Room G.125b, Health Service, 633 Emerson Street,
Evanston Campus
Hours: Mon., and Wed. through Fri: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tues. 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed University holidays
Questions? Call 847 491-2113
Room 131, Law School, 357 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago Campus
Hours: Mon. through Thurs., 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed University holidays
Questions? Call 312 503-1242
The Student Insurance Office staff is available to assist you with your questions regarding health insurance coverage, procedures for submitting claims, and explaining the processes related to referrals and pre-certification for specialty health care services whether you have elected coverage under the Northwestern University (NU/Aetna Plan) or are covered by a private commercial insurance carrier. Please note, while we cannot submit claims for coverage other than Aetna Student Health, we will provide guidance with the resources available to you from your private commercial insurance carrier.
All new entering and returning full time students must have health insurance coverage throughout their academic studies at NU. New students are required to complete the online Coverage Selection Form (CSF) to either enroll in or waive the NU/Aetna plan. The deadline to complete the Coverage Selection Form is October 3, 2011 for registered students for Fall Quarter 2011. Failure to complete the online Coverage Selection Form will result in automatic enrollment in the NU/Aetna plan. Once a students' CAESAR Account has been charged the NU/Aetna plan premium, the student will not be able to cancel the plan until the following Academic Year. Students beginning their academic careers mid-year must enroll during the specific dates assigned by NU for all other quarters in order to comply with this requirement.
Returning students do not need to submit a Coverage Selection Form if they wish to keep their insurance selection from the previous Academic Year. Their prior selection "rolls over" to the next Academic Year based upon their continued class registration.
Please note: The online Open Enrollment for Fall Quarter 2011 begins July 1, 2011 and ends October 3, 2011.
Incoming International Students:
A mandate has been set by the NU Office of the Provost requiring all full-time international students attending NU beginning September 1 , 2011 be automatically enrolled in the NU/Aetna Plan.
As an entering International
Student on an F-1 or J-1 United States Visa, you do not need to complete the
Coverage Selection Form. Upon your full time class
registration posting in the CAESAR system, your CAESAR account will
automatically be charged and enrollment into the NU/Aetna plan completed. The effective coverage period will be retroactive
back to September 1st 2011, valid through August 31st 2012. Please confirm that your local Illinois
address is updated in the CAESAR system, as that is where Aetna Student Health will forward your active membership card for proof of coverage.
Entering International Students can appeal automatic NU/Aetna plan enrollment through the Office of Risk
Management. The Director, Mr. Christopher Johnson must have proof that the commercial insurance an international student secured covers them for the duration of their studies at NU, along with plan benefits mirroring those of the NU/Aetna plan. Mr. Johnson can be reached via this email
address: cljohnson@northwestern.edu. It is strongly suggested that the international student first send an inquiry regarding this matter to his
attention. Within his reply Mr. Johnson will
outline the steps for appealing this decision.
Follow his instructions for the appeal process explicitly, as international students only have one opportunity at the appeal process.
To complete the Web-based Coverage Selection Form:
- Login to your CAESAR account using your Northwestern University Net ID and password.
- From the menu on the left, select For Students ==> Enrollment ==> Health Coverage Plan (or For Applicant ==> Health Coverage Plan),
- Choose either "Option 1" to enroll in the NU sponsored plan or "Option 2" to waive.
- Click Submit ==> Yes ==> Ok to complete your selection.
Once you have submitted your online Coverage Selection Form, you should receive a confirmation email. If you have difficulty logging in to complete the form or you do not receive an email confirming your selection, please call the Insurance Office at 847 491-2113 (Evanston Campus) or 312 503-1242 (Chicago Campus) for assistance.
After the close of Open Enrollment, students will not be able to access this form online. Only new entering students for the Winter and Spring Quarters can go online to complete the Coverage Selection Form during the Open Enrollment period. New Summer Quarter students must complete a hard copy of the Coverage Selection Form (PDF).
Physical Therapy/Prosthetics-Orthotics/Physician Assistant and New Summer Quarter Students
The above listed students cannot enroll via the online Coverage Selection Form on CAESAR. A hard copy of the Coverage Selection Form (PDF) must be submitted to the Insurance Office during the
specified Open Enrollment period.
However, a Part Time Application (PDF) may be required to be submitted. Please contact the Insurance Office for more information at 847 491-2113
(Evanston Campus) or 312 503-1242
(Chicago Campus).
