There is no doubt that the Jesuits on campus play a central role in the Georgetown community, but what may be less apparent is the role the university plays in their lives, including their health care.

Georgetown does not directly pay health and insurance bills for Jesuits working for the university, according to Fr. John Langan, S.J.

“Members of the Jesuit Community are either covered by the health care plans offered by their home Province or by the health care plans available to university employees,” said Director of Media Relations Andy Pino.

“Jesuits, like a lot of religious groups, are an aging population,” Rev.. Eugene Nolan, S.J., said. Consequently, Jesuits may run into various health complications like those of Fr. James Schall, S.J., who is currently on medical leave this semester as he undergoes radiation treatment for a cancerous jaw.

The Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, which oversees several local Jesuit communities including those on high school and college campuses, financially supports Jesuit medical expenses in D.C. and Maryland. Such provinces exist internationally as part of the Catholic Church’s Society of Jesus.

Jesuits employed by Georgetown receive health care benefits and insurance as any other Georgetown faculty member would. Nolan says that most Jesuits’ medical expenses are, in fact, covered by Medicare.

Nolan says, “We’ve invested over a number of years for caring for our men both in local communities like Georgetown and in all other Jesuit universities.”

Wolfington Hall, the university’s Jesuit Residence, comes with its own assisted living unit that is also funded by the Maryland province. The unit is run by nurses’ assistants and a house doctor 24 hours a day. It currently houses five of the 60 Jesuits who live on campus.

“If someone is no longer employed, as long as they’re able to genuinely take care of themselves, we prefer that they stay in the community,” said Nolan.