Medical Insurance
All ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ students are required to have comprehensive health insurance. To ensure all students meet this requirement, every academic year, you will be defaulted into the ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ 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 CAESAR Fall open enrollment period, which runs July 1–October 1, 2026. Per University policy, international students—students holding an F-1 or J-1 U.S. visa—are not eligible to waive and are required to maintain the NU-SHIP coverage throughout their time at ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½.
How Do I Confirm NU-SHIP Enrollment?
- During the open enrollment period (July 1–October 1), follow the step-by-step instructions to confirm your NU-SHIP enrollment in if you intend to keep NU-SHIP as your insurance coverage for the 2026–27 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 assis 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 in for the 2026–27 academic year.
- To be granted a waiver, you must be covered under an alternate insurance plan that meets ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½'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, 2026, will remain enrolled for the entire 2026–27 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 that it is a violation of ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ policy for degree-seeking students to waive NU-SHIP enrollment if their alternate insurance plan does not meet ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½'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, 2026, through August 31, 2027, concurrent with the regular academic year.
- The 2026–27 NU-SHIP premium is $5,996 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.