Health Insurance

The information below is for students graduating in 2010. If you are graduating in 2011, the information likely will be similar, but the exact date of the last day of coverage will probably change. Check this page again in early spring 2011 for updated info.

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.

Last Full Day of Coverage: Tuesday, September 7, 2010

If you are graduating in winter or spring quarter and you paid the health fee as part of your registration during 3 out of 4 quarters (summer 2009 through spring 2010), your health coverage with Student Health Services (SHS) lasts through Wednesday, September 8 at 12:01 AM. In other words, you are covered the day of September 7 with coverage terminating at 12:01 AM on September 8.

After this date, your health insurance and access to SHS ends.

Before Your SHS Coverage Ends

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.
Fill any prescriptions you need. Don't forget to refill birth control pills or condoms purchased at SHS. As long as you have refills, SHS will refill birth control they stock in the clinic for a few additional months after your coverage terminates.
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

Although the University does not endorse any particular third-party insurance option, we list a few examples of how you can use the web to shop for health insurance. For example:

End of Coverage: Insurance Options from UCSF Student Health & Counseling
Digital Insurance
ehealthinsurance.com
Google Directory Health Insurance
Health Plan One
HSAConnect
Kaiser Permanente
My Insurance Expert

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