Waiving UCSHIP

The University of California requires that all students have health insurance. UCLA assesses all students for a UCSHIP policy to ensure adequate coverage. Have your own health insurance plan? Learn more about how to waive out and receive a credit to your BruinBill.

Please be advised: Academic Health Plans (AHP) launched a new waiver system for the 2026-27 Academic Year. The questions you answer and the documents you need to upload will stay the same. Any alternate email addresses associated with the previous system will need to be re-added to your Care26 account. See the "Stay Informed: Send Notifications to Alternate Emails" section for instructions.

Health Insurance is Mandatory

To fulfill this requirement, UCLA automatically enrolls all registered students in UCSHIP (UC Student Health Insurance Plan) at the start of a new academic year. Each academic term, the UCSHIP health fee is billed through BruinBill along with other UCLA fees.

If you are covered by an insurance policy that meets waiver criteria and do not want to utilize UCSHIP benefits, you can request to cancel UCSHIP enrollment by submitting an online waiver application with supporting documentation during a waiver period.

An approved waiver application will be valid for the remainder of the academic year. Each term you will receive a waiver credit to negate the billed amount.

Waiving UCSHIP is an annual process and must be completed each academic year to avoid automatic enrollment.

UCSHIP Health Fee

The UC SHIP Health Fee is a mandatory registration fee and cannot be removed from your BruinBill. Students who do not receive an approved waiver are not eligible for a waiver credit, will be enrolled in UC SHIP for the term, and are responsible for the associated health fee. Unpaid registration fees may result in class drops and late payment charges. Additional waiver opportunities are available in future terms.

UCSHIP Waiver Process is Annual

Waiving is an annual process for those who wish to opt out of UCSHIP.

UCSHIP is featured in the New Student Checklist each year for incoming freshmen students.

See the New Student Checklist

Academic Health Plans (AHP)

UCSHIP and UCLA have partnered with Academic Health Plans (AHP) to audit our health fee waiver applications. You can submit an online application through Academic Health Plans (AHP) Waiver System during a designated Waiver Period. You will receive email notifications from AHP during a Waiver Period if you do not have an approved waiver on file.

Your waiver submission is not a guarantee of approval.

All submissions are subject to audit to ensure the health plan meets Waiver Criteria.

• Additional information may be requested by AHP in order to approve your application. Failure to provide the requested documentation before the Waiver Period Deadline Date will result in a denied application and enrollment in UC SHIP for the upcoming term.
• We highly recommend adding “@ahpcare.com” as a safe sender to ensure you receive all communications from Academic Health Plans (AHP).
• Students can check status of their application at any time by signing into Academic Health Plans (AHP) Waiver System. It is the student's responsibility to monitor their waiver application status.

Stay informed: Send notifications to alternate emails

To receive text messages or include another email address that will receive future notifications from AHP, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to the waiver site
2. Select the Collapsed Menu Icon (three parallel horizontal bars)
3. Select the User Profile Icon (pencil)
4. Click Edit.
   1. Email Notifications
      1. Under the Contact Information section, add up to two additional email addresses.
      2. Under the Settings section, select the “Send notification to alternate email” option.
   2. Text Notifications
      1. Under the Settings section, review disclaimer and select the “Allow text messages” option.

The UCSHIP Waiver Process

You can submit an online Waiver Application with your Supporting Documentation through Academic Health Plans (AHP) Waiver System during a designated Waiver Period. All submissions are subject to audit to ensure the health plan meets Waiver Criteria. Only approved applications receive a Waiver Credit and avoid automatic enrollment in UCSHIP.

The UCSHIP Waiver Process ends when you receive a “AHPCare | Approved Waiver” email from AHP.

Supporting Documentation

Academic Health Plans (AHP) will want to review any and all available supporting documentation you may have about your current health insurance plan to ensure it meets Waiver Criteria. At a very minimum, you will need an accessible electronic copy of the front and back of your current insurance card. If you have access to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) document associated with your policy, include it with your application.

*An SBC may not be available for some Medi-Cal plans.

