If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Universities in the USA require all foreign nationals to buy a goodly coverage for medical emergencies. Universities provide the guidelines ? what are the conditions that ought to be covered, what would the premium cost be for the coverage you seek, a list of reputed insurers and so on.
A number of policies in the market are tailored for the specific needs of international students medical insurance. Generally, they require students to buy a maximum coverage of $200,000 to $300,000 for every condition. Depending on your age, sex and state of health, you could choose your coverage.
Perchance the university has not provided guidelines, students would be wise to analyze their possible requirements and compare and contrast several medical insurance for international students plans, before zeroing in on one. A reputed insurance advisor would come in handy here.
Go online and get a list of the common procedures done in the state where you will be and the coverage amount for each of them. Several states publish a list of the 25 most common procedures. The list would indicate the procedures, the facilities where they might be done and also the costs accruing to the patient.
For instance, the list would show you that an overnight stay might cost you $5000 or more in a particular state, or an appendectomy would set you back $18,000 and even an over-the-counter headache pill would cost a pretty penny.
If you have traveled with spouse or partner, then do insure for maternity and childcare. Pre-natal appointments are between $100-$200, and these are just the doctor?s fees. An ultra sound test is between $300 and $1000. The coverage for a c-section is different from that for a regular birth. Post natal complications may or may not be covered by insurance, depending on the international student insurance policy.
One needs to know that international student medical insurance coverage varies for the student and the student?s spouse. An unmarried partner is not covered for birth, but immediately after the marriage, she may be added to the list. Most insurers do not insure post pregnancy at all, so it might be wiser to cover a pregnancy before conception, even if it does mean that the premium is higher.
The best thing is to insure yourself with medical insurance for international students for about $ 500,000 if single, higher if with partner, after perusal of the insurer?s clauses. If treatment is by a network doctor or hospital, direct billing should be possible so that the financial strain upfront is reduced. In case of hospitalization in an out-of-network hospital, keep careful track of all operating and non-operation expenses, prescribed medicines (sometimes an aspirin can cost $5) so you can make your claims accurately.
