• 25
  Dec
  2009

• The spring semester is about to start

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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Everyone is in the holiday mood, Christmas festivities are keeping everyone occupied and the spring semester is all set to begin in a fortnight. Once everyone is back from their visits, it will be time again for business as usual. Colleges and schools will start in full swing, and admissions and registrations will recommence. And, those who do not have an international student medical insurance have to make a decision quickly too.

In case your university has made health insurance coverage mandatory but you plan to buy coverage elsewhere, now will also be a very important time to select a plan. There is a multitude of plans available to choose from, and the process needs time, at least a whole day spent comparing various plans and their features and benefits.

Make sure that you take some time out for that as soon as you can. Otherwise you might not be able to submit the waiver form in time and you might get registered into the university-provided plan by default.

Once the celebrations are done, it is time to sit back and carefully decide upon a good international student insurance plan. After all, good health (both physical and financial) is a celebration that should go on all year.

• 24
  Dec
  2009

• International students - a tricky demographic?

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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The health care system of USA is confusing and costly. No one is denied emergency health care, that is for sure. As in, if someone meets with an accident or faints on the road, all that the people around have to do is call 911 and world class emergency health care is available to the patient. However, it is planned healthcare that causes so many problems.

The economically underprivileged have medicaid and senior citizens have medicare which takes care of their medical expenses. Most young people below 18 years are covered by the family's health insurance policy. For American students there are some family health care plans which allow ful-time students up to the age of 21 to be covered.

It is the international students who do not fall under any of these categories. They are not old enough be covered by medicare nor do they get the family coverage. It is imperative that they buy some form of international student insurance that takes care of medical expenses.

The market is flooded with plans that cater to this demographic. The choices available can often be overwhelming. That is where insurance websites come in handy. Answer a few simple questions, and get immediate quotes from many international student insurance companies. Compare the available plans, consider what best suits you and make a choice. Simple, isn't it?

• 23
  Dec
  2009

• Mental, Dental, and Cosmetic health care

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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One of the most important clauses a student needs to be aware of in an international student medical insurance plan are the exclusions. No health plan in the world promises to cover everything. Health insurance can not work that way. So, it is a good practice to read and understand what all is not covered by the policy. It saves the unnecessary effort spent in making a claim and getting a claim denied letter, and the anger and incredulity that usually follows a denied claim.

Regular dental checkup is not covered. A dental procedure caused by an accident and/or recommended by a doctor as essential for health of the policy-holder will be covered. Contact the insurance company for clarifications.

Plastic surgeries, nose lifts, lip enhancements, etc. are usually not covered. A burn or an accident which needs skin grafting or plastic surgery, will be covered. Again, the procedure has to be recommended by the doctor and should be deemed to be necessary for the policy holder's health.

Consultations and treatment with a psychiatrist or a psychologist, unless recommended by a doctor are not covered. Mental health treatments are just not covered in many policies, and may be partly covered by some. Read the offer document carefully and call up the insurer's office to clarify beforehand.

• 22
  Dec
  2009

• Health insurance when on the verge of getting a job

  
  Filed Under: Health Insurance
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International students studying in the USA are forced by many universities to buy international health insurance coverage. At the start of the education, this seems like an avoidable expense, but soon students realize it was a good investment as they start finding out the cost of medical care in the USA.

As their education progresses, international student insurance helps many students pass easily through the medical system of US, which could well have been unaffordable in the absence of the coverage. Slowly, education draws to an end and many start looking for a job.

Students who find jobs in companies either in the USA or in many other countries enjoy the benefits of complementary health insurance, the premium payment for which is borne by the employer. In the US at least, it is almost an unsaid rule. Health insurance from the employer is generally a standard part of the job offer.

Those students who are in their final year of education have to bear in mind that a strong economic background unbridled by medical debts is a good start to find a good job. Being medically covered when studying can help you later in life more than you would realize now.