With the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you may seek care from any provider you choose. Health care under this plan is provided by various groups of health care practitioners, suppliers, agencies, programs, and facilities who have agreed to join with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa to offer each student affordable health care.

The SHIP plan is designed to work in conjunction with Student Health. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the University of Iowa Student Health service when they need health care in order to maximize their benefits.

On Campus or the Iowa City area:

The SHIP plan is designed to work in conjunction with Student Health. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the University of Iowa Student Health service when they need health care in order to maximize their benefits.

Other options for care ranked by potential out of pocket costs

Off Campus or Away from Iowa:

SHIP provides worldwide coverage. Choosing a Blue Cross/Blue Shield participating provider can be an advantage when receiving treatment.

The insured is responsible for calling the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa toll-free number before being admitted to a hospital for non-emergency care and within 24 hours of emergency and maternity admissions.

Notification components/using facilities or providers:

Pre-certification:

(Non-Emergency Admission) Before you are admitted to a hospital or nursing facility for a non-emergency procedure, or before you use home health care or hospice program services, you must contact Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and receive pre-certification to determine if your care is medically necessary.

Participating practitioners and hospitals must do this for you; non-participating providers are not required to do so, so you must do it.

Admission Review:

(Emergency and Maternity Admissions) If you are admitted, on an inpatient basis, to the hospital for emergency or maternity services, your admission does not need to be pre-certified to receive the maximum benefits. However, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa must be notified by you or your provider within 24 hours of your admission.

If you or your provider does not notify Wellmark as required, you may have to pay as much as 25% of the cost of your care yourself in addition to the deductible and co-insurance amounts you are required to pay. You will be responsible for care that is determined not to be medically necessary. These are excellent reasons to seek care from a Blue Cross & Blue Shield Classic Blue participating provider.

_{ABOUT OUR SITE: 
The information presented on our website describes only the highlights of the plans and does not constitute official plan documents. Additional terms and conditions may apply. If there are any discrepancies between the information contained herein and the official plan documents, the plan documents will govern. For more detailed information you may contact Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield at toll-free number 800-524-9242 (TTY: 888-781-4262), Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central Time). For more efficient service, please have your member ID number handy - it can be found on the front of your card.}