A health insurance plan provides financial coverage for needs that fall outside of the health care services provided in USC Student Health. USC requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements. This is to ensure that a student has access to the levels of care they might need.
Typically, insurance may cover hospitalizations, surgeries, prescription medications, medical devices, longer-term therapy visits, and other services outside of your student health care team.
Who is automatically enrolled in the USC SHIP/Aetna plan?
All students enrolled in 6 or more units are automatically enrolled in SHIP.
HSC, international and PhD students are automatically enrolled in SHIP regardless of the number of units they are enrolled in.
All USC Students are required to have health insurance-you will be automatically be enrolled in SHIP if you are a full-time student.
Can I use my family’s insurance plan instead?
If you have employer-based insurance (through a parent/guardian/spouse/partner) that meets the minimum requirements of the university, or have Medi-Cal, or federal health benefits as a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, you may opt to waive the Aetna plan.
What should I consider in comparing plans?
If your plan originates outside of the region: Make sure that you have coverage in Los Angeles and wherever else you plan to live during the year for routine services. Some plans limit coverage to emergency room care while you are out of the plan area.
Provider network: If the provider network is not extensive in southern California, it may be difficult for you to access key local services (such as mental health providers) while you are in school.
Your portion of payment responsibility: Some plans may seem attractive by offering a low premium, but require enrollees to pay a large portion of their medical costs through high deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. If your portion of payment is high, this may discourage you from seeking the care you need, especially in a timely manner.
Note: The SHIP/Aetna plan provides a national network of coverage and providers, and the plan year extends 365 days from mid-August through to the following year. This allows you to use your benefits both during the academic year, and during winter and summer breaks.
How do I submit a waiver to use my current insurance plan?
You may waive the SHIP/Aetna plan through the Aetna website before the third week of the fall semester—you must submit a waiver every year.
If you are starting as a new student in the spring semester, submit the waiver before the third week of the spring semester in your first year, and then annually each fall.
What services on/near campus accept the SHIP/Aetna Plan?
The SHIP/Aetna plan is managed through USC Student Health, and our teams are dedicated to updating the plan to continually meet the needs of college students in an evolving health care environment.
SHIP/Aetna has 3 tiers of coverage:
- Tier 1, USC Designated Preferred Care Providers – 90% Coverage
- Keck Medicine of USC
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
- Good Samaritan Hospital
- USC/Norris Comprehensive Center and Hospital
- Las Encinas (Behavioral Health)
- BHC Alhambra (Behavioral Health)
- Glendale Adventist (Behavioral Health)
- The Haven @ College (Behavioral Health)
- Tier 2, Aetna Preferred Care Providers – 80% Coverage,
- Tier 3 – Out of Network Providers, 50% Coverage
Copays:
- $20 copay for medical visits (in-person and telehealth) with Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers;
- $10 copay for mental and behavioral health visits (in-person and telehealth) with Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers;
- $50 co-pay for all walk in clinic visits/urgent care visits to insurance-based urgent care centers.
How can I print my insurance card?
You can either download a PDF copy of your card, or download the Aetna app to your phone to access your card. Just sign in and access your digital card. It is available at the start of the plan year (mid-August) after you are registered for classes. See the plan year for exact date.
Is vision and dental included in the SHIP/Aetna plan?
Vision care coverage is included in the SHIP/Aetna plan through EyeMed.
USC offers a separate dental care plan [Delta Dental PPOl ] that students can sign up for. This is a separate online enrollment than the student health insurance.
Submit your information to enroll in Delta Dental.
For general insurance questions, you may call (213) 740-9355 (WELL) or email studenthealth@usc.edu
* Note: Waiver option will be available in MySHR beginning July 8, 2024.