International Student &
Visiting Scholar health insurance

Coverage Criteria

pediatric services
Routine, non-emergency care, in addition to emergency care, in the Chicago area – must have local access to in-network providers.
If you will be studying abroad, or out of the Evanston area, routine / emergency care – and all coverage requirements noted here – must be provided in the local area where you will be studying / residing.
All "essential health benefits" per the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – see details below.
No exclusions for pre-existing conditions, or any waiting periods for pre-existing conditions applied before coverage is active.
Active coverage from the day you arrive on campus either through August 31, 2019, 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 or less than $7,350 for individual insurance plans or equal or less than $14,700 for family insurance plans.
Download the 2018-2019 Comparable Coverage Checklist (PDF) to help you determine if your insurance plan's benefits meet NU's waiver requirements.
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​ 

https://www.northwestern.edu/ses/students/health-insurance/SHIP_Instructions_for_Waiving_NU_Student_Health_Insurance.pdf