What is the difference between the Student Wellness Fee and Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) Premium?
The Student Wellness Fee paid by currently registered undergraduate, graduate, law, and paralegal students provides access to the on-campus Student Wellness services such as the Student Health Center. It is not possible to waive this fee.
The SHIP premium charged to the Student Account is different from the Student Wellness Fee. Learn more about the coverage dates, premium account, and benefits.
Will I still be able to access Student Wellness services on campus if I waive the USD SHIP?
Students who have their own insurance coverage and choose to waive out of the USD SHIP are still able to access Student Wellness services.
Am I eligible for the USD Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
All full-time students are subject to the Student Health Insurance Requirement and have the premium charged to their Student Account. If you are enrolled in full-time units you are eligible to enroll in coverage.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students: 12+ units
- Graduate students: 9+ units
- MA Higher Education Leadership: 7.5 units
- MA Counseling: 7.5 units
- MA Nonprofit Leadership and Management: 6 units
- Law students:
- Any JD, LLM, or MSLS student enrolled in 8+ units is required to have health insurance and is eligible to enroll in USD SHIP
- Doctoral students: 6+ units
Part-time students are not subject to the Student Health Insurance Requirement and do not need to submit a waiver. If a part-time student enrolls in more units and then becomes full-time before the published due date, then they need to submit a form to waive or enroll.
Online students or students enrolled in online programs are not subject to the Student Health Insurance Requirement and do not need to submit a waiver.
Students can also check their Student Account to check if the premium is charged to their account or not. If it is, then they need to make sure to complete the waiver to get it removed.
I am a full-time student but don’t see the charge on my account and want to enroll, what do I do?
E-mail studentaccounts@sandiego.edu to learn more.
If I am not a full-time student, what are my options?
Please review Covered California, the state's insurance marketplace to learn about potential options available to you. If you recently lost coverage or will soon lose coverage, review Covered California's Special Enrollment process. The special-enrollment period starts 60 days before you lose coverage and ends 60 days after.
It is important to note, out-of-state HMOs do not meet California ACA guidelines and thus are not eligible to meet waiver requirements. If you are a resident of a different state and needing coverage, you should visit Healthcare.gov to explore PPO options offered by your state. Otherwise, visit MediCal or Covered CA.
San Diego Health Care Resources
- Off-Campus After Hours Medical Care near campus
- Family Health Centers of San Diego provides services to everyone, with a special commitment to the uninsured and also offer urgent care services
- 211 San Diego is a directory of local resources including information about Health Care
- Free Clinics in San Diego is a directory of free or income based local clinic
As a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) or an undocumented student, do I have access to the USD Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
Yes. If you are a full-time student, you are eligible to enroll in the USD Student Health Insurance Plan.
If you have other coverage, such as Medi-Cal for example, please know you may be able to use this to waive the USD SHIP.
Are DACA or undocumented students eligible for Medi-Cal?
Yes. Under existing Medi-Cal policy, individuals with DACA status will continue to be eligible for state-funded, full scope Medi Cal if they otherwise meet all other program eligibility requirements.An undocumented person must meet the same eligibility requirements as any other beneficiary such as income limits and California residency.
Department of Health Care Services
- Medi-Cal Eligibility and Covered California - Frequently Asked Questions
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Rescission Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply for Medi-Cal?
Please contact Family Health Centers of San Diego to learn if you if you are eligible and how to get enrolled.
As of January 1, 2020, full coverage Medi-Cal services are available to young adults between ages 19 to 26, regardless of legal residency status, as long as they meet income and other eligibility requirements. Full coverage Medi-Cal includes primary care, dental and vision services, as well as some specialty care.
After your enrollment is complete, ensure to submit a waiver to remove the SHIP premium charged to your Student Account.
What other resources are there for DACA or undocumented students?
If you are a DACA or undocumented student, please visit sandiego.edu/immigration-dialogue to learn more about the financial, academic, and co-curricular resources available to support your success at USD. For students interested in one-on-one advising or joining the student group, Torero’s Dream, please send a short, introductory email to torerosdream@sandiego.edu.
I am an International Student, what should I do?
International students are also subject to the Student Health Insurance Requirement and need to submit a form to enroll or waive.
I am an embassy-sponsored student (ESS), when will my charges be waived?
International students with Embassy-Sponsored Plans should email their financial guarantee to Student Accounts (studentaccounts@sandiego.edu) to ensure that the health insurance charge will be removed. Students are also encouraged to include the International Center in the email for their reference as well: internationaloffice@sandiego.edu.
I am studying abroad, does the USD Student Health Insurance Requirement apply to me?
Yes. All full-time students studying abroad are subject to the USD Student Health Insurance Requirement to carry health insurance and need to actively submit a form to either waive out of or enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan.
The Student Health Insurance Plan and supplemental ACE Travel assistance program are two separate and different coverages. If a student is enrolled in another plan (e.g. coverage under a parent's plan) they can waive out and it will not impact enrollment under ACE coverage. Enrollment in and payment for the Student Health Insurance Plan is not required to maintain coverage from ACE.
