The reason for Student Insurance
The University requires that all students registered for 9 or more on-campus semester hours and all International students have adequate health insurance while attending NIU.  Therefore, students are automatically covered and charged the fee for medical insurance on their tuition account.

Why is there a deadline to cancel the insurance?
The University is obligated by contract with an insurance vendor to provide a roster of all insured students under the plan. This roster must be submitted at the beginning of the semester to assure that claims are paid in a timely manner.  The roster cannot be submitted until after an established cancellation deadline, so that we can determine which students should be covered by the plan and exclude the students who have declined coverage by completing the on-line waiver process.

Where is information about the deadline published?
Procedures and deadlines for cancellation are published in a timely and public manner.  Information is included in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs, in the Semester Schedule of Classes booklet, handed out at Orientation programs, sent out each June in our reminder postcards, included in billing emails sent from the Student Insurance office at time of billing, included in ads in the Northern Star and listed on the Student Insurance website.

How do I file appeal to cancel my insurance?
Filing an appeal is not a guarantee that the insurance fee will be removed from your tuition account.  When you file an appeal, you must fill out the appeal form, provide a credible coverage letter from your health insurance company which furnishes proof of coverage and then write a letter to the appeal committee explaining the extenuating circumstance that prevented you from cancelling your insurance within the required time frames.

These three documents then go to the Appeals Board which will review them and make a decision on whether or not you will be allowed to cancel the insurance.  Their decision is final and binding.