More information about the UC Travel Insurance Program can be found on the UCOP Risk And Insurance page.
If you are an employee traveling for a University-related purpose, please see the Employee Travel Insurance Page
Students Traveling on University Business
When traveling more than 100 miles from their home campus on activities sponsored and supervised by the University, students are covered 24 hours a day, worldwide, for a variety of perils. Coverage is free, but students need to REGISTER out-of-state and foreign travel in the UC Away travel registration system. Upon registration, students receive a trip registration card containing the toll-free number to call in an emergency.
Services and Benefits
The travel insurance program offers the following services and benefits:
- Emergency Medical Evacuation
- Evacuation after Natural Disasters (to the degree possible)
- Evacuation during Local Political Crises (to the degree possible)
- Accident/Sickness Medical Care (international travel only)
- Travel Alerts
- Passport Replacement Assistance and Legal Assistance Referrals
- Trip Delay Reimbursment
- Personal Property Loss
- Up to 14 Days of Personal Deviation Coverage When Combined with University Business
- Accidental Death, Dismemberment, or Paralysis Benefits
- Repatriation of Remains
Note: coverage does not include costs of cancellation before you leave on the trip.
HOW TO GET HELP
If you're traveling and need help, call the toll-free number on the registration card, contact your campus department, or contact Risk Services:
- 1-510-289-8282
- risk@berkeley.edu
Field Research Safety
Field research safety is a top priority at Berkeley. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety(link is external) and the University of California(link is external) both offer field research safety resources. EH&S also provides resources to help researchers meet the National Science Foundation's safety and inclusivity requirements for off-campus and off-site research(link is external).
Travel Alerts
Out-of-state and international travelers can receive free real-time alerts through Crisis24 which provides email notices about political unrest, natural disasters, and health warnings affecting travel destinations. This is an especially valuable resource when traveling to areas where information is tightly controlled.
Travel booked via Concur/ConnexUC, with the exception of SWABIZ, is automatically registered to receive Travel Alerts. These travelers do not need to re-register in UC Away.
Register Your Travel Companions
Traveling companions are persons traveling with the student on the same itinerary. Examples include spouses or domestic partners, children, colleagues, friends, or extended family joining the student on the trip. Individuals affiliated with other academic or corporate entities are generally not considered travel companions and should seek coverage from their home institution. In-country aides, such as drivers or translators, are not considered traveling companions either. Students must list their traveling companions when they register their own travel.
Purchase Personal Travel Coverage
The Office of the President-Risk Services has developed a travel insurance program that employees and students can purchase for personal travel. The personal travel program provides accident and sickness benefits, emergency medical and security evacuation, and other valuable travel assistance services. There are two options, the Blue Plan or Gold Plan. The Blue Plan is fairly basic. The Gold Plan includes everything in the Blue Plan plus some additional benefits.
The employee/student is responsible for payment of the premium.
Note: The personal travel program is not affiliated with any University-provided employee benefit and the University is not making any recommendation. The University will not assist you with the personal travel program. As with any commercial travel insurance product, the traveler is responsible for arranging travel assistance services, filing claims, and resolving coverage disputes directly with the carrier.