Student Health Insurance

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

Azusa Pacific University is excited to announce that the 2024-25 Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) will be provided by Anthem and will be offered to undergraduate students and all international students for an annual rate of $1,747 (for a breakdown of charges per semester for undergraduate students, see the Undergraduate Students section below, in particular the subsection titled APU Student Health Insurance Plan Coverage). This policy is rich with benefits and the price is far below that of any other plan in the marketplace that contains a similar benefit package. For more information about SHIP, visit the Gallagher Student Health website. If you already have comparable health insurance coverage, please be sure to waive SHIP coverage (see below) by early September or you will be charged for the policy.

Some of the benefits of SHIP are:

We strongly encourage you to purchase SHIP if any of the following conditions apply:

1. You do not have health insurance.
2. You have a private health insurance plan with a high deductible.
3. You live outside California and have a Medicaid plan associated with that state, as it is very difficult to obtain benefit coverage in California.
4. You have an HMO with limited benefits.
5. You don’t have online mental health benefits. SHIP provides free access to SilverCloud Health which allows you to access online programs that help you think and feel better.

All HMO, federal, and state-sponsored plans should provide coverage in the Southern California area, close to the Azusa campus while students are enrolled for classes. Those with Kaiser not based in Southern California should contact Kaiser to obtain a Southern California number. The closest Kaiser pharmacy and primary care office is 6 miles away in San Dimas and the closest Kaiser office with specialty care and emergency services is in Baldwin Park, which is 12 miles away.

Undergraduate Students

All undergraduate students enrolled in 3 or more units will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan provided by Anthem. If they have comparable coverage and do not want the plan, they must waive the plan as discussed below.

All undergraduate students are able to access the Student Health Center for free, even if they opted out of the Student Health Insurance Plan. Regardless of your primary insurance, there are no co-pays to see a provider at the Student Health Center, or to access all of our low-cost services.

International Students

All international students on APU I-20s (F-1 status) or DS-2019s (J-1 status) will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan provided by Anthem and are not eligible to waive it.

APU Student Health Insurance Plan Coverage

Elective or preventative dental services and elective eye care are not covered, but a dental policy is available for purchase through Gallagher Student Health.

For a complete description of the benefits available, limitations, and exclusions of the APU Student Accident and Health Insurance Plan, visit the Gallagher Student Health website or call Gallagher Student Health at (800) 406-4517.

Rates for Undergraduate Students

Note: The rates provided are pending approval by the state of California and may be subject to change.

Graduate and Professional Students

All graduate and professional students need to make the following two decisions:

• Do you want to purchase the Student Health Insurance Policy (SHIP) through Anthem?
• Do you want to obtain primary care services through the Student Health Center?

Graduate and Professional Student Health Insurance Plan

Health insurance is optional for graduate and professional students. To sign up, complete the relevant Graduate and Professional Health Insurance Request Form (see Coverage Period and Eligibility below). Any students with questions about enrolling in student health insurance or about the current health fee should contact the APU Student Health Center at (626) 815-2100.

Health insurance is mandatory for international students who hold an F-1 or J-1 visa. The health insurance charge is applied automatically at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters for international students.

Students must enroll in health insurance prior to the start of each term in order to receive continuous coverage throughout the year.

Five to seven business days after you complete the insurance request form, you will receive an email from Gallagher Student Health welcoming you to the plan. Students can create an account to print ID cards, find a doctor, and view detailed plan information directly from the Gallagher Student site.

Learn more about student health insurance fees. For benefits and plan information, read the Gallagher Benefits and Plan Information.

Graduate and Professional Coverage Period and Eligibility

Fall 2024 Coverage: August 15, 2024 to January 5, 2025

• Form Opens on 07/01/2024

Fall 2024 Health Insurance Form

Spring/Summer 2025 Coverage: January 6, 2025 to August 14, 2025

• Form Opens on 11/01/2024

Spring/Summer 2025 Health Insurance Form

Summer Only 2025 Coverage: May 6, 2025 to August 14, 2025

• Form Opens on 04/01/2025

Summer Only 2025 Health Insurance Form

Students must enroll in health insurance prior to the start of each term in order to receive continuous coverage throughout the year.

All international students, visiting faculty, scholars, and other persons possessing and maintaining a current passport and valid visa status (F-1, J-1, or M-1) are automatically enrolled in the insurance plan at registration.

All graduate and professional students and students enrolled in practicum training and internship/special programs and taking five or more credit hours (with at least three credit hours being taken on campus); doctoral students taking three or more credit hours; or any students whose enrollment level is considered half-time by their respective academic department are eligible to enroll in this insurance plan.

