Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the UC Irvine SHIP (UC SHIP; USHIP undergraduate / GSHIP graduate) is $3,213.90–$8,693.60 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Undergraduate $1,071.30/quarter × 3 = $3,213.90; graduate $2,590.62 × 3 = $7,771.86. Max reflects 1st-year medical students ($8,693.60); 1st-year law is $8,561.93.
Waiver deadline
Submit your waiver request before the deadline above. Universities rarely accept late waivers — if you miss it, you are auto-enrolled in SHIP and billed the full premium.
Waiver requirements
According to UC Irvine, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Coverage active and maintained for the entire academic year
- Must be ACA Minimum Essential Coverage (e.g. employer, Covered California, Medi-Cal, parent plan)
- International: medical evacuation ≥ $50,000 per year
- International: repatriation of remains ≥ $25,000
- Local care within 50 miles strongly encouraged (not required)
Private plans you could submit
These private US student health plans are in our comparison. None is automatically accepted — check the policy maximum, deductible, claims address and the other points above against the plan's terms before you buy:
- ISO Student Health Insurance — from $33/month
- WorldTrips StudentSecure — from $40/month
- Compass Student Insurance — from $43/month
- IMG Patriot Exchange Program
What a waiver can save
Your saving is the UC Irvine SHIP premium ($3,213.90–$8,693.60 a year) minus the price of a private plan the university accepts. Private plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band; plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more. Compare the real price of the plan you would submit before you decide.
- Premium: studenthealth.uci.edu
- Waiver deadline: studenthealth.uci.edu
- Waiver criteria: bpb-us-e2.wpmucdn.com