University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) International Student Health Insurance Waiver Guide 2026-2027
- lori683
- Jul 12
- 5 min read
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student heading to the University of California Los Angeles this fall, you have already been auto-enrolled in the UCLA Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at a cost of $3,886 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 UCLA's requirements and save as much as $2,265 dollars. Your waiver deadline is SEPTEMBER 20, 2026. Here is what you need to know.
How Much Can You Save at UCLA?
The UCLA SHIP plan charges every undergraduate student the same rate: $3,886 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 $2,265 compared to the UCLA 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 UCLA and see your savings →
UCLA Waiver Requirements
Before you choose a plan, you need to know what UCLA requires for your waiver to be approved. The school will check that your alternative plan meets these specific standards:
What UCLA Requires:
Have no per-medical or per-mental health/substance use condition maximum benefit limits.
Cover services related to suicidal conditions, including attempted suicide or suicidal thoughts.
Cover medical services for injury from participation in all types of recreational activities or amateur sports.
Have no preexisting condition exclusion or limitation; if the plan has a preexisting condition waiting period, that period must have expired.
Have no lifetime maximums on benefits.
Have a complete master policy written in standard English with benefits expressed in U.S. dollars.
Have a claims payment office with an address and phone number in the United States.
Pay at least $50,000 annually for medical evacuation from the United States to the student’s home country.
Pay at least $25,000 for repatriation of remains from the United States to the student’s home country.
All VISIT® plans listed for UCLA are designed to meet these requirements.
How to Submit Your Waiver — Step by Step
Step 1: Visit www.visitinsurance.com/ucla 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://myucship.org/uc-los-angeles/eligibility-and-enrollment/waiving-coverage/ 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 UCLA'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: UCLA SHIP vs. VISIT® Plans
Here is how the UCLA school plan compares to three of our most popular options for UCLA students. All three meet UCLA's waiver requirements.
Feature | UCLA SHIP | |||
Save up to | — | $2,266 | $1,978 | $1,280 |
Price (Age 17-24) | $3,886 | $1,620.60 | $1,908.95 | $2,460 |
Price (Age 25-27) | $3,886 | $2,197.30 | $2,544.05 | $2,832 |
Price (Age 28-29) | $3,886 | $3,347.05 | $3,934.70 | $5,135 |
Medical Maximum | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Deductible | $400 | $450 | $250 | $0 |
Coinsurance | 80% | 80% | 80% | 100% |
Student Health Copay | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Urgent Care Copay | $25 + 20% coinsurance | Deductible then $50 copayment | Deductible then $50 copayment | $50 |
ER Deductible | $250 copayment +coinsurance | 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 | Bruin Health Pharmacy | $15/$40/$75 | $15/$40/$75 | $5/$40/$60 |
Max Out-of-Pocket | $9,000 | $5,000 | $5,500 | $5,000 |
Pre-Existing Conditions | No waiting period | No waiting period | No waiting period | No waiting period |
Mental Health | $40 (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 | Anthem Blue Cross | UHC | UHC | UHC |
Enroll in a VISIT® plan for UCLA now → — lock in your rate before SEPTEMBER 20, 2026.
September 20, 2026 for most undergraduate and graduate students. Law, Medicine, FEMBA and other early-start programs have earlier dates; approved late requests may incur a $50 fee. Click here to double check dates for your program: https://www.studenthealth.ucla.edu/file/7b193d21-e33c-4d25-adf7-e9ddf83dbf9c
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 SEPTEMBER 20 Deadline
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 September 19 Do it now while you are thinking about it.
Enroll now at www.visitinsurance.com/ucla → 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 Alexandria, 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.
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