Coverage Benefits

For questions regarding coverage benefits, membership cards, finding a doctor, deductibles, processing a claim, enrolling dependents, dental insurance, and all other coverage-related questions, contact Gallagher Student at (800) 406-4517.

Supplemental Coverage

Any insured student can request to insure his/her spouse or dependents. Any insured student can also request supplemental dental coverage. Enrollment and payment for dependent insurance or dental insurance is completed through Gallagher Student.

Rates for Graduate and Professional Students

Note: The rates provided are pending approval by the state of California and may be subject to change.

Obtaining Services from the Student Health Center

Graduate and professional students may access services provided by the SHC by paying a $20 copay per office visit. View a list of services provided at the SHC.

Why would you want to access services through the SHC?

• You are usually able to obtain same-day appointments.
• The wait times are usually minimal and patient satisfaction is high.
• The $150 deductible is waived if you obtain a referral from the SHC.
• You are able to make online appointments via the MyCougar Health portal.
• The SHC has a dispensary of about 50 medications, many of which can be purchased for about $10, saving time and money.
• Benefit from a clean, friendly, Christ-centered atmosphere.

No health insurance required since the SHC does not bill insurance.

For more information on graduate and professional student health insurance, how to sign up, eligibility, coverage period, and coverage benefits, contact the Student Health Center at (626) 815-2100.

Student Health Insurance Card

Obtaining a Copy of Your Student Health Insurance (SHIP) Card

• Download the Sydney Health app onto your phone.
• Register as directed using your APU student ID number as your member number (do not include the first two zeros).
• Follow the directions to complete your registration and login.

Waiving SHIP

If you are already covered by a private health insurance policy, you may waive the annual SHIP coverage by following the procedure below under How Do I Request a Waiver? This needs to be done only once, at the beginning of each academic year. In order to waive SHIP coverage, your private health insurance policy must meet the following criteria:

1. Plan must be in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA Compliant)
2. The Insurance carrier must be owned, headquartered, operated, and the policy must be filed and approved in the United States.
3. The claims administrator of the plan is based in the United States, has a U.S. telephone number and address for submission of claims, and the insurance policy has not been issued outside the U.S.
4. The plan provides unlimited emergency and non-emergency routine health care and mental health benefits in the Azusa, CA area (or regional campus area, if enrolled at a regional campus).
5. The plan provides unlimited coverage for prescription medication.
6. The plan must provide comparable coverage to the APU sponsored health plan with full access to care near campus.
7. Students must maintain continuous year-round coverage while attending APU.

Note: International students are not eligible to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan.

You may request to waive SHIP now. If you have not waived the annual coverage by September 13, 2024, the fee will appear on your student account for the fall and spring semesters.

For all students enrolled in the fall semester:

• Fall Waiver Period June 5, 2024 to September 13, 2024
• Spring/Summer 2025 Waiver Period November 22. 2024 to January 23, 2025
• Summer 2025 Waiver Period May  3, 2025 to May 17, 2025

Go to gallagherstudent.com/apu.

We encourage all students to carry a copy of their health insurance information.

How Do I Request a Waiver?

1. Go to gallagherstudent.com/apu.
2. Log in by following the instructions on the website.
3. Click the yellow “Waive” button under the “Plan Summary” tile.
4. Follow the instructions to complete the form.
5. Save a copy of your reference number. This number only confirms submission, not approval of your form.

Additional Insurance

Dental Insurance

Any APU student may request supplemental dental coverage. For more information, visit the Gallagher Dental and Vision Insurance site.

Dependents

Any insured student may also insure his/her spouse or dependents. For more information, visit the APU Gallagher Student Health website and click on Dependent Enroll, under Student Access.

Athletes

All students involved in NCAA sports are automatically enrolled in an additional insurance policy for athletes. For more information, contact the Athletics Department at (626) 815-5081.

Fee Reimbursement

Getting Reimbursed for Student Health Center Fees if You Have APU Student Health Insurance

If you have SHIP, follow the directions below:

• Log into Anthem at anthem.com/ca
• Click “Claims and Payments” at the top
• Select “Members Submitted Claims Center”
• Under “Submit a Claim,” click “get started”
• Select “My medical, dental or vision plan for out of network expenses”
• Select “Doctor or other medical specialist, lab work, or infusion therapy medications”
• Select your name from the dropdown menu
• Upload file (Walkout Statement from MyCougar Health)

Getting Reimbursed for Student Health Center Fees by Insurance Companies Other Than APU Student Health Insurance

• Print your Walkout Statement from the MyCougar Health Portal. The form is located under the SHC Visit Statements tab.
• Create an account with your insurance company online.
• Submit your claim as directed on the site. If you are not sure, call the phone number on your insurance card.