All students at SFBU must have annual health insurance coverage for each term they are enrolled in. This includes periods where students may be on an academic break, such as the winter and summer breaks, and while they are out of the country.  Students enrolled in a 100% online modality are exempt from this health insurance requirement.

For the 2025-26 academic year, SFBU has partnered with Student Medicover, to provide all students (domestic and International) with a high-quality student health insurance plan (SHIP) with United Healthcare.  Students will automatically be enrolled in the annual insurance plan and will have the option to waive the SHIP at the start of the academic year.  Please check back here for updated information on the student health insurance plan with United Healthcare.

Information about the 2024-25 SFBU student health insurance plan (ending August 2025) is listed below.

 

The 2025-26 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) - Information for ALL STUDENTS

The 2025-26 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is offered through Student Medicover and is administered by United Healthcare (UHC).  The plan is available for both domestic and international students in undergraduate and graduate programs. It includes a network of 1.3 million providers nationwide, access to over 6000 hospitals, and partnerships with over 67,000 pharmacies.  United Healthcare also offers online tools, such as HealthiestYou by Teledoc for general medical, mental health, and nutritional services; and Student Assist for crisis support, legal/financial assistance, and stress management.

All students must enroll in an annual health insurance plan.  Coverage for the 2025-26 academic year begins August 18, 2025, and ends August 17, 2026.*  Students interested in enrolling in the SHIP can proactively enroll in the plan by visiting the UHC Student Resource site.  All students will be enrolled in the SFBU Student Health Insurance Plan with United Healthcare, unless they submit a waiver request by Sunday, August 24, 2025.  Students may submit a waiver request in the UHC Student Resource site, which will be made available soon.

The cost of the annual plan with United Healthcare is listed below:

  • $2385/year for ALL International and Domestic Undergraduate Students**
  • $3939/year for Domestic Graduate Students only**  

* Students who are enrolled in the 2024-25 Cigna Insurance Plan and enroll in the 2025-26 United Healthcare Plan will have their plan cover September 1, 2025, to August 17, 2026.

** Students enrolled in the 2024-25 Cigna Insurance Plan and enrolled in the 2025-26 United Healthcare Plan will have an annual plan rate minus 14 days to accommodate a start date of September 1, 2025.  

Information about the SFBU SHIP with United Healthcare and alternative individual plans can be found here:

For more information about SFBU’s SHIP and to learn about its benefits, process for enrollment, or to waive out, please attend one of the Student Health Information Sessions, provided by Dr. Kell Fujimoto, Sr. Director of Wellness.  Register here!

Student Health Insurance Info Session

 

2025-26 Student Health Insurance FAQs

 

General Q & A

The SFBU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) offered will be United Healthcare.

Yes. The plan will be available to all domestic and international students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs.

Based on student feedback, we have examined our current plan and researched many other student health insurance plans. We want to provide all students the opportunity to obtain a reasonably priced student health insurance plan with a vast network of services available nationwide. We also want to give students options in selecting a plan that is right for them.

  • Coverage will begin August 18, 2025, and continue through August 17, 2026.
  • Students currently enrolled in the 2024-25 SHIP with Cigna Health Insurance will have coverage from September 1, 2025, through August 17, 2026, due to their current plan terminating on August 31, 2025.

  • Undergraduate and all international students (undergraduate or graduate) are $2385.00 for the year. Domestic graduate students are $3939 for the year.
  • Students enrolled in the 2024-25 SHIP with Cigna Insurance will have an annual rate, minus 14 days of coverage due to their plan starting September 1, 2025.

Yes. Your coverage should go through August 17, 2026.

Yes. Students beginning in Spring 2026 will have coverage starting January 1, 2026, through August 17, 2026.

We are currently obtaining that information and will have it available soon. Please check back regularly.

Yes. Students beginning in Summer 2026 will have coverage starting June 1, 2026, through August 17, 2026.

We are currently obtaining that information and will have it available soon. Please check back regularly.

