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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
MD Education

Student Health Insurance & Optional Dental Insurance Program

Northwestern University requires all full-time students to maintain health insurance that meets university’s standards. This requirement is designed to protect students from extraordinary medical expenses that could result from an injury or illness. Northwestern University is currently contracted with the Aetna Insurance Company to manage coverage and benefits. The group policy number for the Northwestern plan is 812845.

For further information on how to enroll or waive participation in the plan, mid-year enrollment or dependent enrollment in the Northwestern University Student Health Insurance Plan, please visit the Student Health Insurance page.

2017-2018 Annual Insurance Enrollment and Waiver Process

  • Northwestern requires all degree-seeking students to carry good health insurance coverage. Consequently, we default you every year into the Northwestern University Student Health Insurance Plan (NU-SHIP).
  • You must confirm or waive your NU-SHIP enrollment online in CAESAR during the fall open enrollment period.
  • If you do not make an online insurance selection in CAESAR by midnight October 1, you will remain enrolled in the NU-SHIP from Sept. 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018, and you will be responsible for the $3,856 premium charge.
  • International students – students holding a J-1 or F-1 U.S. visa – must maintain NU-SHIP coverage for the entire time they are studying at Northwestern.

Please note: We have been rebuilding and updating insurance processes across multiple Northwestern platforms over the last academic year. Because this is the first time you are being asked to make an annual online insurance selection, we have opened the online Coverage Selection Form for returning Medical school students two weeks early.

Are you already covered under an alternate plan, and need to waive out of the NU-SHIP?

  • If you have comparable health insurance coverage, you may waive NU-SHIP enrollment online in CAESAR.
  • To determine if your alternate health insurance provides comparable coverage to the NU-SHIP, please review the 2017-2018 Comparable Coverage Checklist.

Do you plan to use the NU-SHIP for your insurance coverage this academic year?

  • We encourage you to confirm your NU-SHIP enrollment in CAESAR at your earliest convenience.
  • This will ensure your access to your coverage on the first day of the new plan year, Sept. 1, 2017.

If you do not confirm your NU-SHIP enrollment in CAESAR, you will still be covered as of Sept. 1, but you will not be able to access your ID card or benefits until after the open enrollment period has closed on Oct. 1.

Do you need to enroll dependents into the NU-SHIP?

  • First, confirm your own enrollment in CAESAR.
  • After July 1, go to Aetna’s page for dependent enrollment, and complete the application to add dependents to your coverage.
  • Please note that the same deadline applies, and all dependents must be enrolled by midnight on Sunday, October 1.

Do you have questions or need assistance?

For additional information about 2017-2018 NU-SHIP coverage, confirming or waiving NU-SHIP enrollment, or annual Northwestern insurance requirements, please see the Northwestern Student Health Insurance website.

For assistance navigating the online confirmation or waiver process, researching alternate plans on the marketplace, or questions related to insurance billing and claims, contact the Northwestern Student Health Insurance office by email or by phone at 847-491-3621 (Evanston campus) or 312-503-1242 (Chicago campus).