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New Jersey State law requires all institutions of higher education in New Jersey to offer health insurance coverage for purchase by students who are enrolled full-time. Previously the University met this requirement by directing our students to the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the exchanges. The University did so to allow students the freedom to select their own health plan that is best for them. The University will now be offering a Student Health Insurance Plan. The University still wants students to have the freedom to select their own health plan that is best for them. By having the University offer a Student Health Insurance Plan students are potentially able to get better rates than they would on their own, and can receive financial aid to help defray the cost of the insurance. The cost of the insurance is also able to be included in many student loans.
NJCU policy requires comprehensive health insurance coverage for all matriculated students who are registered full time and enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
Please note: Students enrolled in a fully online program are exempt from this requirement.
To meet this requirement, students may:
The University’s SHIP is serviced by Aetna Student Health Insurance. At the NJCU Aetna website you can:
NJCU requires all full-time undergraduate and graduate students as defined by the University (12 or more credits for undergraduate, 9 or more credits for graduate) to carry health insurance. All full time students are automatically charged and must take action if they wish to waive the fee. The waiver website opens the week of December 1, 2020.
Insurance Premium 2020 -2021 | Annual Coverage 8/15/2020-7/31/2021 | Spring Coverage 1/1/2021-7/31/2021 |
---|---|---|
Undergraduate Students | $1977 | $1224 |
Graduate Students | $4797 | $2970 |
In order to opt out of the NJCU University Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, the student must agree to maintain health insurance coverage throughout the entire year. Additionally, the insurance plan must provide in-patient and out-patient coverage in the Northern New Jersey Region.
If you do not complete a waiver by March 9, 2021, or self-enroll, you will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna University Health Insurance after the waiver deadline.
To waive the NJCU insurance coverage:
NOTE: The deadline for waiving insurance for the semester is March 9, 2021.
If you wish to enroll (purchase) the University Health Insurance, administered by Aetna Student Health, you may self-enroll prior to the University enrollment period. The enrollment website will open the week of December 1, 2020.
Please also feel free to visit the Aetna website to help answer any questions.
If you would like to see if you qualify for other forms of health insurance like Medicaid or CHIP, please visit the healthcare.gov website.
If a student has a question regarding waiving health insurance, please see WAIVE STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE or contact the Office of Student Accounts:
Office of Student Accounts – Hepburn Hall, Room 106
2039 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07305-1597
Tel: 201-200-3045
Fax: 201-200-2049
Email: bursar@njcu.edu *
If a student has a question regarding refunds, student loans, or paying for health insurance, please contact the Office of Financial Aid:
Office of Financial Aid – Hepburn Hall, Room 215
2039 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07305-1597
Tel: 201-200-3173
Fax: 201-200-3181
Email: financialaid@njcu.edu *
To waive the NJCU insurance coverage, follow the steps provided below:
Select the “Enroll/Waive” button in the navigation menu located on the left side of the webpage.
Review the information on the page and then select the “Enroll/Waive” button.
Select appropriate area of study from the drop down menu.
Enter your student ID and date of birth and click on “Get Started”.
In order to opt out of the NJCU University Health Insurance Plan, the student must agree to maintain health insurance coverage throughout the entire academic year. Additionally, the insurance plan must provide in-patient and out-patient coverage in the Northern New Jersey Region.
Students who did not enroll themselves during the open enrollment period may be able to enroll in the policy if they experience a Qualifying Life Event. Students should contact Aetna Student Health at 1-800-481-8814 within 31 days of their loss of coverage.
If a student needs to utilize the insurance prior to the final enrollment file being submitted to Aetna, they may do so by following the instructions provided below:
Go to www.aetnastudenthealth.com.
Select "New Jersey City University" from the drop down menu and then select the “View your school” button.
Review the information on the page and then select the “Enroll/Waive” button.
Select the “Enroll/Waive” button in the navigation menu located on the left side of the webpage.
Select area of study from the drop down menu.
Enter your student ID and date of birth and click on “Get Started”.
Select the “Enroll” button located below the waiver section of the web page.
Select the plan and enter your personal information and select “Submit”.
Once enrolled, students may get their insurance card by visiting the Aetna website Aetna Student Health. Click on the “Get your ID card” button located toward the right side of the page. Enter your student ID and date of birth and select “Submit”.
**Please note a student will be able to print their insurance card beginning 8/1/20.**
No, if you have your own health insurance provider, you are welcome to continue doing so. You will just need to waive the health insurance through the steps above.
If you are in need of health insurance coverage and you choose not to participate in the new Plan offered through the University, other options may be available to you. As of the date of this email, the Federal Government still maintains health insurance exchanges that allow families and individuals in need of health insurance coverage to compare coverage and pricing from a variety of different insurance companies offering plans in your area.
The PPACA (PPACA stands for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or Obama Care) also requires employer plans to continue to provide dependent coverage to their employee’s dependents up to age 26. Additionally the PPACA expanded Medicaid eligibility in many States including New Jersey.
To determine your eligibility for the expanded Medicaid coverage, you will also need to apply through your state healthcare exchange. For additional information, including information about the health care law, finding insurance options, and accessing your state’s health insurance exchange, please refer to http://www.healthcare.gov.
Yes, students who are enrolled in a fully online program (not to be confused with those who are taking classes virtually or a class that is online), undergraduates who are taking less than 12 credits and graduate students who are taking less than 9 credits are exempt from the state health insurance requirements. International students who select the international student health insurance plan through NJCU are also exempt.