Do you know what does health insurance mean for international students who study in the United States? If you don’t, it will be necessary for you to read further. Let’s begin with its importance.

Importance

The cost of medical treatment in the USA is really expensive. So many international students decide to trust their youth and health. Once diseases or accidents unexpected happen to them, they can’t get proper medical treatment in time. If you are an international student studying in the USA health insurance plans will give you a peace of mind. They function as an economical way to give you quality health care and will greatly reduce the medical cost so that you can afford it.

For international students, health insurance means more than this. According to the enrollment policies of US universities and colleges, international students on a visa should prove their financial abilities before their enrollment. If you fail to do so, you will be not allowed to get enrolled in the select college or university. To have a health insurance plan which takes effect in the USA will be reliable evidence of your financial ability. When you are unable to get health insurance coverage, you will have to lose your student status and return to your country of origin.

Besides, in some colleges and universities, you should pay a set amount of health insurance premium automatically to your student account for each educational credit hour you have registered. If you fail to do so, your student account as well as your registration may be on hold.

You are able to get health insurance plans through the student health department in your college or university or purchase health insurance coverage through independent health insurance agents. After you get enrolled, you can contact the department to get more information about the health insurance options available to you. If you get coverage from an independent health insurance provider, you will have to submit evidence to the student department in your college or university.

Coverage

Most health insurance plans for students don’t exclude medical services and treatments for pre-existing diseases. It is the highlight of the plans for international students. However, in some cases, there is an exclusion period which usually lasts for around one year. The period varies with the rules of different colleges or universities. During this period any treatment service on your pre-existing disease will not be covered. After the period ends, you are allowed to pay a little higher cost in order to get continuous treatment and more health insurance coverage.

Health insurance plans for international students should cover hospital charges, treatment and diagnosis procedures, dental treatments, mental treatments, X-ray costs, lab tests or prescription drugs. You don’t need to worry about the high medical costs when you need preventive measures or medical treatments. The health insurance for international students even will cover the pregnancy complications or miscarriage expenses. If the female students give birth to a baby after the coverage takes effect, the expenses on the maternity and newborn care will be covered. The spouse, children or other dependents of international students can be included in the plans. It also should come with medical evacuation and repatriation of your body if you unluckily pass away. They may cover motor vehicle accidents in some cases.

Coverage requirements for the health insurance plans vary with different colleges or universities. Take the system requirements of Texas A&M University as example. These requirements include:

a) You will have to be protected by health insurance plans in each semester before your graduation date.

b) You should have coverage of no less than $50,000 per illness or accident.

c) You will pay a deductible which is less than $500 per illness or accident.

d) The coverage on medical evacuation should be more than $10,000.

e) The coverage on the repatriation of your remains after your death should be at least $7,500.

There are also requirements on the health insurance companies. According to Texas A&M University, the health insurance companies who offer international students health insurance coverage should have a Best or Standard and Poor’s rating of at least “A-”, a Weiss Research Inc. rating of at least “B+” or financial supported by the home country government of the student.

Costs

The costs of the health insurance plans for international students are based on several factors, such as the state, the agent, your age, how long you will study and the coverage of the plans. The medical history or pre-existing medical conditions of international students will also be considered. If you are healthy all the time, basic health insurance coverage will be enough for you. If you have some pre-exiting conditions which require continuous medical attention and medical treatments, basic coverage of health insurance coverage will not be adequate for you.

The health insurance coverage varies with the premium you pay. In the health insurance plan for international students, your past claims and even your age will contribute to the amount of the premium.

These plans offer coverage of up to $300,000. The deductible is either $50 or $100 and affordable for most international students. After you pay a deductible of about $100, you are able to get $100 if you are injured and around $350 when you are in hospital. According to many health insurance plans, you will save more when the fist treatment is made at the school’s medical treatment center.

Tips:

Even when your college or university offers health insurance coverage, you can compare the options given by independent health insurance agents. It is not wasting-time because you will benefit more from the comparison.

It is advisable to select a health insurance plan which is renewable on an annual basis because of your changing needs. You should have the ability to renew or manage the plan based on your needs.

An international full-time student ranging from 14 years old to 65 years old will qualify for the health insurance plans. No matter you are research scholars, exchange program members or full-time students, try your best to get discounts.