Students graduating at the end of the Fall Semester will have coverage from August 18, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Students in OPT may continue their plan with United Healthcare through August 17, 2026.

Students in the SHIP with United Healthcare will be charged twice for the annual enrollment. SFBU will create a bill on a student’s account for the health insurance plan once during the Fall Semester for coverage from August 18, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and another during the Spring Semester for coverage from January 1, 2026, to August 17, 2026.

Yes, provided that you were enrolled in the previous semester, your coverage will continue through August 17, 2026.

Yes.  The process to add a dependent will be managed through United Healthcare and will incur additional charges.  Please contact United Healthcare for more information.

You can contact Dr. Kell Fujimoto, Senior Director of Wellness, at (510) 803-7328, ext. 185.  You can also email him health insurance-related questions and concerns at health-insurance@sfbu.edu 

Enrollment & Waiver Request Q&A

  • Students interested in enrolling in the SHIP with United Healthcare do not need to take any action!  
  • Students will be automatically enrolled in the SHIP after August 25, 2025, for returning and new students in the Fall Semester; January 19, 2026, for the Spring Semester; and June 8, 2026, for the Summer Term.
  • Students can proactively enroll in the SHIP by visiting https://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/<school&gt;.

Fantastic!  Our top priority is protecting every student from any unforeseen medical expense.  Students may submit a waiver request to opt out of the SFBU SHIP.

Fantastic!  Our top priority is for every student to be protected from unforeseen medical expenses and thus have medical insurance.  Please submit a waiver request to opt out of the SFBU SHIP.

Students may submit a waiver request to opt out of the SFBU SHIP at https://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/<school>. The deadline to submit a waiver is Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Students will need to answer questions about their insurance plan to ensure it meets the university’s requirements; provide insurance documents that confirm coverage for the year; and provide photos of the front and back of their insurance card.

Sunday, August 24, 2025.

  • There are no exceptions.  Students who do not submit a waiver request by Sunday, August 24, 2025, will be automatically enrolled in the SFBU SHIP and will be responsible for paying the annual rate.  
  • The option to submit a waiver request is only available during designated enrollment periods, such as the beginning of a semester or term.
  • Options to enroll or modify an insurance plan may occur during special enrollment periods under “qualifying life events”, such as marriage, divorce, unemployment, birth/adoption of a child, etc. 

  • Eligible students may enroll themselves and their eligible dependents during a special enrollment period.
  • A special enrollment period applies when one of the following qualifying life events occurs:
    • Loss of coverage under another insurance plan, including loss of minimum essential coverage.
    • Change in marital status.
    • The eligible individual gains or becomes a dependent.
    • Guardianship appointment.
    • An individual is mandated to be covered as a Dependent pursuant to a valid state or federal court order.
    • Release from incarceration.
    • The prior coverage substantially violated a material provision of their health coverage contract.
    • An eligible individual gains access as a result of a permanent move.
    • The eligible individual was receiving services from a contracting provider under another health benefit plan for one of the conditions described in subdivision (a) of Section 10133.56 of the California Insurance Code and that provider is not longer participating in that plan.
    • The eligible individual did not enroll in a health benefit plan during the immediately preceding enrollment period available to the individual because they were misinformed that they were covered under minimum essential coverage.
    • The eligible individual is a member of the reserve forces of the United States military returning from active duty or a member of the California National Guard returning from active duty service under Title 32 of the United States Code.
  • For more information, you may call Customer Service at 1-800-505-4160 or email customerservice@uhcsr.com.

Alternate Insurance Options Q&A

  • Yes!  There are several plans being offered to international students from Student Medicover, ISO Insurance, and International Student Insurance.  Please check our website for information about these plans.
  • Domestic students can explore Affordable Care Act individual plans that meet the university requirements by visiting Covered California, Health for California, or.

