UCSHIP has a lot to offer you. Take a look at the UCSHIP Student Brochure to learn more about the full range of benefits available to students with a UCSHIP policy.
UCSHIP provides worldwide coverage when you are traveling or living outside the U.S. When covered under UC SHIP, you can use the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core program, which coordinates benefits abroad. Additionally, the University provides a travel accident policy for students traveling on University business through UC Office of the President.
UCSHIP & BCBS Global Core Program
As a UC SHIP member, you take your healthcare benefits with you when you are abroad. Through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global® Core program, you have access to doctors and hospitals around the world.
Before you travel, call UC SHIP Member Services at 1-866-940-8306 to find out your BCBS Global Core® benefits. Benefits for services received outside of the United States may be different from services received in the United States. Remember to take an up-to-date UC SHIP Insurance Card with you.
When you are traveling abroad and need medical care, you can call the BCBS Global Core® Service Center any time. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free number is 800-810-2583. Or you can call them collect at 804-673-1177.
You will typically need to pay for the following services up front:
- Doctor services;
- Inpatient Hospital care not arranged through BCBS Global Core®; and
- Outpatient services.
An Ashe Center referral is required for all non-emergency care. To request an International Administrative Ashe Center referral, contact the Insurance Services Office by sending a secure message through the Ashe Center Patient Portal (Messages>New Message>Insurance Question).
You will need to complete and file an International Claim Form for any payments made up front. Be sure to obtain medical records for care received before you return home. It is very difficult to obtain these documents once you have departed.
Without prior arrangement of a guarantee of payment through BCBS GlobalCore to the international provider, all international care is considered Out-of-Network and will be subject to the applicable deductible, copayment, and coinsurance outlined on the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) document.
UC International Travel Risk Management Assistance
The University provides a travel accident policy for students traveling on University business which is administered by the UC Office of the President at no additional cost to the students. For more information about this benefit and to register for the program, please go to UC International Travel Risk Management Assistance.
Important Note on Emergency Assistance Abroad
Please note that in order to receive emergency assistance abroad and utilize this benefit (which includes medical evacuation and repatriation of remains while working and researching in a foreign country on University business) you MUST register at the website listed above prior to your trip. Registration is simple and takes less than 5 minutes.