THE NEW SCHOOL
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2026-2027 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 goal is to provide students with a cost-effective health insurance plan that offers quality benefits. After much review and analysis, the plan will remain with Aetna for the 2025-2026 policy year.
The Student Health Plan provides comprehensive medical coverage for preventive and routine care, injury and illness, urgent and emergency services, hospitalizations and diagnostics, mental health and substance use care, gender-affirming care, prescriptions, and specialty and nationwide provider access, as well as dental care, vision care, wellness resources and travel assistance.
Plan documents will be available under "Benefit Information" on the left side of this page in early summer 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
All students are required to have health insurance and are eligible to enroll in SHIP including:
- Graduate and undergraduate students (including online-only and non-matriculating)
- Visiting and mobility (study abroad) students
- Maintenance of status students
- Lang and Parsons consortium
- ESL + Certificate Program students
- Graduate certificate program students
Student Health Insurance Policy Period, Insurance Fees and Deadlines:
The annual premium is billed in two installments by semester. See below.
| Policy Period | Insurance Fees | Deadline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | 08/20/26–08/19/27 | Pending NY State Approval | 9/8/2026 |
| Fall | 08/20/26–01/14/27 | Pending NY State Approval | 9/8/2026 |
| Spring | 01/15/27–08/19/27 | Pending NY State Approval | 2/2/2027 |
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 8, 2026 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
Students on J-1 visas issued by The New School must meet both university and U.S. Department of State insurance requirements. In addition to completing the waiver form, proof of health insurance must be uploaded to iGlobal.newschool.edu. Failure to do so may impact your J-1 status.
ENROLLMENT PROCESS
- If you plan to enroll in the student health insurance plan, you must submit an enrollment form before coverage begins in August, found HERE. Eligibility will be verified with The New School beginning in August and when confirmed eligible, will be processed. Please note that students are not automatically enrolled in the SHIP until after the posted waiver deadline.
- 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 2026 or do not intend to be registered in spring 2027, your SHIP coverage will terminate January 14, 2027
- If you withdraw from your classes or take a leave of absence before September 8, 2026, you will lose eligibility for student health insurance coverage. You will receive a full refund for the fall health insurance premium if no claims were paid by the insurance company before your withdrawal and you student health insurance coverage will be terminated retroactively for the full fall semester coverage period. Please note: students taking a leave of absence for health reasons may elect to continue student health insurance coverage for up to two consecutive semester of leave. Contact studentinsurance@newschool.edu for enrollment assistance due to a health leave.
DEPENDENT COVERAGE
Dependent enrollment is available and must be elected at the time of student coverage. Coverage aligns with the student's policy period. Information regarding dependent enrollment can be found under "Enrollment Form" in the navigation menu or click HERE.
OPT COVERAGE
Students participating in OPT are eligible to enroll in the SHIP for up to one consecutive year.
- Enrollment must begin in the semester immediately following your enrollment as a student under the plan.
- After OPT approval and receipt of 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 tfor Fall 2026 only.
- New OPT participants may enroll for Fall 2026 or the full year.
BENEFIT INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION
Students may access medical care outside Student Health Services through SHIP. Benefit summaries (medical, dental and vision) will be available on the left side of this page under "Benefit Information" in early summer 2026. Each brochure describes covered services, limitations, waiver procedures 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.
Important Note: Health care is expensive. If you plan to waive the SHIP, be sure your plan provides adequate coverage in New York City. Many out-of-state HMOs, Medicaid plans and international plans have a limited network of providers and may not offer sufficient coverage in the area. Please be sure to check your plan’s benefits in New York City before submitting a waiver.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For waiver, enrollment, eligibility, general benefit questions:
University Health Plans
Phone: 1-833-251-1129
Email: info@univhealthplans.com.
For specific benefit or claims questions:
Call Aetna Student Health at 1-800-878-1927
