• 04
  Aug
  2009

• Students, Schools and Swine Flu

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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Swine Flu or H1N1 is a new reality that’s keeping many a school and college awake these days. Tackling this new health hazard is definitely an item on the priority list of most schools and colleges in the USA. What does that mean to International Students going over (or back) to the USA this fall? Some changes for sure.

1. Posted signboards encouraging regular hand-washing
2. Encouraging usage of a hand sanitizer and disinfectant hand wipes
3. Repeated reminders of cough and sneeze etiquettes
4. Sending same-state students back home for a week or more, if tested positive
5. Quarantines on international and out-of-state students, if tested positive
6. And then some more…

Trying to answer a question on many minds about “Should I be worried?“ isn’t that easy. A diplomatic answer would be, “Yes and No.”

A practical one would be, “It is OK to be a bit worried. The rest of the world is, too, you know”. However, if you take enough precautions, there shouldn’t be too much cause for concern. The one worrying aspect of the virus has been that it has proven itself to be stronger than many of its ancestors, and shown a penchant to be pretty active even during summer when most viruses are usually happy being dormant.

You might, of course, decide to be a little more prepared, and enroll in a good health insurance scheme now, for those just-in-case scenarios.

• 03
  Aug
  2009

• Are you a sports student? Check the sports rider!

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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That every international student should have an International Student Insurance policy is a given. But, how is a sports student different from say, a science student or an engineering student? Would there be some difference in the way his/her policy will be looked at by the Insurance Company? The answer is YES. Sports students will have something called a sports rider attached to their policy. Let us understand why and how it is applied.

An insurance policy is based on what are called risk factors. The higher the risk of the insured event happening, the higher is the premium for the policy. For example, someone who has a family history of cardiac problems will usually pay more than a similar individual without that history. A smoker will usually pay more than a non-smoker.

A sports student who is usually in the field has a higher chance of an injury that might need a health insurance claim than a science student who sits in a class most of the time. Ergo, a higher premium. Also, there are higher chances of injury in football or ice hockey (contact sports) than in running or badminton. So, the rider is applied differently.

Point is, if you are some kind of sportsperson, be sure you enquire about the sports rider and do furnish info regarding your sporting activities before you sign up.