Premiums/Open Enrollment Periods
Every academic year, all degree-seeking students in insurance-eligible programs are defaulted into the NU-SHIP, to ensure they have health insurance that meets the University’s comparable coverage requirements. Students should confirm or waive their NU-SHIP enrollment during the annual open enrollment period.
The NU-SHIP premium is billed on your student account, at the same time as your tuition and fees (unless you have waived your NU-SHIP coverage online, before these charges post). If you have alternate insurance, and do not require NU-SHIP coverage, you must waive your NU-SHIP coverage before the open enrollment deadline.
Students who begin the 2025-26 academic year in a later quarter or semester – e.g., Winter, Spring, or Summer – will be charged the relevant NU-SHIP premium for their adjusted period of coverage (see table below).
| All Programs (unless specified below) | Coverage Period | Applicable Open Enrollment Period | Student | Dependent Spouse or Child (per person) | 2 or more Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fall 2025 |
9/1/25 - 8/31/26
|
7/1/25 - 10/1/25 |
$5,919
|
$5,919 (in addition to student cost)
|
$11,838 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost)
|
| Winter 2026 | 1/1/26 - 8/31/26 | 12/17/25 - 1/18/26 | $3,941 | $3,941 (in addition to student cost) | $7,882 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost) |
| Spring 2026 | 3/31/26 - 8/31/26 | 3/11/26 - 4/12/26 | $2,497 | $2,497 (in addition to student cost) | $4,996 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost) |
| Summer 2026* | 6/22/26 - 8/31/26 | 5/20/26 - 7/3/26 | $1,152 | $1,152 (in addition to student cost) | $2,304 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost) |
*Important for Students Beginning in Summer 2026
The enrollment action you make during this Open Enrollment period applies only to the remainder of the 2025-26 academic year. If you will continue as a student during the 2026-27 academic year, you will be required to make a separate health insurance election during the Fall Open Enrollment period, which runs from July 1, 2026, through October 1, 2026. During that time, you must either:
- Confirm your enrollment in NU-SHIP for the 2026-27 academic year, or
- Submit a waiver request if you have comparable coverage that meets Northwestern University insurance requirements.
Your Summer 2026 election will not automatically carry forward to the 2026-27 academic year.