Your First Stop for Care
What You Need to Know
When you’re covered by UC SHIP, the Student Health Center (SHC) provides your primary care and coordinates any additional medical care you might need.
Start at the Student Health Center
As the outpatient student health center on the Santa Cruz campus, the SHC provides outpatient medical, pharmacy, preventive care, and mental health and substance use disorder services. It’s staffed with board-certified physicians, certified nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, all of whom are experts in meeting student health care needs.
To be covered by UC SHIP, you need a referral from the SHC to get medical care anywhere else — except for emergency room care, urgent care clinic visits, pediatric care, obstetrics services, gynecological care, and LiveHealth Online virtual visits.
You’ll pay nothing for preventive care at the SHC, and low copays for other services and procedures. If needed, the SHC will provide a referral for services it can’t provide. Staff at the SHC insurance office can help you find network providers at the UC health center near you or within the Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer PPO network.
Learn more about SHC services on the Student Health Center website.
Know Before You Go
Without a referral from the SHC, some care won’t be covered by UC SHIP. When necessary, be sure to get a referral so you’re not stuck with an unexpected bill to pay.