All students enrolled in one or more hours of graded, in-person coursework at the University of Denver are required to carry personal health (medical) insurance coverage, both to encourage wellness and preventative care, and to help protect students' health, academic and financial success from the negative impacts of unexpected injuries and illnesses.
If you accept the SHIP plan, it can take several business to become active in the Anthem systems.
OR
2. Students can request to waive the DU SHIP by providing proof of adequate alternate health insurance coverage by posted deadlines each school year.
We are processing waiver requests in the order submitted. This is not an automated or instantaneous process.
Waiver are typically processed and, if approved, adjustments are reflected on your DU billing statement within 7-10 business days.
If your DU bill is due before your waiver has been processed,you may deduct the $2,200 Student Health Insurance charge from DU Student Billing payment account, and pay the other charges in the meanwhile.
To ensure they have coverage, all eligible students are billed the SHIP premium unless/until they request and are approved for waiver each school year. Review details on the SHIP and waiver pages linked above.
2026-27 Insurance Accepted for Services
Beginning in Fall 2026 (Aug 1 for Law students, Sept 1 for Quarter students), the HCC will begin billing student insurance for most medical and counseling services.
As a result, all patients — including those enrolled in the DU SHIP — may have out-of-pocket expenses for HCC medical and counseling services, such as per-visit copays, just as they would at off-campus providers.
These costs may be applied toward each patient's annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum according to the terms of their specific insurance policy (DU SHIP or other).
As before, eligible students on non-SHIP plans CAN use HCC services, pay out of pocket, and then submit HCC receipt for possible reimbursement through their insurance plan. (DU/HCC is not involved in reimbursement process, and cannot guarantee whether or what amounts.)
Students covered by Medicaid must seek an outside Medicaid provider to ensure coverage for services.
Students Kaiser Permanente student plans or Tri-Care plans are unlikely to be reimbursed for HCC care, as these plans require use of their in-network providers.
Please check with your plan via their website and/or phone # on back of membership card.
Quarter students enrolled through 2025-26 can check with HCC staff for coverage/costs estimates during August 2026.
Understanding the US healthcare system
The US healthcare system is complex, expensive, and can be difficult to understand. As physical and mental health underlie other elements of well-being, and thus our broader success, it’s especially important to manage multiple aspects of your health and healthcare during and beyond your University studies.
Review these resources for navigating campus and community systems, including: