Health Insurance Information for International Students
Find information here to help you understand your U.S. health insurance plan.
Aetna is the health insurance provider for NJIT students.
NJIT requires that international students have adequate medical and accident insurance coverage.
Mandatory student health insurance will be charged to all F-1 and J-1 students except by those being sponsored by specific organizations.
Aetna Plan Documents and Benefits can be found here.
Insurance coverage starts a week before the academic semester starts in September and ends in mid-August of the following year.
For costs visit the office of the Bursar’s website.
Students are billed in August for the academic year (September- August). If you graduate in December you continue to be covered until the following August.
New International students will be billed after they register for classes (after attending international Student orientation).
Students should have access to their card by the first day of classes. If they have issues accessing the card they should contact the Office of Bursar.
Student can print an ID card online from Aetna website. You will need your student ID number and date of birth.
No. Aetna is no longer issuing plastic or paper member ID cards and sending them in the mail. You should download your card from their website or the Aetna Mobile app.
If you cannot download your card, contact the Office of Global Initiatives at global@njit.edu.
When you go to the doctor, the staff will ask you for your insurance information. They need the account and policy number on your card in order to bill Aetna for their services.
Go to the Aetna website to get the link for Android or Apple.
No. Dependents (spouse or children) cannot be added to your Aetna plan. You will have to purchase private health insurance for them. You will have to contact a carrier (Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross) directly.
NJIT students can go to the NJIT Student Health Services Monday through Friday from 8:30 am- 4:30 pm at St. Michael’s Primary and Specialty Care center located:
111 Central Ave, Newark NJ 07102.
Phone: 973-596-3621
Fax: 973-388-2173
If you need a doctor when the Health Center is closed, you can go to an Urgent Care center (make sure they accept your insurance plan before going)
You can make an appointment to see a doctor by calling 973-596-3621 or walk in the NJIT Student Health Services at St. Michael’s Primary and Specialty Care.
In the event of a medical emergency, please contact campus security at 973-596-3111 or 911.
For serious emergencies the two hospitals closest to campus are:
- St Michael’s on Central Ave
- University Hospital on Bergen Street
For routine visits and non-emergencies, you should make an appointment with a doctor or walk into the NJIT student health center during the week.
If you are sick after hours or on the weekends and need to see a doctor for the same reasons, you should find the closest Urgent Care center that is covered by your health insurance plan.
In case of injury or illness that you believe to be a true emergency, you should go to the hospital regardless of the day of the week. If you need to call an ambulance, you can dial 911 and indicate your location.
Be aware that you may have to pay a substantial copay for riding in an ambulance. It is important that you know which hospital they should bring you to that is covered by your insurance.
The Aetna website will help you search for doctors covered by your insurance plan. Make sure to stay “in-network”.
Doctors and hospitals that are “in-network” have a contract with your health insurance company. Doctors that are “out-of-network” have not negotiated a contract rate with your insurance provider.
Out-of-network doctors will be more expensive. You should always try to stay “in-network”.
You can find a list of in-network doctors covered by your plan on the Aetna website.
A copay, short for copayment, is the amount you must pay when you see a doctor. Routine exams and visits normally have a low copay (ex. $15-30). A visit to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care will have a higher copay.
A deductible is an amount that must be paid for your covered health care services before the insurance begins paying. It will be a higher amount.
You should check your plan to know how much money you will be expected to pay out of pocket in the event of an emergency.
No. Dental work such as cavity fillings, cleanings, or root canals, for example, is not covered under the health insurance plan. You can purchase your own private dental insurance.
International students who are not part of the Approved Sponsor listing are prohibited from waiving the student health insurance.
Ideally, your employer will offer you health insurance as a benefit. If your employer does not offer their employees health insurance, you will need to purchase your own private insurance.