All full-time students must retain health insurance coverage while they are studying abroad to ensure seamless coverage throughout the duration of the study abroad program and upon return.
If a waiver form is not submitted before the published due date, you will be automatically enrolled in and responsible for the premium for the Student Health Insurance Plan.
Can I use the ACE/EuropAssist plan to waive the USD insurance requirement?
The ACE/EuropeAssist travel assistance program is considered supplemental coverage and CANNOT be used to waive out of the sponsored USD Student Health Insurance Plan. Visit the International Studies Abroad website for more information.
Am I still covered if I live off campus? While traveling? When studying abroad?
Yes, your plan covers you wherever you are. As long as you're enrolled in SHIP and paid the premium, you'll be covered. Your plan also provides you with 24-hour Worldwide Travel Assistance which includes services ranging from a lost passport to helping with emergency medical assistance or arranging for emergency medical evacuation or repatriation of remains. It’s important to contact On Call International at 1-866-525-1956 before making arrangements on your own. Otherwise these services will not be covered.
Other information about seeking medical care abroad:
- Always keep your SHIP ID card with you.
- Save a copy of the plan brochure and/or bookmark your student health website.
- If you get sick while abroad, you will likely need to pay for your care first and then need submit bills for reimbursement. Your covered expenses will likely be considered an out-of-network expense.
- Before you submit claims for reimbursement, have the itemized bill(s) translated into English. Also include a letter informing the claims administrator you already paid for the healthcare service and need to be reimbursed.
- Write your name, ID number, address and school name are on your bill(s). This will help the claims company process your reimbursement request correctly and promptly.
I am a USD employee and a student, does the insurance requirement apply to me?
The student insurance requirement applies to all full-time students. Typically, employees utilizing Tuition Remission are not able to enroll in full-time units. If you are enrolled in full-time units, please review your Student Account to learn if you are being charged the Student Health Insurance Plan premium. If you are being charged, please submit a form waive.
I am a USD employee and my dependent is a student, does the insurance requirement apply to them?
Yes, the student insurance requirement applies to all full-time students. If your dependent is covered through USD’s employee insurance program through your coverage, they are still required to waive out of the student health insurance plan offered through Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk once every academic year within the published dates. If they do not take this action, they will be automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan and be responsible for paying the annual premium.
How do I log-in to enroll in or waive out of the USD Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
Using your MySanDiego account username and password, click here to enroll in or waive out of the SHIP.
If you have not done so already, you will need to claim your USDOne account in order to complete the Student Health Insurance Requirement and Immunization and Vaccine Requirements.
What if my password does not work or I forgot it?
Follow this link to update your password: https://usdone.sandiego.edu/USDOne/.
What if I still can't login after updating my password and I am eligible?
It is possible the university does not have a correct address on file for you which is preventing an account for you from being created.
Students can change their address through the MySanDiego portal at https://my.sandiego.edu/. Once logged into the MySandiego portal, under Torero Hub, click on My Torero Services, and then click on Update Address in the personal information section.
Please wait 48 hours for your address to be updated and an account to be created for you. Please visit https://gallagherstudent.com/usd and try login again after your address has been updated.
Why should I actively enroll if I’ll just be automatically enrolled after the due date?
If you actively enroll at least two weeks before the coverage period begins, your ID card will begin to be created and be ready to use sooner that the September due date. Coverage for for all students begins on August 1.
How do I enroll my dependents?
The USD Student Health Insurance Plan does not offer coverage for dependents. Please review options for dependents through Covered California, the state's insurance marketplace.
How do I waive with Medi-Cal?
Note, when waiving with insurance provided through the Medi-Cal program, you must enter your subscriber ID for your elected insurance provider (i.e. Kasier, Molina Health Care, etc.) Your Medi-Cal ID number is not your subscriber ID, as Medi-Cal recipients are enrolled with an insurance provider.
I am waiting on my enrollment in Medi-Cal to finalize, how can I submit my waiver?
Note, your Medi-Cal must be finalized prior to the published waiver deadline. Documentation showing that you have applied for Medi-Cal is not proof of active coverage. If you believe that your Medi-Cal will not be finalized in time, then please email prior to the published waiver deadline wellness@sandiego.edu.
How can I apply Medi-Cal (Medicare of California)?
Please visit the San Diego County Medi-Cal program page or contact Family Health Centers of San Diego to learn if you if you are eligible and how to get enrolled.
As of January 1, 2020, full coverage Medi-Cal services are available to young adults between ages 19 to 26, regardless of legal residency status, as long as they meet income and other eligibility requirements. Full coverage Medi-Cal includes primary care, dental and vision services, as well as some specialty care.
After your enrollment is complete, ensure to submit a waiver to remove the SHIP premium charged to your Student Account.
Can I waive with out of state Medicaid?
Out of state Medicaid is not considered comparable to the USD Student Health Insurance Plan and any waivers submitted with this information will be denied. Please email wellness@sandiego.edu for any questions.
