Alyssa Lane
Keck Medicine of USC works in collaboration with many local and national managed care networks and accepts most insurance plans. The University Health Plans website provides a list of insurance plans accepted at Keck Medicine of USC locations. USC requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements, and students can either opt for the USC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or a personal plan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does USC accept medical insurance? | Yes, USC requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements. |
| What are the minimum coverage requirements? | The insurance plan must meet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) criteria, have no major exclusions (e.g., maternity or mental health coverage), cover preventive care services at 100%, have no pre-existing condition exclusion, have no per-injury or illness maximum benefit limits, cover medical services for injuries from recreational activities or amateur sports, and have an annual combined deductible and out-of-pocket expense of $8,550 or less. |
| What if I have my own insurance plan? | If your insurance plan meets the minimum requirements for regional coverage in Southern California, you can submit a request for a waiver by the fall deadline. International students should note that most international plans are not accepted and must meet additional requirements to support their visa. |
| What is the USC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)? | SHIP is provided through Aetna Student Health Insurance, a national plan with contracted benefits such as mental health services, sexual and reproductive health services, gender-affirming care services, therapeutic care coverage, inpatient hospitalizations, and vision care services. |
| What is the cost of SHIP? | There is a $10 copay for mental and behavioral health visits and a $50 copay for walk-in clinic/urgent care visits. |
| What is the process for filing a claim? | If your pharmacy or provider does not participate with Cigna, you will need to fill out a claim form and pay out of pocket. You can obtain a copy of the medical claim form by visiting www.universityhealthplans.com/USC. |
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What You'll Learn
International student insurance plans
The University of Southern California requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements. Students enrolled in 6 or more units are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Aetna Student Health Insurance. This includes international and PhD students, regardless of the number of units they are enrolled in.
International students should be aware that most international insurance plans are not accepted. For an insurance plan to be eligible, it must meet the minimum requirements to support the student's visa, be Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant, and meet all other criteria listed for the USC Student Health Insurance Plan. This includes having no major exclusions, such as maternity or mental health coverage, and covering preventive care services at 100%. The plan must also have no pre-existing condition exclusion and no per-injury or per-illness maximum benefit limits.
Students travelling abroad on university-related activities are required to hold additional USC Travel Health Insurance. This policy is different from the USC SHIP and cannot be waived, even if the student's insurance plan meets the requirements and covers them abroad.
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Waiver requirements
The University of Southern California (USC) requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements. This is to ensure that students have access to the levels of care they might need. All students enrolled in 6 or more units are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which is provided through Aetna Student Health Insurance.
If you have your own insurance plan, it must meet the following waiver requirements to be eligible to waive the SHIP:
- Your plan must meet the minimum requirements to support your visa as well as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) criteria.
- Your plan must have no major exclusions such as maternity or mental health coverage.
- Your plan must cover preventive care services at 100%.
- Your plan must have no pre-existing condition exclusion.
- Your plan must have no per-injury or per-illness maximum benefit limits.
- Your plan must cover medical services for injuries from participation in all types of recreational activities or amateur sports.
- Your plan must have an annual combined deductible and out-of-pocket expense of $8,550 or less.
- Your plan must have a claims payment office with an address in the United States, and all claims must be processed in the US and paid directly to US providers.
- Your plan must pay at least $50,000 annually for medical evacuation and at least $25,000 for repatriation of remains.
- You must be able to provide verifiable proof of coverage with the student's name (ID card, insurance policy, or letter from the insurance carrier).
- Your plan documents must be in English, with currency amounts converted to US dollars.
If you are an international student, please note that most international plans are not accepted. If your plan originates outside of the region, ensure that you have coverage in Los Angeles and wherever else you plan to live during the year for routine services. Some plans may offer a low premium but require you to pay a large portion of your medical costs through high deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
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Minimum coverage requirements
USC requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets the minimum coverage requirements. This is to ensure that students have access to the levels of care they might need. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is provided through Aetna Student Health Insurance, a national plan with a number of contracted benefits.
The SHIP/Aetna plan includes insurance-based mental health services, sexual and reproductive health services, gender-affirming care services, therapeutic care coverage, higher-level care (in-patient hospitalizations), and vision care services. The Keck Medicine of USC system is a Tier 1 contracted provider in USC SHIP, and the contracted coverage for this health system and other Tier 1 providers is covered for 90% of costs.
The insurance plan must meet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) criteria and be compliant with all essential health benefits outlined in the ACA. The plan must cover preventive care services at 100% and have no pre-existing condition exclusion. It must also have no per-injury or per-illness maximum benefit limits and cover medical services for injuries from participation in all types of recreational activities or amateur sports. The annual combined deductible and out-of-pocket expense must be $8,550 or less.
For international students, most international plans are not accepted. The insurance plan must meet the minimum requirements to support the student's visa, be ACA-compliant, and meet other criteria. The policy must be written in standard English with benefits expressed in US dollars, and the insurance company must have a claims payment office with an address in the United States. Additionally, the plan must pay at least $50,000 annually for medical evacuation and at least $25,000 for repatriation of remains.
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The SHIP/Aetna plan
One of the key advantages of the SHIP/Aetna plan is its broad coverage. As a national network, it provides students with access to a wide range of healthcare providers and services both within and outside of Southern California. This includes coverage for hospitalizations, surgeries, prescription medications, medical devices, therapeutic and long-term therapy visits, and other essential services that fall outside the scope of USC Student Health.
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Cigna provider network
The University of Southern California (USC) requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements. This is to ensure that students have access to the levels of care they might need. Students enrolled in 6 or more units are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which is provided through Aetna Student Health Insurance.
Cigna is a healthcare provider that offers a range of insurance products and services, including Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement policies, and individual and family medical and dental insurance plans. They also offer accidental injury, critical illness, and hospital care plans.
Cigna's Medicare Advantage plans are available through their operating subsidiaries, which contract with Medicare to offer these plans in select states. These plans typically include Part A and Part B coverage, as well as Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) and may be offered as Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans.
Cigna's Medicare Supplement policies are underwritten by several insurance companies, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna Insurance Company, and Cigna National Health Insurance Company. The availability of these policies varies by state, with certain plans available only to persons eligible for Medicare due to disability.
Cigna's individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC) and several other Cigna entities, depending on the state. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are also insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates.
Cigna provides a healthcare provider network that offers tools, training, and resources to help practices meet the unique social, cultural, and linguistic needs of their patients. They also offer programs to increase medication adherence and improve outcomes for patients with medical and pharmacy benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
USC requires that all students have a health insurance plan that meets minimum coverage requirements. If your insurance plan meets the Affordable Care Act (ACA) criteria, it will be accepted.
Your insurance plan must cover preventive care services at 100%. It must have no pre-existing condition exclusion and no per-injury or per-illness maximum benefit limits. It must also cover medical services for injuries from participation in recreational activities or amateur sports. The annual combined deductible and out-of-pocket expense must be $8,550 or less.
You will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) through Aetna Student Health Insurance.