Part-time Students
Part-time, half-time, School
of Continuing Studies and Garrett Evangelical Seminary students may enroll in
the plan on a voluntary basis. Students complete the Part Time Application (PDF) and payment to the Insurance Office prior to the close of Open Enrollment. Garrett Seminary students must contact their School Administrator for information on enrollment. Students must be taking at least two classes towards a degree to qualify for NU/Aetna plan enrollment. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible to enroll. Garrett students should contact Kathryn Lindsey at 847 866-3948 or kathryn.lindsey@garrett.edu for more information.
Early Arrival
Many students' academic year
begins prior to September 1st. For these students only, coverage is available through the NU/Aetna Plan at a cost of $6.76 per day for Summer Quarter 2011. Dependents may also enroll at a cost of $13.52 per day for a spouse and $8.46 per day, per child. Daily premiums for Summer Quarter 2012 are as follows:
- Student: $7.08
- Spouse: $14.15
- per Child: $8.46
Applications can be obtained at either NU Student Insurance Office or online at Early Arrival Application (PDF) or Early Arrival Dependent (PDF). Please note early arrival coverage is only available to entering new students on a short term basis. Students who arrive early must also complete the online Coverage Selection Form prior to the close of the Open Enrollment period. The preceding Coverage Selection Form step is not applicable to international students.
Dependent Coverage
Students may secure coverage for their dependents through the Aetna Student Health Plan providing they
reside with the student. Dependents are
defined as:
- a Married Spouse
- a Spouse of a Domestic
Partner (Same Sex)
- Unmarried Children (newborn
up to age 26)
NU students who wish to purchase coverage for their eligible dependents may do so by completing the Dependent Application online at: http://www.aetnastudenthealth.com and submitting it, along with payment. The deadline to enroll dependents is October
31, 2011. Dependents may not be
added to the plan after the deadline date unless a qualifying life circumstance
exists such as involuntary loss of health insurance coverage, marriage, or birth/adoption of a child. Please note: dependents must re-enroll each
year directly with Aetna Student Health in order to continue coverage. There is not an automatic annual insurance "roll-over" like the registered full time student.
NU is not involved in the dependent enrollment or billing process.
Referrals
Aetna Student Health Insurance is referral based. Students should schedule an appointment at either NU Health Service location (633 Emerson St in Evanston/Searle Hall, or 675 North St. Clair Street, Galter Pavilion/18th Floor at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation in Chicago) for evaluation by medical personnel to obtain a referral for medical services.
Failure to obtain a referral for treatment by a specialist in Lake or Cook Counties in Illinois will result in Aetna Student Health assessing you a $500 non-referral penalty. If the specialist seeing you is outside of Lake or Cook County in Illinois, you do not need to obtain a referral. In any case, be certain whomever sees you is within the Aetna Student Health Network for maximum insurance coverage. If you have an emergency health situation, no referral is needed: go straight to an Emergency Room (ER) or call 911. After you are seen at an ER, obtain a referral from either NU Health Service if you need follow up care.
If you have referral questions, please contact the Aetna Student Health Customer Service at 877-626-2314. You may also call the Student Insurance Office for more information at (847) 491-2113 (Evanston Campus) or (312) 503-1242 (Chicago Campus).
Please Note: Referrals obtained during the 2011-12 academic year are good until the expiration date of August 31, 2012. Dependents are not required to obtain a referral, and cannot be seen at either NU Health Service location.
Clinic Use
Students must be registered for classes or on an approved University medical leave to utilize either NU Health Service location. If a student is eligible to use the Health Service and has commercial insurance, certain costs are charged to the patient (see document on "Who Can Use the Health Service"). Please note the NU Health Service is unable to cover all the costs associated with providing comprehensive healthcare.
Optional Dental Plan
All NU students may apply for the Aetna Advantage Dental Plan by logging onto the Aetna Student Health website and completing the online application whether enrolled in the NU/Aetna plan or not. Students must re-apply annually to continue this optional plan. For more information log on to: http://www.aetnastudenthealth.com. NU is not involved in the Aetna Advantage Dental Plan enrollment or billing process. If you do choose to enroll, be
sure to ask Aetna Student Health Customer Service (877-626-2314) about "Roster Enrollment Dates" and how they affect your Aetna Advantage coverage.
Vision Services
Students enrolled in the Aetna
Plan have access to discounted vision services through a program NU has with EyeMed Vision Care. More information can be reviewed at "EyeMed Vision Care" (PDF).
