The College of New Jersey
STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

2026-2027 Academic Year

Health Insurance Requirement

Under New Jersey law, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is required to offer Student Health Insurance coverage to all full-time students. TCNJ meets this requirement by offering a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). All full-time students are automatically billed for the full cost of the insurance on their term bill by the Office of Student Accounts. Students who have comparable health insurance may waive (opt out of) SHIP by filling out the waiver and submitting proof of coverage by the waiver deadlines established by TCNJ.

Insurance Cost & Coverage Periods

The student insurance plan is insured by Aetna Student Health and provides national coverage through its PPO network. Students do not have to select a primary care physician, and referrals are not required. 

The 2026/2027 waiver/enrollment forms will open in mid-late July.

Waiver & Enrollment Process

Full-time students are required to either confirm enrollment in the SHIP or submit a waiver showing proof of comparable health insurance. Students who do not confirm enrollment in the SHIP or submit a waiver form by the waiver deadline will be automatically enrolled in the SHIP and will be responsible for full payment of the insurance premium. Once you begin using the SHIP coverage, you are financially responsible for the full cost and will not be permitted to waive.

Please note that being automatically billed is not the same as confirming enrollment in the SHIP. You still need to take action by confirming your enrollment before the deadline. Failure to complete the required enrollment steps does not eliminate your responsibility for payment.

It is important that you read the SHIP Benefit Information linked in the left-hand side navigation menu located on this webpage. It is important to understand the plan’s co‑payments, co‑insurance, deductibles, and other coverage requirements. This is your health insurance plan, and all costs associated with its use are the student’s responsibility, not the College’s.

IMPORTANT: The SHIP waiver and enrollment process is separate from TCNJ pre-entrance health requirements. The process you may have completed earlier this summer, relating to the submission of information via OWL and paperwork to Student Health Services, does not suffice for waiving student health insurance. You will still need to complete the online waiver form located in the left-hand side navigation menu on this webpage to waive the SHIP. 

Early Termination (Not Permitted)

The College of New Jersey and Aetna Student Health DO NOT prorate health insurance premiums or adjust effective dates of coverage. Students will not be removed from SHIP coverage based upon graduation, withdrawal from the University, or a new insurance plan post-waiver deadline. SHIP coverage will remain in effect until the end of the policy period.

Qualifying Event Enrollment

Students who waive the insurance in the fall are not eligible to enroll in the spring semester. Enrollment after a waiver is only allowed if the student experiences a Qualifying Life Event that results in the loss of other health insurance coverage. If this occurs, please fill out the qualifying event enrollment form on the left sidebar within 31 days of losing coverage.  All qualifying events require documentation as proof of the loss of coverage.

Contact Information

Questions about the waiver and enrollment process can be directed to University Health Plans at 833-251-1131 or by email at info@univhealthplans.com. Questions about SHIP coverage for specific services can be directed to Aetna Student Health at 800-481-8814. Questions about using SHIP in TCNJ Student Health Services can be directed to Student Health Services at 609-771-2889 or by email at health@tcnj.edu.