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 2026-27 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 2026 |
9/1/26 - 8/31/27
|
7/1/26 - 10/1/26 |
$5,996
|
$5,996 (in addition to student cost)
|
$11,992 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost)
|
| Winter 2027 | 1/1/27 - 8/31/27 | 12/17/26 - 1/18/27 | $3,992 | $3,992 (in addition to student cost) | $7,984 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost) |
| Spring 2027 | 3/30/27 - 8/31/27 | 3/11/27 - 4/12/27 | $2,546 | $2,546 (in addition to student cost) | $5,092 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost) |
| Summer 2027 | 6/21/27 - 8/31/27 | 5/20/27 - 7/3/27 | $1,183 | $1,183 (in addition to student cost) | $2,366 (in addition to student or student + spouse cost) |
*Important for Students Beginning in Summer
The enrollment action you make during this Open Enrollment period applies only to the remainder of the current academic year.
If you will continue as a student during the next academic year, you will be required to make a separate health insurance election during the Fall Open Enrollment period. At that time, you must either:
- Confirm your enrollment in NU-SHIP for the upcoming academic year, or
- Submit a waiver request if you have comparable coverage that meets Northwestern University's insurance requirements.
Your Summer Open Enrollment election will not automatically carry forward to the next academic year.