|
| Types of Health Plans |  There are several types of health plans available:
• Sponsored foreign student: If you have an institutional sponsor or a scholarship, you may already be provided with health insurance through your sponsor. Find out which health care services are provided for you and which are not. Ask what provisions are made for your spouse or family if they will be with you in the United States. Depending on the amount and type of coverage, you may wish to think over a supplemental policy that will help cover more of your potential expenses.
• University health plans: Almost all educational institutions require that students obtain health and accident insurance (the cost of which is in addition to the "health fee" generally charged at the beginning of each school term). Most universities and colleges advise a specific student health insurance plan. But some of these plans are organized to supplement insurance already held by U.S. students or their parents. Such insurance plans are better than no insurance at all, but they may not meet the needs of international students. Make sure any policy you buy is not intended to be a supplemental policy only.
 • NAFSA: Association of International Educators, publishes online yellow pages with information on health and safety.
• Basic health insurance plan coverage: Basic health insurance usually contains doctors' fees (or a percentage of the fee) for major illnesses, as well as hospital and surgical expenditures. Most insurance plans do not pay for smaller illnesses or injuries which are treated in a doctor's office. Be certain that your spouse or family, who accompanies you to the United States, is also covered by health insurance. Your family can be protected by obtaining a "family plan" that covers it as well as you.
• Major medical insurance: The aim of this insurance is to take care of expenses resulting from a prolonged illness or serious injury. In fact, these policies include a "deductible" clause — that is, you pay a particular amount, and the insurance company pays any additional charges or, sometimes, only the major percentage of those charges. Normally, the deductible is $500 to $1000. The sum depends on the policy and the type of coverage. Maximum advantages (the limit the insurance company will pay) range greatly and generally range from a low of $5,000 (which is not enough coverage) to $1 million or more (which is usually more than most healthy international students need). You should obtain insurance that provides at least $25,000 in major medical coverage. It is recommended, however, to buy $50,000, $75,000, or even $100,000 worth of coverage, especially if you want to bring your spouse or other dependents with you.
Most basic health and medical insurance policies specify certain limits, that is, a certain maximum amount the insurance company will pay for certain services. The client must pay charges in excess of the stated limits.
|
|
