Many colleges and universities require that you have a health insurance plan. If you are sponsored by an organization such as USAID or one of the Fulbright programs, that organization may have its own health insurance policy. We highly recommend that you research the various programs that are available and choose one that is offered by a reputable company.  If you choose to work with InternationalStudentInsurance.com and Loyds of London, you will be choosing a well recognized provider of low cost quality insurance.  To learn more about our programs or apply online, simply click here.
  

Learn about health care resources on campus and in the community so you'll know where to go when you need help. If possible, go to the college or university health center for treatment. It is generally faster, more efficient, more personal, and less expensive than any other option available. If the health center is closed, go to a nearby urgent care clinic. (Look in the "yellow pages" of the phone book under "physicians" or "urgent care.") You will be expected to pay for your treatment when you receive it, so bring your checkbook, credit card, or proof that you have medical insurance coverage (your medical insurance card).

Hospital emergency rooms are reserved for critical medical emergencies. They are prepared to provide treatment for life-threatening and critical situations, such as uncontrolled bleeding, broken bones, high fevers, dehydration, unconsciousness, and seizures. If you seek care in a hospital emergency room for minor problems, you will probably have a long wait, impersonal care, and a large bill.

Consult with the staff at the health center on your campus to learn in advance what to do if you need medical care when the center is closed. They can explain the choices available in your community; be sure to express your personal preferences and feel free to ask questions about anything you don't understand.

Do not wait until you are ill; you may lack the energy to research health care options. Learn about the resources before you need them!
  

In the US, it is a violation of immigration law for non-immigrants (including F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 students and dependents) to accept public assistance, even for medical care. In some cases, accepting such assistance could prevent you from securing a visa abroad or reentering the United States.

You need medical insurance that will cover you (and your dependents) every day during your study and travel abroad. Some schools require foreign students to purchase medical insurance, and many have a particular plan that you must purchase.  No insurance plan covers every expense. Some types of treatment will be excluded from coverage and, even for expenses that are included, you will be expected to share the cost by paying a portion of the bill.

You may first be asked to provide information about yourself and your ability to pay for the services. You may meet with a nurse or physician's assistant, who will probably take your temperature, blood pressure, weight, and other measurements; she or he will probably ask you many questions about the reason for your visit. In some cases, the nurse or physician's assistant will conduct the examination and provide treatment. If so, it is because your condition is a common one, the treatment routine, and the practitioner fully trained to provide the appropriate care. Nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals will expect you to explain your symptoms and conditions objectively, even if you are uncomfortable or intimidated. Always tell the truth and give complete and detailed information.

If you have questions about your condition, treatment, or medical options, ask the doctor, nurse, or medical professional.  You may feel comfortable treating common or minor illnesses with familiar remedies brought from home or purchased from a pharmacy. You may find that the remedies familiar to you from home are not available where you are studyng, are sold in a different strength, or require a doctor's prescription. Different countries have different laws about which medications may be sold without a doctor's prescription. 

Some Schools Require Medical Insurance An increasing number of colleges and universities in the United States require international students to carry medical insurance in order to enroll. Points to remember - make sure you have purchased a policy before you leave your home country.

Staying Healthy Your health has a direct effect on your academic success. If you are healthy, well-rested, and alert, you will be prepared to achieve your peak academic performance. Planning for a successful adjustment into the local culture will help you overcome some of the initial challenges of changing your environment. 

The process of adjusting to a new culture can take many months, during which time you may experience periods of extreme stress. The stress results from uncertainty about finding your way in a strange place, homesickness and loneliness for family and home, competition with U.S. students, difficulties with language, differences in cultural values, the challenge of meeting people and making friends, differences in daily routine, and the many other factors that cause culture shock.

Some students become ill when they are under stress, because stress can lower resistance to infection and disease. Others experience physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, constipation, headaches, fatigue, heart palpitations, and altered menstrual periods. Although they may seem unrelated, these are often the result of unrelieved stress.

