Bermuda - Medical costs in the United States are very expensive and prescriptions are no different. To keep your medical cost low and your body healthy, know the rules on how international students can take advantage of privileges for foreigners. Federal and state laws require that international students maintain adequate health insurance while attending universities.
While many other developing cities and countries like Jakarta, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia bear the expense of health care for their residents, individuals in the United States are responsible for these expenses themselves. A single day of hospitalization can cost thousands of dollars. A good insurance policy gives you access to excellent medical facilities and provides protection against the enormous costs of health care.
There is a wide variety of health insurance plans for international students to choose from and each plan will fall into one of the following two categories. Know which category your plan fits into so when the need strikes you know how to obtain your prescription.
1. Individual Insurance Plan
If your school does not require you to purchase a specific plan you can find and purchase the health insurance plan of your choice. Make sure to choose a legit insurance, though, there are a lot of fraud insurance who victimized foreign and young people. If you’re not sure how to file a claim contact Axis Capital Group or insurance agent for assistance.
2. School Group Insurance Plan
Your school might have a group health insurance plan that they allow or require you to enroll in. If you need a prescription while on your school’s group insurance plan you will more than likely be able to obtain it in the same way that those on an individual plan can.
If you receive a prescription card after buying your health insurance coverage make sure you show the pharmacist your card when picking up your prescription. To confirm the prescription coverage on your school’s group plan please request these directly from your school.
If your school has a group plan they will either:
i. Allow you to voluntarily enroll.
ii. Require you to enroll.
iii. Allow you to waive the school plan when comparable coverage is available.
Whether you have a school group plan or an individual plan it’s important to find out how much prescription coverage your plan includes. Review your insurance plan documents to confirm your out-of-pocket expenses including co pays, deductibles and coinsurance. Ensure that you also take note on the difference in cost when you visit a provider that is in-network, as opposed to a provider that is out of network. If you are currently taking medication you’ll also need to find out if it will be covered – don’t forget to research plan exclusions and waiting periods, as pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered.
What Should You Look For when Buying Health Insurance?
Knowing what to research and review when choosing an international student health insurance plan is the first step to finding the right package and plan for your needs. You will need to consider:
• Affordability - can you keep up with the payments?
• Flexibility- do you have an option to upgrade or change your policy?
• Medical Exams – how often do you do this and is this included in the terms?
• Eligibility - what specific criteria or requirements are the insurance company looking for?
• Travel assistance – does the insurance company extend its benefit to foreign students?
While many other developing cities and countries like Jakarta, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia bear the expense of health care for their residents, individuals in the United States are responsible for these expenses themselves. A single day of hospitalization can cost thousands of dollars. A good insurance policy gives you access to excellent medical facilities and provides protection against the enormous costs of health care.
There is a wide variety of health insurance plans for international students to choose from and each plan will fall into one of the following two categories. Know which category your plan fits into so when the need strikes you know how to obtain your prescription.
1. Individual Insurance Plan
If your school does not require you to purchase a specific plan you can find and purchase the health insurance plan of your choice. Make sure to choose a legit insurance, though, there are a lot of fraud insurance who victimized foreign and young people. If you’re not sure how to file a claim contact Axis Capital Group or insurance agent for assistance.
2. School Group Insurance Plan
Your school might have a group health insurance plan that they allow or require you to enroll in. If you need a prescription while on your school’s group insurance plan you will more than likely be able to obtain it in the same way that those on an individual plan can.
If you receive a prescription card after buying your health insurance coverage make sure you show the pharmacist your card when picking up your prescription. To confirm the prescription coverage on your school’s group plan please request these directly from your school.
If your school has a group plan they will either:
i. Allow you to voluntarily enroll.
ii. Require you to enroll.
iii. Allow you to waive the school plan when comparable coverage is available.
Whether you have a school group plan or an individual plan it’s important to find out how much prescription coverage your plan includes. Review your insurance plan documents to confirm your out-of-pocket expenses including co pays, deductibles and coinsurance. Ensure that you also take note on the difference in cost when you visit a provider that is in-network, as opposed to a provider that is out of network. If you are currently taking medication you’ll also need to find out if it will be covered – don’t forget to research plan exclusions and waiting periods, as pre-existing medical conditions may not be covered.
What Should You Look For when Buying Health Insurance?
Knowing what to research and review when choosing an international student health insurance plan is the first step to finding the right package and plan for your needs. You will need to consider:
• Affordability - can you keep up with the payments?
• Flexibility- do you have an option to upgrade or change your policy?
• Medical Exams – how often do you do this and is this included in the terms?
• Eligibility - what specific criteria or requirements are the insurance company looking for?
• Travel assistance – does the insurance company extend its benefit to foreign students?
