Health Services and Insurance Information

For International Students

In the event that you have an unexpected accident or sickness while in the United States this health insurance plan can help pay your medical bills. It is important to remember that medical treatment in the United States is very, very expensive and the U.S. healthcare system is designed for everyone to have health insurance.

It is important that when you receive the insurance card in your campus mailbox, that you register on-line for an account at CISI for students.

This will allow you to see your claims, give information to your parents, and receive important information on your individual policy and plan. Each time you visit a hospital, or doctor outside of the university, it is important to show the facility administration your insurance card. It will eliminate any issues of being billed and no insurance is covered for your service.

Note: This information on this page is also available as a PDF for you to download or print. The yearly cost for CISI student insurance is $994.80.

Highlights for the Insurance

• Coverage Year Limit is: $200,000
• Coverage Deductible is: $250 per Coverage Year.
• Coverage Year Out-of-Pocket Limit is: After the Covered Person reaches a $2,500 Out-of-pocket Limit per Coverage Year.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation is: $50,000
• Repatriation of Mortal Remains is: $15,000
• Physician Office Visits - In PPO Limits: 80% of the Negotiated Rate after a $50 Copayment per visit.
• Urgent Care - In PPO Limits: 80% of the Negotiated Rate after a $100 Copayment per visit.
• Inpatient Hospital Services/ Hospital and Physician Outpatient Services- In PPO Limits: 80% of the
• Negotiated Rate after a $200 Copayment per visit.
• Emergency Hospital Services- In PPO Limits: 80% of the Negotiated Rate after a $350 Copayment per visit.
• Inpatient treatment of mental and nervous disorders including substance abuse: Reasonable Expenses up to $2,500 Maximum per Coverage Year.
• Repairs to sound, natural teeth required due to an Injury: Reasonable Expenses up to $250 per Coverage  Year maximum.
• Dental Treatment (including extractions) to alleviate pain: Reasonable Expenses up to $250 per Coverage  Year maximum.
• Outpatient prescription drugs including oral contraceptives and devices: 50% of actual charge. Limited to a 31-day supply for initial fill or refill.
• No Maternity Coverage.
• 12 Month Pre-Existing Condition Limitation. (Meaning new students have to wait one year on this insurance if you have a previous health issue you will need assistance with)

The U.S. Healthcare System

To all international students studying in the United States, the U.S. healthcare system might seem impossibly complicated and confusing. This is because the US healthcare system is impossibly complicated and confusing; most U.S. citizens don't even fully understand it. The following is a short guide to help you to better understand the U.S. health care system, so you will be fully prepared for your stay in the United States.

Quality of U.S. Health Care

The United States boasts the greatest medical expertise and the finest clinics in the world. If you are sick or injured during your studies in the U.S. and you are treated in a U.S. hospital, you can be certain that you are receiving some of the finest care in the world.

The U.S. Spends Money On Health Care

The U.S. spends far more on health each year than most countries; in 2009, the U.S. spent 17.4 per cent of GDP on health, far more than the "rich country average of 9.6 per cent (OECD)." For reference, the next highest spender was Holland at 12 percent of its national wealth.

The Value of Health Insurance

As long as you have health insurance, this should not affect you as an international student in the US. With health insurance, you will be entitled to the high quality care provided by the U.S. health care system. However, without valid health insurance, you may find that quality health care is not nearly as accessible to you, and you may need to pay colossal medical fees should you become ill or injured.

Health Insurance for International Students

Just as U.S. citizens are not required by law to have health insurance, neither are F1 and F2 visa holders staying in the U.S. (although your school can require you to have it to enroll in classes).While you as an international student may not think you need health insurance to study in the US, it is highly recommended that you purchase it and in some cases your school or government may require it.

If you become ill or injured while you are staying in the U.S. and you do not have the appropriate insurance, you run the risk of paying very expensive medical bills, or even of receiving no health care at all. U.S. hospitals only treat emergency cases without prior payment, and may refuse treatment without evidence of insurance or a deposit. Researchers have found that the average charge for an emergency room visit in the U.S. is approximately $1,233 - 40% higher than the average American pays for rent each month. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you purchase health insurance before leaving for the United States, or soon after your arrival.

Important Insurance Terms

Finding an affordable student health insurance plan can be difficult, especially if there are insurance terms you don't understand. Simply having the basic understanding of insurance definitions can make the difference between having a plan that will cover you for the majority of your medical expenses and one that leaves you paying thousands of dollars.

Listed below are some of the most important definitions to know when searching for a health insurance plan.

Premium

This is the actual cost of your insurance plan. Keep in mind that the higher the premium, the higher your coverage and thus, the less you will have to pay in medical bills throughout the year.

Deductible

The Deductible is the amount that you must pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company will begin paying towards any covered expenses. The deductible affects how much money you will pay to the doctor or hospital, and is typically paid at the time of treatment.

Depending on the plan, the deductible may be paid once per calendar year or once per new condition:

Once per Year

Once-per-calendar-year deductibles are paid once for the entire year and don’t need to be paid again until you renew for an additional year.

Once per Condition

Once-per-condition deductibles are paid each time you visit the doctor, unless it’s a follow-up visit for the same condition.

Co-Pay

Like a deductible, this is the amount of money you must pay out of pocked before the insurance company begins to pay for your eligible expenses. Typically, this is required instead of a deductible or coinsurance, and requires you to pay a set fee for a specific visit.

Provider Network

Provider network (also known as an in-network provider) is a group of medical providers that have contracted with the insurance company to provide health care services. In-network providers typically charge less for the same service compared to non-network providers, so using an in-network provider can save you money and they will usually accept direct payment from your insurance company.

Usual, Reasonable and Customary

Usual, Reasonable and Customary (also known as URC) is the average cost for a particular treatment in a particular geographic area. It is the amount that insurance companies use to describe the limit on how much they will pay for covered expenses.

Example: If most providers usually charge $5,000 for a particular procedure in New York, the insurance company will not pay a doctor $10,000 for the same procedure. Instead, they will limit their payment amount to "Usual Reasonable and Customary" - in this example, $5,000.

Pre-existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions include any injury or illness that you may have prior to getting the insurance plan. The definition can vary by plan so it’s important to check with your plan to see the exact definition.

Repatriation of Remains

On most insurance plans, repatriation of remains covers the cost of returning the insured’s body back to their home country in case of death.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Emergency Medical Evacuation provides medically necessary transportation to the nearest qualified medical facility, not necessarily your home country.

Beneficiary

This is the person who would receive any insurance benefits in case the policy holder was to pass away while on the insurance plan.