UC Berkeley Charged You for Health Insurance. Here's How to Get Out of It - Final Waiver Deadline Aug. 15
- lori683
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student heading to the University of California, Berkeley this fall, you have already been auto-enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at a cost of 5,066 dollars for the year. That is a lot of money. The good news is you do not have to pay it. You can waive the school plan and choose a VISIT® Insurance alternative that meets all of UC Berkeley's requirements and save as much as 3,445 dollars. Your waiver deadline is July 15, 2026. Here is what you need to know.
How Much Can You Save at UC Berkeley?
The UC Berkeley SHIP plan charges every undergraduate student the same rate: $5,066 per year, regardless of your age or health needs. That is how school plans work — one price for everybody.
We do things differently. VISIT® plans use age-based pricing, which means younger students pay less. If you are between 17 and 24, your annual cost with VISIT® starts at $1,620.60 — a savings of as much as $3,445.40 compared to the UC Berkeley plan.
A lot of students just figure, well, the university plan is there, so we will just take it. But that is not necessarily cost effective. If you take five minutes to look at your options, you could put over three thousand dollars back in your pocket — with the same level of coverage.
Compare plans for UC Berkeley and see your savings →
UC Berkeley Waiver Requirements
Before you choose a plan, you need to know what UC Berkeley requires for your waiver to be approved. The school will check that your alternative plan meets these specific standards:
What UC Berkeley Requires:
• Coverage type: ACA-Compliant plan meeting Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC)
• Deductible: Must not exceed the school's threshold
• US-based claims office: Yes
• Pre-existing conditions: Must be covered with no waiting period
• Coverage dates: August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027
• Network: Must include access to in-network providers
• Medical Evacuation: Must pay at least $50,000 annually
• Repatriation: Must pay at least $25,000
All VISIT® plans listed for UC Berkeley are designed to meet these requirements.
How to Submit Your Waiver — Step by Step
Step 1: Visit visitinsurance.com/aca-compliant-plans/university-of-california-berkeley and choose your plan. Enrollment takes about 3 minutes.
Step 2: As soon as you enroll, you will receive your digital insurance ID card and your Certification Form instantly.
Step 3: Log into the school's waiver portal (https://www2.academichealthplans.com/school/319.html) and upload your documents.
Step 4: Wait for the school to review and approve your waiver.
That is it. Four steps, and the hardest part — finding a plan that actually meets UC Berkeley's requirements — is already done for you.
If you have questions about your waiver at any point, email us at info@visitinsurance.com. We help students with this every single day. We have been doing this for almost 50 years.
Plan Comparison: UC Berkeley SHIP vs. VISIT® Plans
Here is how the UC Berkeley school plan compares to three of our most popular options for UC Berkeley students. All three meet UC Berkeley's waiver requirements.
Feature | UC Berkeley SHIP | |||
Save up to | — | $3,445 | $3,157 | $2,606 |
Price (Age 17-24) | $5,066 | $1,620.60 | $1,908.95 | $2,460 |
Price (Age 25-27) | $5,066 | $2,197.30 | $2,544.05 | $2,832 |
Price (Age 28-29) | $5,066 | $3,347.05 | $3,934.70 | $5,135 |
Medical Maximum | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Deductible | $450 | $450 | $250 | $0 |
Coinsurance | 80% | 80% | 80% | 100% |
Student Health Copay | $15 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Urgent Care Copay | $35 + 20% coinsurance | Deductible then $50 copayment | Deductible then $50 copayment | $50 |
ER Deductible | $250 copayment (waived if admitted) | Deductible then $200 copayment per visit (waived if admitted) | Deductible then $200 copayment per visit (waived if admitted) | 100% of Allowable Charges $200 Copayment (waived if admitted) |
Prescription Copay | $10/$25/$40/$75 | $15/$40/$75 | $15/$40/$75 | $5/$40/$60 |
Max Out-of-Pocket | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,500 | $5,000 |
Pre-Existing Conditions | No waiting period | No waiting period | No waiting period | No waiting period |
Mental Health | $0 (UHS) / $15 (Outside) | Deductible then 20% Coinsurance | Deductible then 20% Coinsurance | 100% Outpatient: $25 copay |
Preventive Care | 100% In-Network | 100% In-Network | 100% In-Network | 100% In-Network |
Maternity | Deductible + 80% Coinsurance | Deductible + 80% Coinsurance | Deductible + 80% Coinsurance | Deductible + 100% Coinsurance |
Repatriation | — | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
Medical Evacuation | — | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
PPO Network | Aetna | UHC | UHC | UHC |
Enroll in a VISIT® plan for UC Berkeley now → — lock in your rate before July 15, 2026.
Why Students Choose VISIT® Insurance
We are not the school plan — and here is why that matters:
• Almost 50 years of experience (since 1979)
• Super broker with multiple plans from multiple carriers
• Age-based pricing (younger students pay less)
• Money-back guarantee (full refund if waiver is denied within 14 days)
• 3-minute enrollment with instant documents
We are not just trying to sell you whatever the most expensive plan is or whatever the cheapest plan is. We are trying to take the time to match the need and the budget at the same time. That is what makes us different.
Do Not Miss the July 15 Deadline
Your waiver deadline is July 15, 2026. That is a hard deadline to avoid a $75 late fee, and no applications are accepted after the final August 15, 2026, deadline. If you miss it, you will be enrolled in the school plan and charged the full amount.
The waiver portal is open now. You can enroll in a VISIT® plan and submit your waiver documents today. It takes less than 10 minutes total — 3 minutes to enroll, and a few minutes to upload your documents to the school portal.
Do not wait until July 14. Do it now while you are thinking about it.
Waiver Period
The Fall 2026 waiver period is from May 1, 2026, to July 15, 2026. Waivers must be received by July 15, 2026 to avoid a $75 late fee.
All waivers received between July 16, 2026, and August 15, 2026 are subject to a $75 late fee.
No waiver applications are accepted after the final August 15, 2026 deadline.
Enroll now at visitinsurance.com/aca-compliant-plans/university-of-california-berkeley → Get your waiver documents instantly.
Questions? We Are Here.
Email: info@visitinsurance.com Phone: 703-660-9062
We want you to feel relieved that you have the right insurance — not wondering if maybe you got the wrong thing. That is why we take the time to match every student with the right plan. Not just the cheapest one. The right one.
Money-Back Guarantee
If the school denies your waiver, you may request a full refund within 14 days of the denial date, provided the plan has not been used. Email your denial notice to info@visitinsurance.com and we will process your refund. No risk, no hassle.
VISIT® Insurance has been helping international students find the right health insurance since 1979. We are a licensed insurance broker based in Mount Vernon, Virginia, and we serve students at over 700 universities across the United States.
Disclaimer: Benefits and premiums are subject to change. Please review policy documents for complete coverage details and the school's current waiver requirements.