<p>so what is more recommended? staying on your own health plan or going into sd's ship program? i know with my plan, i pay very little...but i figure it's more convenient to have medical services available on/close to the campus with ship. but i think it's 800 something dollars to be in ship for one year? that's a lot for me. any advice/suggestions?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>i waved mine every year so far.
i haven’t had any emergencies so i was good.
i’m planning on waving it this year too. there’s no way i’m paying $850 for a service i already have. </p>
<p>but if you really want to have the convenience of being able to get medical help on campus, and can afford it, you should keep it.</p>
<p>yeah, i was figuring the same thing. and there’s enough stuff to pay for getting ready for college and that’s just one more big thing to pay for.</p>
<p>Not certain about this but it sounded to me like you can waive SHIP and still use the on campus clinic for routine minor things like sprained ankles and sore throats but would need to use your primary for bigger medical events like broken arms and chronic asthma. There are a lot of doctors offices very close to campus, just a short cab ride away.</p>
<p>the question of the health fee waiver are really detailed, how did you guys find the answers? did you call your health care provider?</p>
<p>Unless you are on your parents employer provided (and funded) health plan, SHIP is great – both in coverage (worldwide – including of course the times you go home) and in San Diego and in cost (lower cost than the individual private insurance my Mom has for me thru Blue Cross or Shield.)</p>
<p>Comp Sci Guy is correct - keep in mind that you can still go to the UCSD health clinic, you will just be charged more for services than someone on SHIP.</p>
<p>like let’s say something happens and i injure myself. would anyone know the difference in costs if i go to the ucsd clinic instead of the one covered by my insurance? i’m still kind of debating. like i said, i don’t pay much for my insurance. do most of you recommend waiving or getting SHIP?</p>
<p>^This is a question that could be more accurately answered by your current insurance company.</p>
<p>saraahhh: it would help to know how much you are paying for your current insurance. Take the monthly number and annualize it. Then compare it to SHIP which is less than $ 900 for the full year though we pay for it in three installments.</p>
<p>For example, I talked to over 5 friends – their parents pay roughly over $ 100/month for them. That is over $ 1200/year compared to SHIP which is less than $ 900/year.</p>
<p>It would be different if your parents’ employer was actually paying for your insurance monthly as part of your parents benefits package.</p>
<p>Waiving SHIP was a no-brainer for my family. First make sure your insurance meets the waive requirements: Lifetime max a million or greater; annual out-of-pocket $5000 or less and so forth. Your MD needs to be within 100 miles of SD. We are changing to UCSD med clinic for our student. Sharp and Scripps are other choices. The SHIP charge is just not worthwhile, in our stiuation at this time. SHIP has a $200 deductible and our HMO has none. The SHIP site says that students pay nothing for primary care appointments at Student Health even if not registered with SHIP. At the Health Center a non-ship student will pay, for example, $15 for lab and $25 for x-ray which would be free to SHIP students (after the $200 deductible is met, I presume). You could have way more blood tests and x-rays than you would ever want before coming out ahead, if you are eligible to waive.</p>
<p>Fastpitchmom: SHIP may not work in your case. I have followed your arguments on this board. The situation depends on what insurance you have currently and how much it costs. If I understand you right, you have an HMO plan with no deductible, that works in San Diego. Great. How much does it cost you per year? If it costs more than $ 1100 annually (i.e. $ 900 SHIP premium + $ 200 deductible) then SHIP may work for you. If it is less than $ 100 then your HMO policy is less costly. And, of course, even if it is higher, but your employer pays for it as part of employee benefits, then your policy may be preferred to SHIP.</p>
<p>In my case (and the case of a few friends) our individual health policies exceed $ 100/month, so in our case SHIP is preferable.</p>
<p>SHIP is comprehensive, year-round, works at home and worldwide when traveling. Not to be argumentative, but the decision criteria are fairly straightforward. You seem to imply SHIP is somehow inferior choice, without explaining the economics clearly so that others can decide in light of their own existing health policy costs vs. SHIP costs.</p>
<p>I am very careful to qualify all that I say in that it only applies to my situation, at this time. It is obvious that everyone has to compare the cost of SHIP to the cost of their own policy along with coverage details.
At orientation it was suggested that students who can waive (Kaiser was mentioned) might want to join SHIP just for convenience. So plug convenience into the equation too.</p>