University Health Services/Tang Center has announced its participation in the new 2011-12 University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), a system-wide insurance plan covering more than 130,000 University of California students. This new plan enhances the already outstanding student health benefits offered at Cal by reducing out-of-pocket costs, providing a dependent plan option for children and spouses/domestic partners of enrolled students, and creating administrative efficiencies for the University of California system. The current service providers will remain the same (Anthem Blue Cross for medical, Delta Dental for dental, and UC Berkeley School of Optometry for vision), which will make the transition to the new plan seamless for students. Find out more.

Highlights of what’s better in the plan

* Increased co-insurance coverage (from 80 percent to 90 percent; student pays 10 percent)

* Decreased generic prescription co-pay (from $15 down to $5)

* Increased prescription annual maximum (from $7,500 to $10,000)

* No maximum visit limit on counseling visits outside of UHS (the first five visits at UHS remain free of charge)

* 100 percent coverage for most immunizations (as defined by policy)

* Increased physical therapy annual maximum (from $1,500 to $5000)

* Increased coverage for acupuncture, chiropractic, and podiatry services

* Major dental services (crowns, implants) are now a covered benefit (50 percent coverage)

* Dependent plan option for children and spouses/domestic partners of enrolled students

* Medical and mental health office visits, emergency room visits, and urgent care center visits are not subject to the annual deductible. The UC SHIP deductible remains only $200 for those services to which the deductible does apply.