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Comparable Coverage Requirements

Coverage Criteria

Your alternate insurance plan must meet all of the following criteria for you to waive NU-SHIP enrollment. Your waiver application will be denied if your insurance plan does not provide:

Download the 2023-2024 Comparable Coverage Checklist (PDF) for information on requirements for the new academic year.

Please note: per University policy, international students – students holding a J-1 or F-1 U.S. visa – may not waive enrollment in the NU-SHIP.

Essential Health Benefits, per the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

In addition to the criteria noted above, all alternate insurance plans must include the following benefits, as required by the ACA:

Plans that do not meet the requirements:

Northwestern Medicine Student Health Service

Students who waive the NU-SHIP with alternate comparable coverage still have access to Northwestern Medicine Student Health Service (NMSHS). Ancillary services done at NMSHS such as lab work, imaging, immunizations, etc. are billable to your private insurance carrier. Therefore, students who plan on utilizing NMSHS on either the Evanston or Chicago campus are highly encouraged to be sure their insurance plan is accepted prior to their visit. We also advise students to reach out to their private insurance carrier to verify NMSHS is in-network to minimize their portion of out-of-pocket costs.