Announcements:

• Winter Quarter U-SHIP Open Enrollment: The University Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP) enrollment and wavier site is now open for Winter Quarter. New students for Winter Quarter as well as students returning from an Autumn Quarter leave are required to enroll in or waive U-SHIP by January 24. Students who do not take action by the deadline will be enrolled in U-SHIP by default for the remainder of the policy year (through August 31, 2025) and the U-SHIP premium will remain on the student account each quarter.  To enroll in or waive U-SHIP click on the button to the left.  You may also access the open enrollment website here.

• U-SHIP enrollment is binding until the end of the policy year (August 31, 2025) provided the student remains in a U-SHIP eligible status each quarter.  Mid-year waivers are only possible with a Qualifying Life Event.  For more information please visit this page.

• New for 2024-25: Community Provider List Searchable Directory.  In addition to being eligible for short-term psychotherapy at Student Wellness, students on U-SHIP are also eligible for a low out-of-pocket cost option for psychotherapy services from providers on the Student Wellness Community Provider List (CPL).  For $10 co-pay per visit (deductible and co-insurance do not apply), U-SHIP enrollees may receive psychotherapy services from an extensive network of providers in the Chicagoland area with diverse identities and specialties.  Starting with the 2024-25 policy year, students may search on their own for a provider on the CPL.  A referral from Student Wellness is not required.  To search for a provider click on the UHCSR site for the University of Chicago, then in the “Find Providers” drop down you can search for a provider on the Community Provider List.  (The CPL is a separate list from UHC’s in-network option “Live and Work Well” through Optum Behavioral Health.). 

• Effective 9/1/21, U-SHIP enrollment is required for all PhD degree-seeking students at the University of Chicago. As such, PhD students are not eligible to waive U-SHIP with comparable coverage. Individual student premiums will be paid for PhD students at no cost to them.

• U-SHIP Eligibility: The University Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP) generally is available to all registered students enrolled in programs that convene on the Hyde Park Campus and their eligible dependents. Students in certain designated programs may not be eligible for coverage under U-SHIP. For additional information on specific University programs of study that are ineligible for insurance coverage under U-SHIP, students should contact their area Dean of Students Office or the Registrar. Students in certain programs may be eligible to opt-in to U-SHIP (see more information about the opt-in plan below).

• Read the University’s Student Health Insurance policy in the Student Manual.

Confirming or Waiving Your U-SHIP Enrollment

• You must complete the enrollment/waiver application each year.
• Your U-SHIP coverage will be active for the period 9/1/24-8/31/25, provided you remain in a U-SHIP eligible status. See exceptions noted under Binding Coverage. 
• Your alternate insurance plan must meet all the criteria outlined on this checklist.
• Approved waivers will be valid for the period 9/1/24-8/31/25. See exceptions noted under Binding Coverage. 
• You are automatically assessed a U-SHIP fee (first installment) your first quarter of registration for the academic year; this does not confirm your coverage in U-SHIP. The fee will only be removed from your student account when your waiver has been approved, provided you waive by the deadline.
• After the enrollment/waiver period, your insurance selection will remain on file through August 31, 2025 (unless you experience a qualifying life event necessitating a mid-year change). See additional exceptions noted under Binding Coverage. 
• Dependents are not automatically enrolled in U-SHIP; you must add them to your coverage each year. Important Note: Students are required to provide proof of dependent status in order to enroll dependents on U-SHIP, according to University policy. More information can be found in the dependent section. 

Students approved to register as a student after the insurance deadline must submit a manual insurance enrollment/waiver application within 10 days of registration if they wish to waive U-SHIP coverage. Failure to do so will result in the student remaining enrolled in U-SHIP coverage for the remainder of the plan year. Please contact the student insurance advocates at uchicagoadvocates@uhcsr.com or 773.834.4543 (Option 2) for the manual insurance enrollment/ waiver application.