THE NEW SCHOOL
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2024-2025 Academic Year
Each year The New School engages in a comprehensive benefit review and premium negotiation process for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The primary goal is to provide students with a cost-effective health insurance program with quality benefits. After much review and analysis, the plan will move to a new carrier, Aetna, for the 2024-2025 policy year.
The 2024-2025 plan will include the following benefit changes/enhancements:
- Expanded gender-affirming benefits including coverage for electrolysis, voice therapy, chest binders, and facial feminization surgeries
- Access to Aetna’s trained Personal Navigators when students have questions about benefits, claims, and providers for gender-affirming health care
- Addition of Aetna Dental Care coverage
- Addition of Aetna Vision Care coverage
- No deductible for neuropsychological testing services
- Acupuncture copay will be $20
Comprehensive plan documents are pending NY State approval and will be available under "Benefit Information" on the left side of this page once approved.
ELIGIBILITY
All graduate and undergraduate degree (including online-only and non-matriculating), visiting, mobility (study abroad), maintenance of status, Lang and Parsons consortium, ESL + Certificate Program, and graduate certificate program are required to have health insurance and are eligible to enroll in the student health insurance plan. The annual premium is billed in two installments by semester. See below.
Student Health Insurance Policy Period, Insurance Fees and Deadlines:
| Policy Period | Insurance Fees | Deadline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | 08/20/24–08/19/25 | pending state approval | 09/09/2024 |
| Fall | 08/20/24–01/14/25 | pending state approval | 09/09/2024 |
| Spring | 01/15/25–08/19/25 | pending state approval | 02/10/2025 |
WAIVER PROCESS
If you have your own comparable health insurance coverage and you do not want the coverage offered by The New School, you may waive the SHIP by submitting the waiver form found HERE.
A new online waiver form must be completed by the deadline each school year.
New students who register in Spring must complete an online waiver form by the Spring deadline and then again the following Fall.
If you complete a waiver form in the Fall semester, your waiver will be automatically applied to your student account in the Spring semester of the same school year. No additional action is necessary in the spring.
Students who do not submit an enrollment form or a waiver form by September 9, 2024 will be automatically enrolled in the SHIP shortly after the deadline and will be responsible for payment of the health insurance fees.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON J-1 VISAS
If you are a J-1 international student with a DS-2019 issued by The New School, your health insurance must meet the university’s health insurance requirements as well as the Department of State J-1 regulatory requirements. In addition to completing this waiver form, you must upload proof of health insurance at iGlobal.newschool.edu. Failure to do so will result in ISSS inability to validate and maintain your J-1 status in the U.S.
ENROLLMENT PROCESS
If you intend to be enrolled in the student health insurance plan, you must submit an enrollment form to ensure your enrollment will be processed before coverage begins in August. To expedite the processing of your enrollment in the SHIP you must submit the online enrollment form found HERE. Eligibility will be checked with The New School beginning in August and when confirmed eligible, will be processed. Eligible students will not be automatically enrolled in the SHIP until after the posted waiver deadline.
Please note: If a student elects coverage under the SHIP in the fall, coverage will automatically continue in the spring semester as long as the student is registered in the spring. If you graduate in fall 2024 or do not intend to be registered in spring 2025, your SHIP coverage will terminate January 14, 2025.
Dependent enrollment is available. Dependent coverage, if elected, begins and ends with the student’s coverage and must be purchased at the same time the student enrolls in the plan. Information regarding dependent enrollment can be found under "Enrollment Form" in the navigation menu or click HERE.
OPT Students: Students participating in OPT are eligible to enroll in the SHIP for up to one consecutive year and initial enrollment must occur in the semester immediately following your enrollment as a student under the plan. Once you are approved for OPT and have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, you may submit the OPT Health Insurance enrollment form found under "Enrollment Form" in the navigation menu. Continuing OPT are eligible to enroll in the student insurance plan for Fall 2024 only. Starting OPT are eligible to enroll in the student insurance plan for the Fall 2024 only, or the full year.
BENEFIT INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATIONS
The student health insurance plan enables students to use services outside Student Health Services. The 2024-2025 Plan Summary will be available in the navigation menu on the left side of this page under “Benefit Information” once it receives state approval. It describes covered services, limitations, procedures to waive, and important deadlines. It is your responsibility to understand the nature and scope of benefits and limitations as well as to abide by posted deadlines.
Health care is expensive. If you plan to waive participation in the Student Health Insurance Plan, be sure your plan covers care in New York City. Out-of-state HMOs and Medicaid plans as well as some international plans generally allow members to see a limited network of providers and may not provide comprehensive coverage in New York City. Please be sure to check your plan’s benefits in New York City before submitting a waiver.
For waiver, enrollment, eligibility, general benefit questions or plan issues please contact University Health Plans at 833-251-1129 or info@univhealthplans.com.
For specific benefit or claims questions please contact Aetna Student Health at 800-878-1927.
