Student Health Insurance in the US

Unlike many countries around the world, the United States does not have a nationalized health care system. The United States instead relies on individuals to assume their own medical responsibility by either paying for their own treatment or by having their own private health insurance plan.
Many international students that come to the US are often surprised to see how expensive medical costs can be. According to the World Health Organization, the United States was ranked #1 offering the most expensive medical care in the world. The advantage of having a student health insurance is that it is designed to cover a majority of medical costs, and often times they have a network of providers that are contracted to charge discounted rates.

Student health insurance is a way for students to protect their savings so that they can cover unexpected accidents and illnesses that occur without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Do I Need Health Insurance?

Often times, international students will find that their college or university requires them to have a health insurance plan since they know all too well how expensive medical costs can be. All students coming to the US should have a private student health insurance plan to cover them inside the US. Because medical expenses can add up quickly, health insurance should begin immediately upon entering the US and continue until the date of departure.

Student Health Group Plans

While most international student visas do not require health insurance coverage, most colleges and universities do. Schools typically have a group health insurance plan that is designed with the needs of international students and scholars in mind. Many colleges and universities will allow students to opt out of their group insurance plan if they can show proof of an alternate health insurance plan. Schools that allow students to waive out of their health insurance plans often have minimum requirements that the alternative plan must meet. Check out our School Requirements to find out what your school insurance minimums are.

Individual Student Health Insurance

Other schools may not be a group student health insurance plan in place. Instead, students can purchase their own international student insurance plan to cover them while enrolled in school. It’s important to check with your school to see if you need any particular benefits included on your plan. Schools will often request a confirmation of coverage from your insurance plan to confirm benefits and dates of coverage.

Insurance Requirements on Student Visas

While most visas do not mandate insurance, the J-1 and J-2 visa is an exception to this rule. All J visa holders are required by the US Department of State to carry a private health insurance plan for the full duration of their time in the US. Be aware of the health insurance requirements as you will need to show that your insurance meets all of the listed minimums.

Schools With No Insurance Requirements

There are a few cases where health insurance may not be required by your school. It is highly advisable that you purchase a student insurance as healthcare in the US can be very expensive and a visit to the ER can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Our Student Secure plan is an excellent individual plan that you can purchase to cover you while studying in the USA.

Choosing Your Student Health Insurance

When evaluating your student health insurance options, it’s important to choose an insurance plan that meets your particular needs. Everyone has a unique circumstance so it’s important to look at your health, activities, and wallet to see what is right for you. Here are some important considerations to think about:

Capped Benefits

A capped benefit limits the amount your health insurance will pay out. Often times, it is a sublimit on a particular benefit that stops the insurance from covering up to the policy maximum. Some plans list this cap on the benefit table, and others list the caps in the policy wording. Be sure to read carefully and look for any limits on coverage.

Exclusions

A list of exclusions is found on every health insurance plan, and it is extremely important to get the entire list and read through it. This list will tell you what is NOT covered – which can be much more important than the list of benefits.

Pre-existing Conditions

To put it simply, a pre-existing condition is a condition you had before your insurance plan started. Some insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions, others have a waiting period, and still others may cover it right away. If you have a condition that will require medical attention, be sure to check for this.

Maternity

Prenatal, delivery and post natal care is not standard on all insurance plans. If you anticipate becoming pregnant, it is important to check if your insurance plan covers maternity and if there is any waiting period that applies. Keep in mind that once you become pregnant there are few to no options available to cover the pregnancy.

Organized Sports

If you plan to play a sport on a team – whether it’s intercollegiate, intramural, or a club sport – many insurance plans often exclude coverage unless it is a comprehensive plan. Be sure to find out whether organized sports are covered and look to see what the total coverage would be.

Mental Health

It can be difficult to be away from home for so long, and many students seek mental health assistance while they are in the US. Check to see if your plan covers mental health if this is a benefit you need.

We recommend that you speak with an insurance agent if you have any questions about which plan is right for you. There are a number of options available to you, so it’s important to understand each plan and how it will work for you.