Best Insurance for International Students in the US

Did you know that medical bills are among the leading causes of financial stress in the US? For international students, unexpected medical expenses can be an absolute nightmare!

-          A 3-day hospital stay can cost around 30,000 US dollars

-          Fixing a broken leg can cost 7,500 dollars.

-          A serious throat infection may cost above 1,000 dollars.

Now, imagine your situation if you don’t have insurance. If you’re studying in the US on a tight budget, staying prepared for medical expenses is smart.

Having the right health insurance is a necessity more than a requirement. It’s your financial safety net. Injuries, sudden illnesses, or a minor medical need—you want to be covered by a trustworthy insurance provider. Sadly, finding the right insurance plan isn’t easy.

But you can now relax, because It’s Ok Yaar. We’re here to guide you. In this blog post, we will:

• Explain basic health insurance terms

• Share why insurance matters for students

• Help you choose the right insurance plan

• Offer you tips when buying an insurance plan

• Discuss what happens to your insurance after your education
  

You need to know a Few Key Insurance Terms you’ll come across when choosing your plan.

First up, premiums. This is the amount you pay for your health insurance every month. Depending on the plan, students do have the option to purchase for up to 1 year of coverage. Note that you have to pay this amount regardless of whether you used any medical services. It’s more like a subscription fee that keeps your insurance active.

Next, we have deductibles. This is the amount you’ll pay from your pocket each year before your insurance starts to cover its share of the costs. For example, if your deductible is 500 dollars, you’ll need to pay the first 500 dollars of your medical expenses each year, on your own.

Then there are out-of-pocket maximums. This is the maximum amount you’ll pay for covered services in a year. Once you spend this amount on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, your health plan pays 100% of the costs of covered benefits. However, this may vary with plans. And for those who don’t already know, copay is a fixed you pay for certain medical services each time you use them.

The out-of-pocket maximum usually begins tracking once the co-insurance takes place. So for example, in an 80% 20% plan, the insurance will cover 80% of the first $5k, then 100% thereafter. That means the student is responsible for $1000 (plus any deductibles and copays) before the insurance will cover 100%. Great. Keep these terms in your mind, as they’ll help when it’s time to use your students' insurance in the US.

By the way, the Risks of being uninsured in the US aren’t worth it. The last thing you want is to call your parents for extra cash because you were careless with your health. 

Besides, if you’re uninsured and you skip necessary treatments or regular check-ups, chances are you’ll struggle with serious issues down the line. Moreover, common problems among students, like flu, injuries, or mental health issues, can become major challenges without insurance. You don’t want all this affecting your health and academic performance.  You now know the hazards of not having insurance. It’s time to see how to choose the right insurance plan. The hundreds of options can confuse anyone. Don’t worry, We’ll tell you what key factors to look into one by one.

Firstly, the odds are that your college will mandate you to buy a group insurance plan. Some universities present mandatory group plans and some also offer the option to opt out. Either way, these group health insurances are unique in what they present. They offer:

1. Collective group coverage 

2. Efficient per student cost

3. Simpler enrolment facilitated by universities

4. Comprehensive coverage in line with the Affordable Care Act in the US

5. Tailored to the common healthcare needs of students
   

What’s best is that group insurance plans offer extra convenience through on-campus health centers. This means you save additional medical care costs by not having to travel off-campus.

But like most things in life, there’s a catch here. There are a few reasons we recommend individual insurance plans over group insurance. 

1. You can customize your coverage

2. You will have more options when choosing healthcare providers and hospitals

3. It provides continuity of coverage since individual health insurance isn’t tied to your university. This means your insurance continues if you switch universities or extend your stay for OPT.

4. You’re offered year-round coverage, including breaks and academic leaves. This matters since some group insurance plans only cover students during their academic year.

5. Higher coverage limits and less restrictive caps ensure you don’t get broke because of a limited group insurance plan.
   

For these reasons, we recommend you buy your own insurance plan. But it would be wise to look into these factors before making a decision.

One, consider your individual health needs. Ask yourself whether you have any existing health conditions requiring regular medication or treatment. Ensure your insurance plan offers good coverage for those treatments.

Second, think about the duration of your stay in the US. Are you there for a one or four-year degree? Your plan should cover you adequately for the entire duration of your stay without costly renewals or frequent changes to the policies.

Third, check if the plan includes preventive care services. This will help you stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office. You’ll be entitled to free vaccinations, annual check-ups, and screenings.

Fourth, look for coverage for mental health services and sports injuries. This is particularly important if you plan to be involved in university sports teams and if you find the stress of academic life pretty hard to cope with. (Please note that: Most of the student insurance plans may not cover if you are engaged in organized sports or competition. Coverage is provided for recreational play or activities.)

Fifth, double-check what the plan covers. You want to know what’s covered and what’s not. This saves you from shocking bills later on.

Sixth, verify the network of hospitals and clinics near your campus. You want to ideally avoid high out-of-network charges.

Finally, compare the costs, including premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums. 

That’s it! You’re more or less prepared to pick the right insurance plan for your studies in the US. 

Now comes our partner and sponsor of this content - Visitors Coverage Insurance. 

They offer an affordable variety of reliable insurance plans for international students studying in the US. Here are some of the high-quality plans we found for international students.

This means you can focus on your studies in the US and stop worrying about the “what ifs”.

By the way, if your university is in New York State, you may also want to check out the 0$ insurance plan endorsed and subsidized by the New York State government. This plan also offers free dental and vision care for untimely accidents. Visit the link in the video description to see if you’re eligible for this no-cost insurance plan.

We’d also like to add what happens once you move from being a student to the professional world. I mean Optional Practical Training (OPT). 

Once you’ve graduated and secured an on-campus or off-campus job, your employer will present better, even more comprehensive insurance plans.

This can include extended healthcare facilities like dental and vision care! Most often you’ll have a choice to choose between several plans where the costs are shared by you and your employer. This is great since they become more affordable compared to student insurance plans.

We advise you to not be without insurance during this transition period. Otherwise, there’s still some probability that high medical costs may arise through unexpected illnesses or accidents. 

Remember that moving to OPT is a big step. While it opens new opportunities, it also brings new responsibilities. Take the time to understand and choose the best option that protects your health and supports your career goals. 

We love making content that helps you. Until then, get your insurance sorted and worry less. 

Kyunki dosto, It’s Ok Yaar!