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:- In-network routine, non-emergency diagnostic care, as well as emergency care, provided in the Evanston and/or Chicago area (or the local area where the student will be residing and studying for the academic year). Please note telemedicine alone does not meet this requirement.
- All "essential health benefits" per the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – see details below.
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions without exclusions and/or waiting periods.
- Active coverage from the day you arrive on campus either through August 31 of the following year, or the end of your academic program (whichever comes first).
- A claims administrator based in the U.S., and a U.S. telephone number and address for submission of claims; in addition, the insurance policy must have been issued within the U.S.
- Coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation expenses:
- Required if you are an F1 or J1 student (no exceptions).
- If you are a domestic student (or have a different visa status than noted above), required if you will be studying/traveling/doing research outside of the United States during this academic year.
- Annual out-of-pocket maximum equal to or less than $9,450 for individual insurance plans or equal to or less than $18,900 for family insurance plans (for plans beginning 1/1/24 - 12/31/24).
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:- preventive services, wellness services, and chronic disease treatment
- outpatient care (ambulatory patient services)
- emergency services
- hospitalization (treatment for inpatient care)
- inpatient & outpatient mental health services and addiction treatment
- prescription drug coverage
- rehabilitative services and devices
- laboratory services
- maternity and newborn care
- pediatric services
Plans that do not meet the requirements:
- Out-of-State HMO Plans
- Out-of-State Medicaid Plans
- Travel Plans
- Catastrophic Plans
- Short-Term Plans
- Medical Cost-Sharing Plans
- Healthcare Sharing Ministry Plans
- Medisave Plans
- Accident & Sickness Plans
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.