Waiver Criteria

If your health plan assigns you a Primary Care Provider (PCP) or medical group (such as an HMO or Medi‑Cal) and they are farther away than 75 miles from campus, contact your health plan’s Member Services team. Let them know that you will be living in Los Angeles and need to be assigned to a PCP in the surrounding area.

Any changes made to your PCP or Medical Group assignment must in effect on or before your program start date to satisfy Waiver Criteria requirements.

Your coverage must meet all of the Academic Plan Year Waiver Criteria to be eligible to waive UCSHIP. For students classified as international, additional criteria applies.

View Full Waiver Requirements

**Travel Plans, Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs), County Medical Service Plans (CMSP), and SIMNSA do not meet waiver criteria and are not eligible to waive UC SHIP enrollment.**

Waiver Periods

You can submit a Waiver Application through Academic Health Plans (AHP) Waiver System during a terms designated Waiver Period listed below

Summer (Quarter & Semester) Waiver Periods

Fall (Quarter & Semester) Waiver Periods

Winter (Quarter) & Spring (Semester) Waiver Periods

Spring (Quarter) Waiver Periods

*Unless otherwise specified above, includes new and returning students enrolled in UC SHIP participating Self-Supporting Graduate Programs (FEMBA, DNP, MSAUD, MAS, MASS, MENG, MFE, MSBA, MSE, MBA, MQE, MACS, MQST, MDSH)

Late Waiver & Appeal Review Requests

Late Waiver Requests

• You have access to a terms application until Friday of Week 2 each term.
• Initial applications submitted after a waiver period deadline are subject to a $50 late fee, if approved.

Appeal Review Requests

• You can appeal Academic Health Plans (AHP) determination.
• Appeal Review Requests are accepted until 5:00 PM (California time) on Friday of Week 2 each term. Requests submitted for past terms will not be considered.

Health Fee Waiver Appeal Review Request Form

Waiver Application

Students* within their designated waiver period can submit their application to initiate the audit process through the UCSHIP Waiver Application below.

Once your application is submitted, an automated confirmation email will be sent to acknowledge receipt of your request.

To access Care26, you don’t need to create an account. It’s already connected to your UCLA Single Sign On (SSO) Account you use to access MyUCLA.

• Click the UCSHIP Waiver Application link below.
• In the School Email field, enter your UCLA Logon ID@ucla.edu
  • Note: Other UCLA email domains, such as @g.ucla.edu, @anderson.ucla.edu, @lawnet.ucla.edu, and @mednet.ucla.edu, will result in an “Account Not Found” error. These email addresses can be added to your User Profile. See the "Stay Informed: Send Notifications to Alternate Emails" section for instructions.
• Click Next.
• You should see a green check mark, and the school will automatically show University of California, Los Angeles.
• Click “Log in using my UCLA Account.”
• Enter your UCLA Logon ID and password.

UCSHIP Waiver Application

*Only registered UCLA students will have access to AHPs Waiver System. Third party access is not granted.

BruinCare & The Ashe Center

Before submitting your waiver application for audit, you will be asked if you would like to enroll in BruinCare. BruinCare is pre-paid access to core services at The Ashe Center. You are likely to seek medical attention at the Ashe Center because of its convenient and central location on campus.

BruinCare

Our Insurance Office

The Ashe Center Insurance Office is available to provide support to students experiencing difficulties with the waiver process. Please submit a Waiver Contact Form or call 310-825-4073 (Option 4) for assistance.

Note: During a designated waiver period, response times can take up to three (3) business days. Insurance Office staff will not verify if a plan meets waiver criteria. Students must compare plan benefits against Waiver Criteria to determine if it is eligible to Waive UC SHIP.

Submit a Waiver Contact Form

Call The Ashe Center Insurance Office

Waiver Credits

This information only applies to students who receive an “AHPCare | Approved Waiver” email from AHP.

If you receive this email, you will receive a waiver credit for the requested term and all remaining terms of the academic year.