Stress can be managed! The first and best way to cope with unavoidable stress is to keep your body in good physical health by eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest. Be sure to make time for activities which you really enjoy, whether alone or with the new friends you have made.

Keep your expectations realistic: trying to do too much will cause you to become frustrated and even more stressed. Set priorities, so you work on the most important tasks and leave the minor ones for later. Take one thing at a time, don't try to be perfect, and focus on your strengths. All of these will help you maintain more control over your life and reduce your stress.

Practice your English daily. Difficulty in communicating inevitably leads to frustration and causes stress. As you improve your English, you will be able to communicate effectively with Americans, express your ideas and preferences, and make new friends.

Research suggests that students who set realistic goals, have patience, are curious about new cultures, and have a sense of humor are more successful and quicker at adjusting to a new culture.

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Most students, both U.S. and international, are relatively young and have been healthy for most of their lives. They often believe that they will remain healthy and will not need medical care while they are in school. But some students do have serious illnesses and accidents that require expensive medical care. Points to remember:

• No one can predict who will remain healthy and who will not.
• Most international students would be financially ruined by the expense of a serious medical emergency requiring lengthy medical care and treatment.
• Many governments do not pay any part of the medical expenses for international students studying here.
• By maintaining medical insurance, you relieve yourself from worry about unexpected medical costs so you are free to pursue your educational goals.
• It is generally not possible to purchase insurance after you get sick, because an illness or injury that you already have, called "preexisting," is usually not covered by insurance.

Indemnity Plan. Under an indemnity insurance plan, you pay an insurance premium and then you can choose your physician and other health care providers, refer yourself to specialists, and otherwise make independent decisions about what type of care to seek. The insurance pays a fixed percentage of covered expenses, and usually requires deductibles and copayments.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). A preferred provider organization operates much like an indemnity plan, except the plan provides incentives for insured individuals to seek care from practitioners who are on a list provided by the insurance company. Under a PPO plan, the insurance company will generally cover a higher percentage of the cost, and sometimes require you to pay a lower deductible, if you choose one of their "preferred providers."

Health Maintenance Organization (open access). A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) with open access provides coverage for many services but requires that you seek care first from one selected physician ("primary care provider") before you go to any other physicians or health facilities. The HMO will provide you with a list of physicians from which you select your primary care provider. Your insurance will provide coverage for visits to your primary care provider and for most services that he or she recommends. Services that you seek independently (without consulting your primary care provider) are generally not covered.

Health Maintenance Organization (closed panel). An HMO with closed panel is one in which the physicians and other practitioners work directly for the HMO. All services must be provided directly by the HMO and its staff. Services which you seek outside the HMO are generally not covered.

• Keep your insurance card with you at all times, and show it to the doctor or hospital when you seek medical treatment.
• With HMO insurance, you generally present your card at the time you seek medical care and, if necessary, pay your copayment. Any additional billing is handled directly by the HMO.
• For indemnity and PPO plans, the insurance company must receive a written request for payment (a claim), that they will review before making any payment.
• Complete claim forms accurately, and respond promptly to any request for information from your insurance company. Failure to do so could delay the insurance company's payment to you or to the doctor.
• Some doctors work directly with the insurance company for payment, and others require you to pay and seek reimbursement yourself. Ask about payment arrangements when you receive medical treatment so you know what to expect.

• You must pay for your insurance before you have coverage.
• Purchase insurance immediately prior to leaving your home country.
• Renew your insurance before the coverage expires in order to remain insured. If you don't do so, you may have a lapse in coverage, and in some cases you will not be able to purchase insurance, even by paying the premium.

• Learn about your college or university health center, including its location, hours of operation, and the types of service it offers.
• Ask which services are included in your student health fee. For those that are not, such as visits to specialists, laboratory tests, and other similar expenses, the health center may offer a reduced rate or may be able to refer you to a doctor or clinic that has a lower charge for students.
• Ask the health center staff what you should do if you need health care when their office is closed.

• As soon as your dependents arrive, identify the HMO or health care practitioner they will use.
• A family physician can provide comprehensive and personalized care when your family needs it.
• A hospital emergency room provides care for life-threatening emergencies. If you take your family members there for routine (nonemergency) care, you are likely to experience a very long wait, impersonal care, and receive a large bill.
• Medical insurance is as important for your dependents as it is for you!

• If possible, go first to your college or university health center for treatment during their regular hours of operation.
• If the health center is closed, go to a local physician or urgent care clinic.
• Go to a hospital emergency room for serious illnesses or accidents.

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• Have other international travelers used this company, and has the company treated the students fairly? 
• Does the company have a customer service staff available to answer questions and resolve problems? 
• How quickly does the company pay claims?

• Do I pay a deductible once each year or every time I get sick?
• Is the deductible reduced or waived if I use the college or university health center or a preferred provider?

• Is the copayment a fixed amount, a fixed percentage, or does it change depending on the type of treatment I need?
• Does the policy provide for an "out-of-pocket maximum," that is, after I pay a certain stated copayment amount, will the policy pay 100 percent of the covered medical expenses?

• How much choice will I have to select my own physician and other health care providers?
• If I must select from a list, will I be able to find a physician whom I like, whose office is conveniently located, and who will be willing to accept me as a patient? Are many of the physicians on the list refusing to accept new HMO or PPO patients?
• If my HMO assigns me to a physician and I wish to change physicians, what procedure do I follow? Can I change whenever and as often as I like?

• How many HMO locations does this company have? Where are they located? Am I eligible to receive treatment at all of them?
• What happens if I need medical care and I am not near an HMO location? Will my insurance pay for my treatment?
• In the local area, if I have an accident or other medical emergency and am transported to a nonmember hospital, will my treatment be covered by my insurance?

• If I wish to see a specialist, what procedure must I follow?
• If I consult my primary care provider and he or she refuses to refer me to a specialist, can I get the visit covered in any other way?
• Does the insurance limit my access to specialists in any other way, for example by limiting the number of covered visits or requiring an additional copayment?

Specific limits. Some indemnity and PPO policies give specific dollar limits on what they will pay for particular services. For example, they may limit the hospital room and board charge, the doctor's fee, the surgery fees, or the anesthesiologist charge. Other policies pay "usual" or "reasonable and customary" charges for covered costs, which means that your reimbursement is based on what is usually charged in the local area. Questions to ask:

• Does this policy set specific dollar limits on any covered expense? If so, is the limit reasonable based on the likely charge I must pay if I need the service?
• If a specific dollar limit is not set, on what basis does the insurance reimburse covered expenses? Do they use standard "reasonable and customary" amounts, or do they have their own schedule of acceptable charges and fees on which they base their payments?

Lifetime vs. per-occurrence maximums Many indemnity and PPO insurance policies specify a limit in the amount they will pay for any single individual's medical bills. In some policies, the maximum is for the lifetime of the individual (the total of all medical bills), while other policies limit the amount they will pay for any one illness or injury. The lower the maximum, the greater risk to the insured, because medical costs are very high and the average hospital stay costs thousands of dollars. Questions to ask:

• Does this policy place limits on the maximum amount payable for my medical expenses, either in total or for a specific illness? If so, is it likely that my costs will exceed the maximum?

• What is the policy period of this insurance, and how will I know when it is time to renew my policy?
• If I am no longer eligible to participate in this plan, where can I turn for insurance coverage when this policy expires?
• Does this policy limit the benefit period for treatment of illnesses or injuries? If so, what is the limited period?
• Does this policy provide for an extension of benefits so that it will continue to provide some coverage if I am receiving treatment at the time my policy expires?

• What is the complete list of exclusions?
• How likely is it that I will need treatment for something that is excluded? If I do, how will I pay for that cost?

• Does this policy provide benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation? If so, are there specific dollar limits placed on these benefits? Are the dollar amounts sufficient for the costs associated with return to my country?
• Does the medical evacuation benefit provide for return to my home country, or only for transport to the closest medical facility?

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