1. GSHIP has changed to “UC SHIP” effective 9/18/11. This is a new medical plan self-funded by UC and administered by Anthem Blue Cross. It requires that basic medical care be provided at Student Health and referrals are needed for all outside care. It also includes dental coverage through Delta Dental and vision care through Blue View Vision. Further details can be found under the “Insurance” tab on the Student Health website: www.studenthealth.sa.ucsb.edu.

2. New insurance I.D. cards  will be mailed next week to the local address you’ve listed in GOLD. Each student will have a new I.D. number starting with “800″; you can no longer use your perm number as with GSHIP. If you need to use any of the insurances before then outside of Student Health, you can find your number and instructions on how to print temporary I.D. cards on the Student Health website in your Profile page by logging into the secure GATEWAY that we use for confidential email.

3. Representatives from Student Health, Anthem Blue Cross and Delta Dental will be at the back of Campbell Hall for the new graduate student meeting on Tuesday 9/20/11 from 9-11am. Please feel free to stop by if you’d like to ask any questions. Also the Director of Student Health, Dr. Mary Ferris, will make a brief presentation and answer questions about UC SHIP at the next GSA meeting October 4, 2011.

4. You can also cal, email or come into the Student Health Insurance Office (893-2592, Insurance@sa.ucsb.edu) for any help or questions about the transition between the former and new plans. All current referrals have been transferred over to Anthem Blue Cross. If you are in the midst of treatment right now, please be sure to inform your providers of the insurance change so they can bill correctly. If the provider is not part of the Anthem Blue Cross network, there may be ways to continue treatment with network rates; please contact the Student Health Insurance Office and look on their website for assistance.