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Health Insurance
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Health Insurance student
health insurance there is no
socialized medicine in US. be sure that you have health insurance. if your
sponsor provides health coverage, be sure that it covers treatment in US and
that it covers catastrophic illnesses. otherwise, purchase medical insurance for
yourself and your dependents through your campus health insurance plan or
through a US health insurance agent. medical insurance is absolutely essential
to meet health care cost in US. many schools require medical insurance proof for
international students who enroll, and all j-1 exchange visitor students are
required by law to carry medical insurance. but whether your school requires
insurance or not, you should buy it as soon as you arrive.
policies differ in the expenses they will pay; find a policy with a
reasonable deductible, affordable co-payments, and limited exclusions. to learn
more about how to shop for a health insurance policy, consult with the student
health service or international student adviser on your campus. be prepared for the cost of health care in US. services available on your campus may be provided at a low cost, but most university health centers only take care of routine problems. if you have a major health problem or a serious accident, you will probably be sent to an off-campus hospital. you will be expected to pay the charges yourself. Health insurance is a must when living in the U.S., as medication and hospital bills are very expensive. Your university will usually sell health insurance at very reasonable rates (even though it might seem quite expensive to you). Average health insurance rates per semester are likely to cost between $400 - $600 depending on the coverage of the health insurance plan. Some plans will only cover emergency situations (and are therefore cheaper). Other plans cover various medical treatments but require you to pay a fixed amount - called a deductible - before they take effect. If your deductible is $200, then you would pay $200 worth of medical bills before the insurance plan covered you. Make sure you go through the details of the health insurance plan and understand what you are and are not covered for. Some international students find it cheaper to get international health insurance from their home countries. Before coming to the U.S., you may already have health insurance through your parents. Check with them to see if the same health insurance plan can work in the U.S. Getting health insurance from a provider independently is likely to be a lot more expensive as universities get bulk rates for their students. One provider you may want to contact is Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield. |
