All students enrolled in one or more hours of graded, on-campus 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. Students have two options:
Students can request to waive the DU SHIP by providing proof of adequate alternate health insurance coverage by posted deadlines each school year.
To ensure students have coverage, all eligible students will be billed the SHIP premium unless/until they request and are approved for waiver each school year. Students should pay other Student Billing charges while their waiver request processes.
Beginning Fall 2026, 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, such as per-visit copays, for HCC medical and counseling services, just as they would at off-campus providers. These costs can also 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).
Students not on DU SHIP will be notified when we are able to accept their non-SHIP plans (based on their submitted waiver information).
Details are being added to this website as finalized.
In the meanwhile,
The HCC does not bill insurance companies or Medicaid; and we cannot guarantee our services will be covered by, or considered "in-network" for, any alternate insurance coverage.
Students on non-DU plans CAN use HCC services, pay out of pocket, and submit HCC receipt for potential reimbursement through their insurance plan. (DU/HCC is not involved in reimbursement process.)
Students covered by Medicaid must seek an outside Medicaid provider to ensure coverage for services.
Students enrolled through 2025-26 have the following HCC coverage:
Undergraduate Coverage Options
All undergraduate students enrolled at DU (other than those in completely online programs*) are required to carry personal health insurance coverage and pay the Health & Counseling Fee (HCF). The HCF, especially in combination with DU Student Health Insurance Plan, decreases the cost of many services provided by the Health & Counseling Center, including no- and low-cost visits. Any co-pays or additional charges remain the student's responsibility. See below for details on the full range of undergraduate student coverage options.
*DU students in completely online or certificate programs are not eligible to enroll in SHIP or receive services at the HCC.
Health & Counseling Fee (HCF) + DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Health & Counseling Fee (HCF) + Alternate (non-DU) Health Insurance
Most HCC services with HCF + SHIP have no out-of-pocket cost.
Low-cost co-pays apply for specialist visits, for example psychiatry visits.
Most HCC services are discounted after a $20 co-pay.
Itemized invoices with proof of payment may be submitted to your private insurance company for reimbursement, if applicable.
The HCC is not a Medicaid provider. Students covered by Medicaid must seek an outside Medicaid provider to ensure coverage.
Having both SHIP and the full HCF provides the most convenient and least expensive option for HCC medical and mental health services.
Below are summaries of some benefits and limitations of various coverage combinations. Please check details on both the SHIP and the HCF pages for full information on each.
*DU students in completely online or certificate programs are not eligible to enroll in SHIP or receive services at the HCC.
Alternate (non-DU) Health Insurance
DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Please note: The HCC is not a Medicaid provider. Students covered by Medicaid must seek an outside Medicaid provider to ensure coverage.
Insurance only
Students are required to pay the full cost for all services at the HCC at the time of visit.
Student can then submit itemized invoices with proof of payment to your private insurance company for reimbursement to you, if applicable. (DU and HCC are not involved.)
Students who choose to participate in SHIP are insured through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem), the insurance company that contracts with DU.
Students are required to pay for all HCC services at the time of visit.
For each visit, students must then submit an itemized invoice with proof of payment to Anthem for reimbursement.
Most HCC services are discounted after a $20 co-pay.
Student can submit itemized invoices with proof of payment to your private insurance company for reimbursement to you, if applicable. (DU and HCC are not involved.)
Most HCC services have no out-of-pocket cost.
Low-cost co-pays apply for specialist visits, for example psychiatry visits.
Insurance + Counseling-only Fee
HCC counseling services are discounted after a $20 co-pay.
HCC medical services are full cost.
Student can submit itemized invoices with proof of payment to your private insurance company for reimbursement to you, if applicable. (DU and HCC are not involved.)
Most HCC counseling services have no out-of-pocket cost.
HCC medical services are not discounted.
Low-cost co-pays apply for psychiatry visits.
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 be prepared to manage multiple aspects of your health and healthcare during and beyond your University studies.
So, we are expanding handy resources for navigating campus and community systems, including: