UCSF School of Pharmacy

Health Insurance

Since your student medical benefits end upon graduation, we strongly encourage you to establish health insurance until you find permanent employment, which will likely provide medical benefits.

After this date, all SHS coverage ends, including office visits and prescriptions.

Before Your SHS Coverage Ends

1. If you have been referred by SHS to a clinic outside of SHS, your office visit must occur before the deadline in order for it to be covered by your student insurance.
2. Fill any prescriptions you need. Don't forget to refill birth control pills or condoms purchased at SHS.
3. Establish your new health insurance so that it begins on or before the deadline date. If you have a break in coverage, even for just one day, your new health insurance may deny coverage for pre-existing health problems for a period of time. Applications for individual insurance coverage can sometimes take several weeks.

Shop for Health Insurance

You can use the Web to shop for health insurance. For example:

1. Digital Insurance
2. ehealthinsurance.com
3. Google Directory Health Insurance
4. Health Plan One
5. Kaiser Permanente
6. Resources for Other Health Care Coverage

About Pre-Existing Conditions and Coverage Verification

You may call Personal Insurance Administration (PIA) at 1-800-468-4343 for written verification of prior coverage. Proof of prior coverage or termination of coverage is sometimes requested as part of the insurance application process.

Go To: Graduation Overview