Additional information about Waiver Credits:

• Waiver Credits will not appear the same day a "AHPCare | Approved Waiver” email is received.
• Waiver Credits will not appear the same day fees are assessed.
• Waiver Credits will appear as a separate line item on your BruinBill. (e.g. FALL WAIVE USHIP)
• Waiver Credits will appear as a payment on your BruinBill. The payment amount will match the charge amount.
• Students who receive an “AHPCare | Approved Waiver” email before registration fees are assessed will receive a waiver credit on their BruinBill within 4 business days after fees are assessed.
• Students who receive an “AHPCare | Approved Waiver” email after registration fees are assessed will receive a waiver credit on their BruinBill within 7 business days of receiving the approval email.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ)

I tried to access Care26 but I’m getting an "Account not found", why can’t I access Care26?

1. You are not the registered student. Only students have access to the AHP Waiver System and waiver application; third-party access is not permitted. If the student would like for you to receive notifications, see the "Stay Informed: Send Notifications to Alternate Emails" section for instructions.
2. Your are not using the "School Email" associated with your Care26 account. You must enter your UCLA Logon ID + "@ucla.edu". For example, Joe Bruin attending School of Law and has a UCLA Logon ID of JBruin1989. They would enter JBruin1989@ucla.edu.

If you are the registered student and have followed the School Email guidance but are still experiencing issues, please contact the Insurance Services Office at the Ashe Center.

I received an "AHPCare | Waiver Submission Received" email, what do I do now?

No further action is required at this time. This email confirms that your application has been successfully submitted. Please allow time for processing and monitor your email for updates. See the "Stay Informed: Send Notifications to Alternate Emails" for communication options.

I received an "AHPCare | Information Needed to Complete Waiver” email, what do I do now?

Your application did not pass initial audit. Additional information is being requested and will need to be provided prior to approving your application. This email will contain a note with more specific details about what is being requested. Failure to provide this documentation before applicable deadlines will result in UC SHIP enrollment for the term, making you financially responsible for the UC SHIP Health fee on your BruinBill.

I received an “AHPCare | Denied Waiver” email, what do I do now?

AHP has determined that your plan does not meet university requirements. This email will contain a note with more specific details.

If you would like to challenge this determination, you may do so by filing an appeal review. See the "Late Waiver & Appeal Review Requests" section for more details.

AHP is requesting a Letter of Coverage, why do they need that, what is it and how do I obtain one?

AHP will request a Letter of Coverage (Proof of Insurance) dated within the last 30 days if they are unable to verify your coverage is active. This documentation can be obtained by contacting your plans Member Services Department. Their number is typically on the back of your current insurance card. If you have a Patient Portal for your Health Plan, we recommend signing in to it and finding a page that would indicate your coverage is active. A screenshot of this would be sufficient information. It must include your name, member ID and the date.

Important Things to Note:

• The waiver application audit process cannot be expedited.
• All deadlines are strictly enforced by the Insurance Services Office at the Ashe Center.
• Your coverage must meet be active and satisfy all university waiver criteria requirements on or before your program start date.
• You must complete the UC SHIP Waiver Process each academic year to avoid automatic enrollment.
• The UCSHIP Waiver Process can only be started during Waiver Period.
• The UCSHIP Waiver Process starts with the submission of an electronic application through Academic Health Plans (AHP) Waiver System.
• The UCSHIP Waiver Process ends when a student received a “AHPCare | Approved Waiver” email from AHP.
• Students who do not complete the UC SHIP Waiver Process do not receive a Waiver Credit.
• Students who do not complete the UC SHIP Waiver Process will be enrolled in UCSHIP for the term and remain financially responsible for the terms UC SHIP Health Fee.
• Students who do not complete the UC SHIP Waiver Process within the terms Waiver Period must contact the Insurance Services Office at The Ashe Center as soon as reasonably possible to discuss their options.
• If a student’s waiver is denied, an appeals form may be requested from the Insurance Services Office for reconsideration. Appeals forms must be completed and returned with all requested supporting documentation by applicable deadlines
• Those with third party access are unable to log onto the UCSHIP waiver application with their sign-on credentials. Only registered UCLA students will have access to the site.