DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | Health & Counseling Center | Student Affairs

DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | Health & Counseling Center | Student Affairs
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DU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Insurance Options
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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 plan, available exclusively to DU students actively enrolled in an on-campus, degree-seeking program. In combination with the
Health & Counseling Fee (HCF)
, SHIP decreases individual student's cost for a wide range of services offered by the Health & Counseling Center.
For 2025-26,
SHIP benefits
include low co-payments, a $500 in-network deductible, an in-network out-of-pocket maximum of $1750, 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. The
SHIP premium
is assessed (billed) each fall and spring term (one-half of the annual cost each term), appearing on the student's central
Student Billing account
, and covers a specific period, indicated 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.
Continue reading below for details.
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.
Current Coverage Dates and Action Deadlines
QUARTER students
Coverage period
Waiver Request Deadline
Spring (+ summer) 2025
thru 8/31/2025
passed
Fall 2025 (+ winter 2026)
9/1/2025-3/31/2026
was 9/26/2025
Spring (+ summer) 2026
4/1/2026-8/31/2026
4/17/2026
SEMESTER/LAW students
Coverage period
Waiver Request Deadline
Spring (+ summer) 2025
ended 7/31/2025
passed
Fall (+ winter) 2025
8/1/2025-12/31/2025
was 9/5/2025
Spring (+ summer) 2026
1/1/2026-7/31/2026
1/23/2026
Eligibility and Exceptions
All DU students enrolled in a degree-seeking program (except those in completely online or certificate-only programs) 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 approved for a
SHIP waiver
, which requires submitting a request
each year
, along with proof of adequate alternate coverage, by posted deadlines above.
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
2025-26 ENROLLMENT / WAIVER REQUEST IS NOW CLOSED
**NEW semester/law** students (starting January 2026) can follow these instructions.
After you have registered for upcoming/current term classes,
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 any applicable options for health fee and insurance. (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.
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 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
Paying for SHIP
SHIP is billed to your central
DU Student Billing account
, with that office handling payments you/family make, 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, and Loss of Coverage
For information about possible "off-term" enrollment possibilities (those outside the regular start dates 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.)
SHIP Brochures and Certificates
2024-25 SHIP Anthem Summary of Benefits
2025-26 SHIP Anthem Summary of Benefits
2025-26 SHIP Cost and Payment
The cost to participate in the DU Student Health Insurance Plan for the 2025-26 academic year is $3,980, split into two charges of $1,990, and assessed to student accounts in the fall and spring terms. This is comparable to the cost of much more limited plans on the Colorado Insurance Exchange Marketplace. The SHIP would be rated as a
platinum
plan under the Affordable Care Act.
Payments for the DU Student Health Insurance Plan can be made online through
DUPay
. Academic year registration will be verified before enrollment is processed and charges are added.
SHIP Limitations
The DU Student Health Insurance Plan was developed specifically for DU students, and we believe it offers the best coverage available for the vast majority of our student body. Like any insurance plan, it does have limitations. Visit
Anthem's DU SHIP page
for Benefit Details.
The DU Health & Counseling Center is the most convenient primary care provider for the plan.
If you visit an off-campus specialist, the in-network deductible is $500 plus 15% up to $1,750 per year. If you seek treatment with an out-of-network provider, the out-of-network deductible is $1,500 plus 40% up to $7,500 per year.
The plan does not include vision or dental coverage. However, there is a separate
DU student dental/vision plan
SHIP does not cover spouses or other dependents. Students seeking coverage beyond themselves can explore individual/family options on the
Colorado insurance exchange