I have Kaiser HMO in one of the states: HI, WA, OR, CO, UT
For Kaiser members, if you are attending school in a different region than your home region, please contact Kaiser to register for a visiting member ID number. Once you receive your number, please upload a verification of coverage letter showing proof of benefits outside your home region and showing your visiting member ID number. This will serve as proof of comprehensive coverage outside your home region.
- Plan must provide comprehensive coverage within the state of California. This includes coverage beyond emergency and urgent care. (i.e. preventative coverage, In-patient and out-patient surgery and hospitalization, etc).
- Should your plan not offer comprehensive coverage outside your home region, then your waiver will be denied.
How long will it take for the SHIP premium charged to my Student Account to be removed?
After your waiver is successfully submitted, please allow up to 48 hours for the credit of the SHIP premium to be applied to your account. This update can be viewed in the "Recent Activities" section in the online Student Account. If you have any further questions regarding your billing, please reach out to studentaccounts@sandiego.
How do I edit my form after it has been submitted?
If it is before the waiver/enrollment deadline:
- Go to www.gallagherstudent.com/usd.
- Log in using your MySanDiego account and password.
- Navigate to “Account Details”.
- Click “Edit Waiver”.
- Select the form you want to edit.
- Update the form as needed.
- Click “Update & Submit”.
NOTE: You can edit your waiver up to 5 times.
How do rescind my form after it has been submitted?
If it is before the waiver/enrollment deadline:
- Go to www.gallagherstudent.com/usd.
- Log in using your MySanDiego account and password.
- Navigate to “Account Details”.
- Click “Click here to rescind your waiver”.
- Click “Rescind My Waiver”.
NOTE: Once waiver is rescinded, this action cannot be reversed.
How do I obtain my ID card?
ID cards are usually available online 5-7 business days after your enrollment form is submitted and eligibility is confirmed.
- Go to www.aetnastudenthealth.com.
- Click the “Get your ID card” icon.
- Type in your USD Student ID Number and Date of Birth.
- Click Submit.
What do I do if my insurance ID card is not available yet but I need to see a doctor or get a prescription?
If you need to access care or visit a pharmacy before your ID card is available, you are able to pay out of pocket and submit a claim for reimbursement.
If I enrolled in the SHIP during the fall, can I waive out in spring?
No. You submitted a form to enroll in the annual plan and have been charged the annual premium and enrolled into the plan.
If I waive out of the Student Health Insurance Plan, and lose my coverage, can I enroll in the SHIP?
Any eligible full-time student who originally waived the SHIP and then loses coverage under that plan (called a qualifying event), may submit a Petition to Add request. Qualifying events include:
- Reaching the age limit of another health insurance plan
- Loss of health insurance through marriage or divorce
- Involuntary loss of coverage from another health insurance plan
To submit a Petition to Add
- Go to www.gallagherstudent.com/usd.
- Login using your MySanDiego account and password.
- Click the green "Enroll-Qualifying Event" button under the "Plan Summary" tile.
- Follow the instructions to complete the form.
- A reference number will be emailed upon submission
Students who submit a Petition to Add request must meet full-time eligibility.
I am not eligible to Petition to Add the USD SHIP, what can I do?
If you recently lost coverage or will soon lose coverage, review Covered California's Special Enrollment process. The special-enrollment period starts 60 days before you lose coverage and ends 60 days after.
Please contact the USD Counseling Center or Student Health Center to learn how to receive a referral to waive the $300 in-network deductible to see an preferred network provider. The $300 deductible will NOT be waived without a referral from USD.
How do I find a doctor, hospital, or pharmacy?
- Go to https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/en/school/474959/members/find-doctor.html
- Click on Option 1 to find a network provider
- Under Student Health Medical Plans in California select "OA Managed Choice POS"
Does the USD Student Health Insurance Plan provide dental or vision coverage?
If you’re 18 or younger, you can get preventive dental and vision benefits with the Student Health Insurance Plan.
What dental and vision options are available to me if I am older than 18?
To enroll in a voluntary dental plan or vision plan (additional cost), go to:
- www.gallagherstudent.com/dental
- www.gallagherstudent.com/vision
- Contact Gallagher Student Health Support for more information
I am graduating, how long will I stay enrolled?
Once you are enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan, you will remain covered throughout the duration of the plan you have paid for.
- Coverage for students graduating in the fall expires on December 31
- Coverage for students graduating in the spring or summer expires on July 31
Important Note: While USD processes your graduation information, it is important to not use the Student Health Insurance Plan after the end of coverage date. If you do use the plan after your end of coverage date, it might not be possible to remove your coverage or the premium charged to your Student Account.
What do I do after my coverage ends?
Where can I get my 1095 Tax Form?
If the federal government requires reporting of health insurance coverage for 2022, tax forms will be mailed to the address on file by either the Insurance Carrier or the Claims Administrator. For more information, contact Aetna Student Health at 1-866-746-6590.
For additional questions, please visit here to Find Information.