International students and scholars (F, J, M, Q, etc. visas) studying in the U.S. are usually eligible to enroll in a student health insurance plan provided by their school (Student Health Insurance
Plan). The student health insurance fee is usually included in the tuition list. You are automatically enrolled in the school's Student Health Insurance Plan when you register and pay each semester.
If you decide not to enroll in the school's student group health insurance, you will usually need to request and receive approval from the school to waive your student health insurance coverage by a date specified by the school.
This type of student health insurance plan is offered by most U.S. universities, which choose to partner with a reputable insurance company or companies to provide student group health insurance for their students, based on an agreement between the university and the insurance company to provide Student
Health Insurance for their students.
Of course, each school's student health insurance program varies in terms of the range of health services covered, the cost of coverage, etc. As of 2014, student health insurance must meet the standards set by the Affordable Care Act (Patient
Protection and AffordableCAre
Act, PPACA). Students may purchase such insurance for themselves and their dependents on campus. Health insurance that meets the school's minimum standard requirements may also be purchased from an off-campus insurance company.
Student health insurance plans are generally used to help reimburse insured students for a portion of their medical expenses after off-campus medical treatment, such as hospitalization, specialists, off-campus emergencies, prescription drugs, and lab tests. Some student health insurance plans also include dental, vision coverage, and medical expenses for emergencies that occur while traveling.
School-recommended insurance is reliable, with premiums that are usually lower than market rates and quicker to settle claims, especially for newcomers. If you want other options, wait until you are familiar with the environment and consult with experienced students. There is also information on the websites and forums of most of the federated organizations, so you can compare and contrast them yourself.
Of course, it is important to make sure that you purchase a policy based on your actual situation and needs. In addition to considering the premium, you should also pay attention to the amount of coverage, what is covered, the limitations on medical treatment, cost sharing, exclusions, etc., and whether or not there is any flexibility in transferring to another school or across the state.
Additionally, special attention should be paid to whether the dates of the health insurance policy include school vacations. If the school's insurance does not cover vacations, and if you have to stay in the U.S. during those vacations, you will have to buy additional insurance to ensure that you will need to see a doctor during those vacations.
2. Student Health Service Center Health Care Fees
U.S. universities generally have student health service centers (University Health
Services), which provide outpatient and emergency services, laboratory tests, health counseling, psychological counseling, vaccinations, and other basic medical care for all enrolled students. Some schools also have pharmacies.
The doctors here act as the students' family doctors, and can help with common illnesses and injuries. Schools also offer a variety of free health education and counseling services. So in addition to student health insurance, these schools require students to pay a campus
health service fee at the time of enrollment in order to use the basic medical services at the campus clinic for free.
The on-campus clinic services available to students vary from school to school. Check with your school's Student Health Service Center for details.
3. Medical insurance for international students during graduation internships
International students on F-1 visas may remain in the U.S. after graduation if they have permission from the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) to Optional Practical Training (OPT) for about a year.
Some schools allow international students on OPT to continue to participate in the school's student health insurance program (for about one year), and international students can contact the school to extend their student health insurance before graduation. Some schools do not accept international students on OPT for student health insurance.
Some internships may offer health insurance to international students. However, most companies do not provide medical insurance for internship students. In this case, it is recommended to purchase your own commercial medical insurance.
4. How can the family members of international students join the medical insurance?
If an international student's spouse and/or children are coming to the U.S. at the same time, you can check with your school to see if your family members are eligible to enroll in the school's student group health insurance program as immediate family members.
Some schools allow dependents to enroll in their student health insurance plans. Premiums for dependents are generally more expensive than those for students. Some schools do not accept applications from dependents for their student health insurance plans.
Spouses and children of international students, or parents and friends traveling to the U.S. to visit relatives, can also apply for U.S. travel medical insurance to cover them in case of medical and travel accidents.
The cost of travel medical insurance in the United States is not very high, depending on age, physical condition and other conditions of the charge, the lowest can be as low as one dollar a day, but the amount of coverage is much higher than in China.