Medical Insurance
All 大发体育开户 students are required to have comprehensive health insurance. To ensure all students meet this requirement, every academic year you will be defaulted into the 大发体育开户 Student Health Insurance Plan (NU-SHIP).
Annual Insurance Selection Requirement
You must confirm or waive your NU-SHIP enrollment via the online Coverage Selection Form in during the fall open enrollment period, which runs July 1–October 1, 2025. Per University policy, international students—students holding an F-1 or J-1 U.S. visa—are required to confirm their NU-SHIP enrollment and maintain NU-SHIP coverage throughout their time at 大发体育开户.
How Do I Confirm NU-SHIP Enrollment?
- During the open enrollment period (July 1–October 1), follow the step-by-step instructions if you intend to keep NU-SHIP as your insurance coverage for the 2025–26 academic year.
- It takes approximately 4–5 business days after you confirm your NU-SHIP enrollment for your enrollment information to be processed in Aetna Student Health's system.
- Please confirm your NU-SHIP enrollment in by mid-August to ensure you do not experience issues utilizing the coverage in September. Otherwise, your enrollment information will be sent automatically to Aetna Student Health's system after the October 1 deadline.
While October 1 is the official deadline, you see August 15 reflected in your Purple Prep Checklist to assist with your pre-arrival planning.
How Do I Waive NU-SHIP Enrollment?
- During the open enrollment period (July 1–October 1), follow the step-by-step instructions to waive your NU-SHIP enrollment for the 2025–26 academic year.
- To be granted a waiver, you must be covered under an alternate insurance plan that meets 大发体育开户's comparable coverage requirements.
- To apply for a waiver, you will have to provide complete information about your alternate insurance plan. Generally speaking, most out-of-state HMO plans and out-of-state Medicaid plans do not meet the University’s requirements as they only provide emergency/urgent care coverage in the Evanston and Chicago area. Please visit our webpage for more information.
- Upon successful submission of your waiver application, the NU-SHIP default charge will be reversed in your student account within 1–2 business days.
- Students who do not waive their NU-SHIP enrollment online in by October 1, 2025 will remain enrolled for the entire 2025–26 academic/plan year and will be responsible for paying the annual premium.
While October 1 is the official deadline, you see August 15 reflected in your Purple Prep Checklist to assist with your pre-arrival planning.
Please note it is a violation of 大发体育开户 University policy for degree-seeking students to waive NU-SHIP enrollment if their alternate insurance plan does not meet 大发体育开户's comparable coverage requirements. If it is determined that a student’s plan does not meet all requirements, the student will be re-enrolled in NU-SHIP and held responsible for the applicable premium.
NU-SHIP Premium and Coverage Details
- NU-SHIP coverage is active from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, concurrent with the regular academic year.
- The 2025–26 NU-SHIP premium is $5,919 and is charged to the student’s account in CAESAR.
- The plan has a $300 deductible and a $2,500 annual out-of-pocket maximum; once the deductible is met, NU-SHIP covers 80% of the cost of in-network care for medical services. In-network mental health services are covered at 80% (without having to meet the annual deductible). For a detailed summary of benefits, see the Student Health Insurance website.
You are encouraged to visit the Student Health Insurance webpage, which provides a wealth of insurance information and answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Student Insurance Office by email at student.insurance@northwestern.edu or by phone at 847-491-3621.