• 31
  Aug
  2009

• Waves of change flowing down under

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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In an earlier post we had mentioned about how things were going downhill down under. Australia is trying to fix the mess a bit, it seems. Since education remains the third most important part of the Australian economy, it had to be just a matter of when, not if, such substantial steps would start showing up.

In an unexpected(?), and a much appreciated move, the premier of South Australia has written a personal letter to each and every one of the 5000 odd international students studying in his home state. The letter, as expected, thanks the student for choosing Australia as their study destination, assures them of safety, and wishes them a memorable stay in the Australia for the period of their education.

Many students who received the letter, though not overjoyed, expressed some satisfaction that some positive and visible steps are being taken. There is a thinking that all is not lost, and things will be better sooner rather than later.

There still remain issues of higher tuition fees for overseas students, no concessional fare for foreign students, and the much overused term “racialism”. But, these personal letters are a good beginning to what should be a genuine attempt to regain the confidence of Indian students, who hail from Australia’s second largest education export market.

• 28
  Aug
  2009

• The importance of being a student

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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To study in the USA, one needs an F1 visa which confirms his/her student status. An international immigrant is considered to be a student only for the period during which the F1 visa is valid. An F1 comes with many benefits, one of them being that the student qualifies for a foreign student medical insurance. Such a policy is designed specifically for students, which means that the premiums, coverage and benefits are designed with this demographic in mind.

The policy covers health care expenditure during the period of one's studies in the kind of environment that a student is expected to live in. The risks covered are based on an understanding of the special needs of those spending time in universities/schools/colleges; participating in sports activities, study trips (with special riders); etc.

The policy is purchased with the expressed understanding that it will cover a student with a valid study visa. It is essential for students to understand that if and when they either apply for or receive a permanent residency in the USA, the policy will stop the coverage. If you are considering applying for PR, know this fact, and buy other forms of health insurance too.

• 27
  Aug
  2009

• Swine flu: Preparing for the second wave

  
  Filed Under: News
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A historical perspective of pandemic outbreaks suggests that most viral diseases attack a second time, and generally more severely than the first instance. Swine Flu A (H1N1) is expected to strike once more too.

A vaccine for H1N1 is under testing and if all goes well, it may be available for public somewhere in mid-October. They will be provided to the general public with a certain priority. Health workers, pregnant women, and people with a higher chance of infection and/or more chances of complications will be given higher preference.

As governments the world over are preparing to handle a higher number of patients and making more medical facilities available for the public, here is what you and I can do to tackle Swine Flu -

1. Wash hands with a disinfectant hand wash many times a day. Avoid bar soaps, use liquid soaps in public places.


2. Sneeze and cough etiquette has never been more important than now. When in classes or anywhere in the school with people around, be extra careful.


3. During the time it takes to get the H1N1 vaccine declared safe for humans and mass produced, take extra care. Get a seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your school/university or a nearby clinic.


4. Buy medical insurance, if you don't already have it. Like they say, better safe than sorry.

• 26
  Aug
  2009

• What about coverage for dependents of international students?

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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An international student studying (or planning to study) in the USA is allowed to be accompanied by dependent(s) - spouse and kid(s). Once the visa and other necessary documentation for everyone is complete, there comes the point when international student medical insurance is to be bought. It is not only a good decision to have coverage for the entire duration of the stay; many universities make it mandatory to have health insurance.

When selecting health insurance for oneself, it is a good idea to buy coverage for one’s dependents too. Doing so works out cheaper in some policies.

There are some points to be aware of before choosing to buy coverage for dependent spouse and/or kid(s)

1. Coverage for a dependent spouse can be very costly, sometimes around 8-10 times of what the student will pay. This is a general trend (with exceptions of course).
2. Do not be mislead by plans that claim to provide the best rates for coverage for you. They might cost you an arm and a leg for a dependent. Plans that seem to be slightly costlier for an individual might actually work out cheaper when the combined premium is calculated.
3. Check out the clause on coverage for pregnancy, if that matters to you. There can be some ambiguity in this clause in many plans.

Enjoy your stay, and stay covered.