Skip to content

UC SHIP Benefit Plan

UC SHIP is a self-funded comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance program designed to provide convenient and affordable access to medical care, mental health services, dental care and vision care beyond what is available on campus through SHS and CAPS. UC SHIP also covers certain services at the student health center like prescriptions, immunizations and durable medical equipment. 

UC SHIP meets all federal Affordable Health Care regulations. All the information can be found at the UC SHIP website for our campus. UC SHIP medical insurance coverage is provided by Anthem Blue Cross.

VIDEO: UC SHIP Introduction: comprehensive, quality care at an affordable price

VIDEO: How to use UC SHIP

Medical

Anthem Blue Cross 866-940-8306

To register online at Anthem Blue Cross, visit Online Registration.

On campus medical and mental health are offered by Student Health and Counseling Services at the Student Health and Wellnes Center regardless of insurance coverage. Dental and vision services are not available on campus, but are available in the Merced community through network providers.

Vision

Blue View Vision Insight 866-940-8306

Dental

Delta Dental 800-765-6003

To Register online at Delta Dental, please visit Online Registration.

UC SHIP enrolled students will save more with a Delta Dental PPO dentist than with a Delta Dental Premier or out-of-network dentist. Use the online tool to locate a dentist convenient to your location: Delta Dental Find A Dentist Tool

Insurance Waiver and Enrollment

Academic Health Plans (AHP): Enrollment & Eligibility 1-855-427-3209

Pharmacy Benefits- OptumRx

OptumRx is your pharmacy benefit administrator for the University of California Student Health Insurance Program (UC SHIP). OptumRx will manage your pharmacy benefits with the goal to make getting well and staying well easy. Below is some important information to help you understand this transition to OptumRx.

Important Notice

There is a $200 per plan year deductible for some medical services provided outside of Student Health Services. Services that require the deductible are noted below. If providers or facilities are used that are not part of the Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer Provider Network, claims will be paid at 60 percent of the non-network charged fees (customary and reasonable), which is often significantly lower than the Network rate. For example, 90 percent coverage of the network rate is going to be less costly to the patient than 60 percent coverage of the non-network fees.

Students are responsible for no more than $3,000 of out-of-pocket expenses each plan year. If you have paid $3,000 in co-insurance for in-network services (excluding deductibles, pharmacy co-payments, and other co-payments such as office visits), you will no longer be required to pay co-insurance for the remainder of the plan year. The out-of-pocket maximum does not apply to amounts exceeding stated service benefit limits or to services not covered by the plan. UC SHIP has an unlimited lifetime maximum, no pharmacy cap and no cap on essential benefits. Dependent plans are available for spouses, domestic partners and/or children of UC Merced students. You may purchase medical only or medical, dental and vision.