DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

As noted on our Insurance Options page, health (medical) insurance is required for most students at the University of Denver.

The DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is a comprehensive, platinum-level plan, available exclusively to DU students actively enrolled in in-person, degree-seeking programs.  

SHIP cost is $4400 for 2026-27, broken into two half-payments ($2200 billed in fall and spring terms). This is comparable to the cost of much more limited plans on the Colorado Insurance Exchange Marketplace. SHIP is billed and payments handled through the student's central Student Billing account. Academic year registration will be verified before enrollment is processed and charges are added.

SHIP benefits include low co-payments, a $500 in-network service deductible, an in-network service out-of-pocket maximum of $2000, prescription medication coverage, and an extensive, nationwide network of excellent providers. And if you live on or near the DU campus, SHIP coverage means your primary healthcare provider, the Health & Counseling Center, is just down the street.

SHIP coverage is broken into two terms each year: Fall (+ winter) and Spring (+ summer), with specific current dates shown below.

To use SHIP benefits, students must 1) actively accept SHIP and 2) create an account with Anthem (instructions below). Students who take no action by waiver deadline will be automatically enrolled (they accept by default), but will still need to create an Anthem account in order to use benefits.

While we recommend SHIP coverage for all students, participation in SHIP is not required; you can request a SHIP waiver by providing proof of adequate alternate insurance, by posted deadlines. 

Coverage Dates and Action Deadlines

Eligibility and Exceptions

All DU students enrolled in a DU degree-seeking program (except those in largely/ entirely online programs, or enrolled using employee tuition waiver) are eligible to enroll in SHIP and receive clinical care at the HCC. Students registered for one or more credit hours will be automatically assessed the SHIP premium unless and until approved for a SHIP waiver, which requires submitting a complete request each year by posted deadlines.

Students in the College of Professional Studies, certain programs including the Graduate Tax and Executive MBA, and/or those on Continuous Enrollment (non-credit) status are not automatically enrolled, and should contact the HCC about enrollment options.

• How to Participate / Enroll

  2026-27 ENROLLMENT / WAIVER REQUEST PROCESS IS OPEN

  AFTER you have registered for upcoming/current term classes (and once Colorado state approval has been given for the plan--sometime in July each year), students can sign in to MyDU and select the following options:

  Student Resources > Records and Requests > Accept or Waive Health Insurance

  The online system will then offer applicable insurance decision options. (You can also search "insurance" at top of MyDU page.)

  Before you can use your benefits, students with SHIP will need to create an Anthem account in order to use the benefits (instructions below). Note that enrollment is not instantaneous; it can take several business days for the Anthem system to recognize you after you accept via the myDU or myHealth sites.

   

  If an eligible student did/does not submit a waiver request by the deadlines listed above, the DU Student Health Insurance Plan premium (cost) will remain on their DU student bill to ensure they have adequate health insurance coverage. Failure to read notices or take action is not grounds for a (late) waiver.

   

  If you have specific questions regarding the plan benefits or coverage, please contact our office by calling 303-871-2205 or emailing insurance@du.edu (Please include/have ready your student ID "87" number.)

• How to manage your SHIP Anthem account (website/app)

  Within 3-5 business days of confirming your enrollment via myDU portal (instructions above), you'll be able to create an account on the Anthem website, and then manage your Anthem account online and via the Anthem Sydney mobile app (including getting an electronic membership card or requesting a hardcopy).

  To set-up or access your Anthem info, select or use your MEMBER ID, which is your DU 87#, with "DU" in place of the "87." (So if your DU ID is 871234567, your Anthem ID is DU1234567.)

  Additional Anthem info at https://student.anthem.com/student/schools/u-denver

• Paying for SHIP

  SHIP is billed to your central DU Student Billing account, with that office handling payments, late charges, payment plans, etc. The HCC is not involved in these central account payments or arrangements.

  If your academic program or an external funder covers SHIP (assistantships or scholarships), you’ll need to contact/work directly with Student Billing and your department, DU Financial Aid, or the funder.

  The HCC does handle direct charges for our clinical services (appointments, lab tests, etc) because these have additional personal privacy protections.

  Additional how-to information is on our Payments page.

  When using your SHIP benefits at off-campus providers (not DU HCC), you’ll likely need to first contact Anthem (SHIP insurance company) member care directly at 1-833-332-0798.

• Off-term Enrollment: Winter Quarter, Summer Term, and Loss of Coverage

  For information about possible "off-term" enrollment possibilities (those outside the regular start dates above for applicable quarter/semester coverage), including due to loss of other insurance coverage, please contact insurance@du.edu (Be sure to include student name and DU ID "87..." number.)