  • Research the individual plans that are available. Ensure that the plan you are seeking meets the university’s health insurance requirements.  Purchase the plan with an annual coverage through August 17, 2026.
  • If applying for Medi-Cal, apply early!  
  • Submit a waiver request by Sunday, August 24, 2025.  Late submission will not be permitted!

Medical Q&A

  • Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid Program, a public health insurance plan.  Students interested in Medi-Cal can see if they qualify for the program.  The program is available for low-income individuals and their families.  Students interested in Medi-Cal can get more information by visiting https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/default.aspx. The application process for Medi-Cal may take a minimum of 6 weeks to process.  If applying, apply early to meet the waiver request deadline! 
  • Medi-Cal does not provide medical evacuation and repatriation benefits.  International students on Medi-Cal must obtain additional coverage to meet the university’s requirements.  Affordable coverage is available through https://www.globaltravelplus.com/acsa. 
  • Submit your evidence of coverage and front and back images of your Medi-Cal insurance card by Sunday, August 24, 2025.  Late submission will not be permitted, even though you have obtained Medi-Cal. 

United Healthcare Q&A

You can access your electronic insurance ID card by visiting www.UHCSR.com. With the UHCSR mobile app, you can access your insurance ID card at any time. 

You can request an insurance ID card by logging in to your UHCSR account. Click “Mail ID Card” under “ID card”. Permanent ID cards are printed and mailed to the address on file the day after your request is made. 

With the UHCSR Portal, you may find in-network doctors and facilities near you, manage your claims, access health and wellbeing resources, submit inquiries to UHCSR, and more!

Visit www.UHCSR.comand click “Login to My Account” in the top-right corner. Select the “Create Account” link. You may create your account one to two business days after purchasing an insurance plan. UHCSR provides secure online access to coverage information, print-friendly insurance ID cards, and claims status, including associated correspondence.

Yes, you can access telemedicine by downloading the “HealthiestYou” mobile app, creating an account, and selecting “visit doctor” to start your consultation. The service is free and available 24/7. Licensed physicians and psychiatrists are also able to prescribe the medication you need to help you recover soon. 

  • Download the “HealthiestYou” mobile app. By creating an account, you can select “visit doctor” to start your virtual consultation.
  • For office visits, remember to bring your UHCSR Insurance ID card obtained from your UHCSR HealthSafe ID

  • Visit uhcsr.com and sign in to your UHCSR HealthSafe ID. On the homepage, please click on “Find Medical Provider” or “Find Mental Health Resources”. Once you are redirected to the provider directory, you may follow the steps below to locate an in-network doctor:
  • Enter your location
  • Search for the care you need, for instance:
    • Search for specialists: People > Special Care > Choose the specialty
    • Search for facilities: Places > Clinics / Hospitals / Imaging Centers
  • Once you have selected the provider, you may call the provider or search for the provider online to complete the appointment.
     

  • If you plan to visit an in-network provider, the provider will file the claim for you to the insurance carrier, United Healthcare Student Resources. You do not need to submit a claim after your visit. 
  • If you plan to visit an out-of-network provider, you may need to pay the bill upfront and file a reimbursement claim to United Healthcare Student Resources within 90 days of the date of service. Please submit the Itemized Bill, Proof of Payment, and Insurance ID Card when filing the claim.
  • For more information, please reach out to UHCSR by calling 800-767-0700 or emailing customerservice@uhcsr.com.

With the Student Assist Program, you have access to 1:1 phone support, a premium self-care APP, and many more resources to help you manage the pressures of student life.

  • If you have any questions about the plan, please reach out to us. The contact information can also be found on the back of your insurance ID card.

SFBU Student Health Insurance Card

You will receive your insurance card by email, using the same email address that you gave to SFBU. Please make sure that your email address is correct. If you do not receive your health insurance card, please contact groups@internationalstudentinsurance.com.

Contact Information

For assistance with your plan, please contact Cigna directly using the contact details below, or email International Student Insurance. If you are a current client and need emergency assistance, please dial the 24 hour number on the back of your insurance ID card.