Welcome Bruin Parents & Families! The Ashe Center works in partnership with your student (and you!) to ensure access to the health & wellness services your student may need during their time here at UCLA. We recognize that, particularly for new undergraduates, this is perhaps the first time your student will be in charge of managing their own healthcare. We play a role in supporting your student’s academic success during their time here at the University and hope to ultimately help them become responsible healthcare consumers when it’s time for them to venture out into the “real world”. Reference the most recent Ashe Center welcome letters below; they contain an overview of Ashe Center services as well as helpful reminders and important information:

• New Undergraduate Student Welcome Letter
• New Transfer Student Welcome Letter
• New Graduate/Professional Student Welcome Letter

Suggested for Health-Related Conversations to Have with Your Incoming (Undergraduate) Student
Once your student has decided to send in their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), the list of things to do before the quarter begins can become overwhelming. The suggested health-related questions you and your student should have in preparation for the start of Fall quarter fall under the umbrella of 4 main topics:

1. Health-Related Requirements (Immunizations & Health Insurance)

• What are the immunizations required for my student to attend UCLA?
  All students who are 18 years of age and younger are required to electronically submit proof of immunity to Hepatitis B. Click HERE to learn more about the University Hepatitis B Requirement and access the portal to submit information that satisfies the requirement. Parents and families often wonder about the Meningitis vaccine – this is NOT required but the Ashe Center stands with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the American College Health Association (ACHA) in that we recommend it, particularly if your student will be living in the residence halls. Learn more about recommended immunizations for college students and young adults by clicking HERE.


• Should my student stay enrolled in the UCLA Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?
  Having health insurance is a mandatory requirement for all students attending UCLA. All students are automatically enrolled in UCLA SHIP and the fee is assessed as a line item in your student’s registration fees. If your student intends to stay enrolled in UCLA SHIP, there is nothing different you need to do – their coverage begins on the first day of the Fall quarter. Undergraduate SHIP includes medical, behavioral health, and vision coverage – visit the SHIP Insurance Info section of our site to learn more about the plan benefits and carriers. This is a conversation that should occur at least every year since a waiver must be submitted annually – there are open enrollment periods at the beginning of every quarter just in case your initial insurance coverage decision changes; learn more about our SHIP Coverage/Wavier Dates HERE.


• If your student stays enrolled in UCLA SHIP, they have the option to upgrade their coverage so that it includes dental coverage (aka: USHIP Plus); this requires that your student electronically notify us that they would like to upgrade to USHIP Plus – click HERE to access the portal and follow the prompts. Note: your student will need to perform this process as access to the portal requires their UCLA log on id and password.


• If you and your student decide to waive (aka: opt out of) UCLA SHIP, you have until the Friday before the beginning of Fall quarter to submit your electronic waiver. Remember, in order to waive UCLA SHIP, your private insurance plan must meet the waiver criteria listed HERE. Your student has the option to waive UCLA SHIP for the entire policy year during the open enrollment period prior to Fall quarter; annual waivers must be completed at the beginning of each academic year.


• If you and your student decide to waive UCLA SHIP, another sub-conversation to have deals with BruinCare – prepaid access to certain core services the Ashe Center. Although all registered students have access to Ashe Center services regardless if they have SHIP or not, BruinCare streamlines the itemized statement paperwork process and provides students (and parents) with extra peace-of-mind. With BruinCare, you can minimize the need for worry when you get sick and don’t have SHIP— the BruinCare flat fee eliminates the $12 visit fee, $10 core lab fees, & $25 specialty visit fees that students who do not have SHIP would incur when they come to the Ashe Center and don’t have SHIP. BruinCare is linked to waiving SHIP so you will only be prompted with the option to purchase BruinCare after you submit your electronic SHIP waiver. Learn more about BruinCare HERE.

Important Links Referenced in this Section:
University Hepatitis B Requirement Info Page
University Hepatitis B Requirement Portal
Recommended Immunizations for College Students & Young Adults
SHIP Coverage/Waiver Dates
Ashe Center SHIP Insurance Snapshot of Benefits
SHIP Waiver Criteria
SHIP Waiver Portal
Purchase Dental Insurance (USHIP Plus)
BruinCare Info Sheet
Ashe Center University Hepatitis B Requirement FAQ
Ashe Center Immunizations FAQ
Ashe Center Insurance FAQ

2. Access to Health Services

• How can my student access health services while on campus?
  All registered UCLA students have access to Ashe Center services. Your student’s UCLA BruinCard acts as their “gate pass” and confirms their eligibility for Ashe Center services. If your student stays enrolled in UCLA SHIP, insurance cards will be mailed out in early Fall quarter - encourage your students to keep these cards with them in case they need to access health services outside of the Ashe Center. If your student waives UCLA SHIP, another necessary sub-conversation involves educating your student about how and where to access health services should they choose not to use the Ashe Center; encourage your student to keep their respective insurance cards with them and the contact information for each of these respective insurance carriers.

Important Links Referenced in this Section:
UCLA BruinCard Information
SHIP Insurance Carrier Contact Information
Ashe Center Eligibility & Fees FAQ
Ashe Center Scheduling (Appointments) FAQ

3. Privacy and Confidentiality

• Who will have access to my student’s health-related information?
  The Ashe Center protects and maintains the privacy and confidentiality of all students – this means not sharing whether or not a student has visited the Ashe Center and/or the details of any visit(s) they may had at the Ashe Center without their permission. The federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides additional safeguards for ensuring that your student’s health information is adequately protected. This being said, it’s not uncommon for students to call a parent of family member mid-visit; we’re happy to discuss your student’s situation with you so long as your student has authorized the discussion - your student will need to fill out an “Authorization to Release Information” to grant us permission to release any of their medical information to a third party. Learn more about the Ashe Center Privacy Practices HERE and Ashe Center Patient Rights & Responsibilities HERE.

Important Links Referenced in this Section:
University of California HIPAA Information
Ashe Center Privacy Practices
Ashe Center Patient Rights & Responsibilities

4. Money Matters

• How are charges billed when my student obtains services at the Ashe Center?
  All registered UCLA students have access the Ashe Center services – this means that students who use our services may have SHIP insurance only, private insurance only, or have dual insurance coverage (SHIP and another private insurance). Regardless of insurance coverage, students do not need cash or credit when they obtain services at the Ashe Center – all charges incurred at the Ashe Center are billed directly to your student’s UCLA Billing & Receivables (BAR) account and they are responsible for checking and paying the BAR account each month. The Ashe Center does not do third party billing, so if your student has private insurance only, your student may request an “Itemized Statement” which you/your student can present to their private insurance carrier for any possible reimbursement. If your student has dual insurance coverage, in the Ashe Center, SHIP is primary and outside of the Ashe Center, SHIP is secondary to the other private insurance coverage.
• Another sub-conversation that you and your student should have has to deal with Third Party BAR Viewing. This is a permission that would grant you, the parent/guardian, permission to view your student’s BAR account and ensure that the itemized charges on the BAR account are accurate and paid for – it’s an additional check point for your student but your student must grant the permission. Learn more about the Third Party BAR Viewing HERE.

Important Links Referenced in this Section:
Ashe Center Comprehensive Fees Flyer
Ashe Center Itemized Statement Request Portal
Third Party BAR Viewing Permission
Ashe Center Eligibility & Fees FAQ

Learn more about the resources available for Bruin Parents & Families by visiting the Bruin Parents & Families website HERE. The Ashe Center welcomes you, your student, & your family to UCLA!

Still have questions?
No worries, the Ashe Center is here for you. Contact Us by phone or email by clicking HERE.