Medi-Cal office at (800) 541-5555.

What if I want to apply for Medi-Cal but haven’t yet?

  • Your Medi-Cal plan must be active on or before September 1, 2026 for fall waivers, December 1, 2026 for winter waivers, and March 1, 2027 for spring waivers.
  • To determine Medi-Cal eligibility, please visit https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/medi-cal/qualify/ or contact the California statewide Medi-Cal office at (800) 541-5555.
  • Given that enrolling in Medi-Cal can take some time, you can submit the manual UC SHIP waiver application to Insurance Services, and they may extend your waiver until October 1, 2026.

What if my Medi-Cal gets terminated?

  • If you already had Medi-Cal prior to January 2026, and your household status has not changed, you should still be eligible for Medi-Cal. Please contact your county’s Medi-Cal office immediately. If your termination lasts longer than 2 months, you may have to reapply as a new applicant.
  • If you are unable to re-enroll in Medi-Cal, you can enroll in UC SHIP at any time during the year.

Can I keep both UC SHIP and Medi-Cal?

  • Yes, you can have both UC SHIP and Medi-Cal at the same time.
  • UC SHIP serves as your primary health insurance, while Medi-Cal provides secondary coverage for eligible services.
  • Having both plans does not guarantee that Medi-Cal will cover all costs left over after UC SHIP. What Medi-Cal covers depends on your specific Medi-Cal plan, provider network, county, and the type and location of care you receive.
  • If you receive care outside of your Medi-Cal plan's network or service area, Medi-Cal may not cover the remaining costs. For example, if you have Medi-Cal through a Yolo County plan and receive specialty care in Sacramento, you may have out-of-pocket costs for services that are not covered by your Medi-Cal plan.
  • Keeping both plans may be helpful because:
    • UC SHIP provides access to UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services and may provide referrals to other providers and facilities, including UC Davis Health.
    • Medi-Cal may help cover eligible services or costs that are not covered by UC SHIP, depending on your Medi-Cal plan and where you receive care.
    • Keeping Medi-Cal may allow you to maintain access to Medi-Cal-covered services within your Medi-Cal plan's network.
  • Before receiving care, check with both UC SHIP and your Medi-Cal plan if you are unsure whether a service or provider is covered. Having Medi-Cal as secondary insurance does not guarantee that all remaining charges will be covered.

Contact Information

Questions about the waiver?

  • Contact UC Davis Insurance Services if you have questions about:
    • Whether your insurance qualifies for a UC SHIP waiver
    • Your waiver status
    • A denied waiver
    • A late waiver
    • Required documentation
    • Questions about Medi-Cal and UC SHIP waiver requirements?
  • UC Davis Insurance Services contact information:
    • Number: (530) 752-6055 
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Location: Student Health and Wellness Center, 3rd Floor

Questions about Medi-Cal?

  • Contact your county Medi-Cal office or your Medi-Cal health plan if you have questions about:
    • Medi-Cal eligibility
    • Applying for Medi-Cal
    • Renewing your Medi-Cal
    • A Medi-Cal termination or renewal notice
    • Changing your address or county
    • Finding doctors, hospitals, or behavioral health providers through your Medi-Cal plan
    • Whether a specific service is covered by your Medi-Cal plan
  • Medi-Cal contact information:

Questions about financial aid?

  • Contact UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships if you have questions about:
    • Health Insurance Assistance
    • UC SHIP charges on your student account
    • How UC SHIP affects your financial aid
    • Your specific financial aid award
  • Check MyAwards first to see whether Health Insurance Assistance is included in your financial aid package.
  • UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships Website

Questions about using UC SHIP?

  • Contact Student Health and Counseling Services if you have questions about:
    • Making an appointment
    • Using your UC SHIP benefits
    • Student Health Services
    • Counseling services
    • Referrals
    • Finding care through the UC SHIP network
  • Student Health and Counseling Services Website

Need help understanding your options?

  • Contact Aury Gutierrez-Zavala at Aggie Compass if you need help understanding your options or connecting with campus resources.
  • Aury Gutierrez-Zavala contact information:
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Location: Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center, Memorial Union, East Wing