Northwestern University in Qatar

Health, Prescription, Dental and Vision Plans. Faculty and Staff working on the Qatar campus may enroll in CIGNA's International Expatriates Benefits (CIEB) which provides international health, prescription drug, dental and vision benefits. Efforts have been made to make these plans comparable to their domestic or US alternative, but the plans are not identical. Qatar prohibits the extension of benefits to domestic partners.

2008 health, dental and vision monthly premium rates ( PDF)

Enrollment Form ( PDF)

CIGNA International Health Plan – At a Glance ( PDF)

Qatar Health Plan Highlights ( PDF)

Health care plan. CIEB coverage provides participants with access to doctors and facilities around the globe. The member ID card is recognized by participating providers readily, and enables CIEB to provide direct reimbursement to the provider. CIEB offers 24-hour, 7-day-a-week customer service support for both US based and internationally based participants. Most services require that participants complete a claim form so that CIEB can process the claim appropriately according to the processes of the provider and host country. However, a participants may not need to file a claim form if CIGNA has a direct-pay arrangement in place with the provider. CIEB health care insurance covers the usual, reasonable and customary (UCR) charges associated with an individual's diagnosis and treatment, according to the norms in the country where care is received.

Family members such as college age dependent children attending school in the US may receive care from a local CIGNA network provider.

The University contributes an overall 74% toward health plan costs.

Contact information

Group Number - #03770A

Phone: 1-800-441-2668 (outside the US should call collect)

Web: http://www.CIGNA.com/cieb

Prescription drug plan. CIGNA's prescription drug program (RxPrime), which is a component of the CIGNA international health care plan, provides access to thousands of pharmacies nationwide and around the globe. The plan also provides mail order services that enable the obtainment of up to a one-year supply of a medication that an individual may take to Qatar. When an individual needs a medication while in Qatar, CIGNA's health insurance plan covers the cost of the drug, Simply,

- Use your host country doctor/pharmacy to get the medication

- Pay for the medication in full at the time of purchase

- File a medical claim to receive reimbursement

When visiting the US, individuals should use RxPrime to obtain a prescription drug. Covered dependents who are remaining in the United States while the employee is in Qatar, should also use RxPrime service, a prescription benefit management company affiliated with CIGNA and the CIEB. The RxPrime pharmacy network includes more than 45,000 chain and independent pharmacies including CVS, Costco, K-Mart, Walgreens, RiteAid, Target and Al-Mart. Go to the CIGNA International web site to access their Participating Pharmacy Locator.

For US-based dependents, an individual's doctor should write a prescription for a 90-day supply with refills. Participants relocating to Qatar should have their doctor write the prescription for a 365-day supply. Be sure the prescription is signed and written legibly. New prescriptions take up to two weeks to fill though refills take less time. If a medication needs to be taken, earlier, the participant should ask his or her doctor for samples or a second prescription for a short term supply that can be filled at a local retail pharmacy.

Mail order services are provided through a service called Tel-Drug. Prescriptions can only be mailed to US or Puerto Rico addresses. They cannot be mailed or shipped to Qatar. The forms and instructions for using the mail order service can be found on CIGNA web sites or through the Benefits Division.

Contact information

Group number - #03770A

Phone: 1-800-441-2668 (outside the US should call collect)

Web: http://www.CIGNA.com/cine

Tel-Drug

Group Number

Phone: 1-800-835-3784

Web: http://www.CIGNA.com/cine

Dental care plan. CIGNA's International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) Dental Plan has a comprehensive world-wide provider network. The Plan covers preventive, restorative, endocentric, and children's orthodontic services. An individual does not need to elect a primary care dentist.

The University contributes an overall 55% toward dental care plan costs.

Contact Information

Group Number - #03770A

Phone: 1-800-441-2668 (outside the US should call collect)

Web: http://www.CIGNA.com/cine

Vision care plan. CIEB also administers the vision care plan for employees working on the Qatar campus.

The plan is fully employee paid.

Contact Information

Group Number - #03770A

Phone: 1-800-441-2668 (outside the US should call collect)

Web: http://www.CIGNA.com/cine

Life, ADD, Disability, FSA and Retirement Plans. Benefits eligible faculty and staff working on the Qatar campus may participate in other University sponsored benefit plans in the same manner as other faculty and staf.

Educational Assistance and Reduced Tuition Plans. Full-time regular status employees whose customary work place is located more than 200 miles from Chicago are eligible for Educational Assistance and Reduced Tuition benefits at institutions other than Northwestern University. Such employees are also eligible for Portable Tuition benefits.

In such cases, employees should submit the Educational Assistance and Reduced Tuition applications with a copy of the institution's billing statement and proof of successful completion at the end of the term.

Upon approval of the application, the University will issue the benefit directly to the employee. The amount of the benefit granted will not exceed the amount of the corresponding benefit applied to Northwestern University tuition.

Full time employees may also participate in the Portable Tuition plan for a dependent child taking courses at a school other than NU.