Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Penn Student Insurance Plan (PSIP) - Aetna Student Health is $5,018 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Annual premium for 8/1/2026-7/31/2027. The separate clinical fee of $385 per semester is not included.
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 University of Pennsylvania, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Insurer licensed in the U.S. with U.S. claims office and phone
- Covers pre-existing conditions (or any waiting period has passed)
- Annual maximum benefit of at least $2,000,000
- Inpatient and outpatient mental health care in the Philadelphia area
- Inpatient and outpatient medical care in Philadelphia, not emergency-only
Visit the University of Pennsylvania health services portal →
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 University of Pennsylvania SHIP premium ($5,018 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: wellness.upenn.edu
- Waiver deadline: wellness.upenn.edu
- Waiver criteria: wellness.upenn.edu