Happy Schools Blog » Insurance

Health Insurance – Students and Visitors

HSB — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:25:14 +0000

Few students applying for Fall 2009 asked about Health Insurance options. You can find few articles related to students and visitors health insurance here at HSB. We recommend ISOA Health Insurance. Many current students have already signed up with them.

Why ISOA?

It’s cheap and provides good coverage. Some Universities require students to take the Health Insurance Coverage provided by them. Usually it will be $600 or so per semester. With ISOA Students Health Insurance, you can get coverage as low as $30 per month. They have different options and coverage limits.

Most of the students will be new to health insurance terms and conditions, but don’t try to save money by declining insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, then even for a regular doctor visit ( say sever cold and fever), you will have to pay more than $200. If there were to be an emergency, then it will cost a fortune ( $10,000+). So, don’t even think of saving money by avoiding to take Health Insurance.

Some Universities will be willing to waive the mandatory requirements, if they believe the coverage provided by ISOA is equivalent to their minimum requirements. So, you can buy coverage for much lower cost with similar benefits.

Make sure you understand the terms and conditions, talk to your seniors and friends. There are many insurance companies, but ISOA provides options specifically for International students in US Universities and also for visitors.

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

Health Insurance – Students and Visitors

Students Health Insurance $28+ per month

HSB — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:09:55 +0000

Health Insurance is mandatory for all students studying in U.S. University. Don’t even think about saving few hundred dollars by avoiding health insurance. I have gone through medical procedures when I was in school and I personally knew how much I had to pay out of my pocket even after Insurance had paid 80% of total medical expenses. I did end up paying few lakhs. So, don’t even have second thought about Student Health Insurance.

How much Health Insurance will Cost?

Majority of the Universities offer Health Insurance through Insurance companies and its included within the semester fees. Its will be mandatory to get the health insurance provided by the University. Usually, health insurance coverage offered by the University will be expensive. It will be around $500 to $700 for 1 semester, about $80 to $100 per month.

Some Universities offer options for students to select health insurance plan of their own and submit proof to International Student Office with benefits of the coverage. There are plans available from $27 per month which would provide same coverage and benefits as coverage provided by health insurance provided thorugh college. Why pay more for the same coverage? Cheap Student Health Insurance is provided by International Student Organization. ICICI health insurance will look cheap, but its complicated to use. Students have to file the claim and the claim form has to mailed to India and there are many other hassles associated with that. You can read about difficulty of ICICI medical claim process

When does the Coverage Begin?

Health Insurance plan offered by the University, when mandatory, coverage will begin on the day when student is enrolled into the school. Enrollment date is same as the orientation date for International Students. If student arrive U.S. on August/10/2008 and Orientation is on August/25/2008, then 15 days, students will not covered.

If student happen to visit the doctor in that 15 day period, 100% Expense will have to be paid by the student and it can vary from $200 for doctor visit for treating fever to $1000 for major medical expenses. So, I would advise students to purchase Health Insurance before travelling from the home country. I recommend Health Insurance options provided by International Student Organization. Students can register online and purchase coverage before they travel to U.S. Insurance can be purchased for minimum period of 1 month, if student has to accept health insurance provided by the University.

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

Students Health Insurance $28+ per month

Cheap International Student Health Insurance

HSB — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:42:00 +0000

I wrote about Student Health Insurance, How health insurance works, Travel Insurance. I did an analysis of how ICICI Student Insurance works, with its advantages and dis-advantages. I was browsing to find if there is an better alternative and cheap student insurance for International students and I found health insurance along with other benefits offered by International Students Organization based in New York.

International Students Organization, offers COMPASS Plans underwritten by AIG and ISO MED Plans underwritten by ACE USA.

COMPASS Plans, includes Gold, Silver and Bronze plans ( Plan Details )

ISO MED Plans includes Med Prestige, Med 1 and Med 2 plans ( Plan Details)

To compare plans using the following link ( Compare )

They also provide education tools on how to buy student insurance, dental plans options.

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

Cheap International Student Health Insurance

Health Insurance continued..

HSB — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:34:00 +0000

I was searching for good articles and posts regarding health insurance for students, I came across Finding Health Insurance Options For Young Adults.

Check out his post on My Very First Emergency Room Visit and also Emergency Room Summary Of Charges Arrived.

There was an interesting comment from one for blog reader about CT Scan bill, who got billed $3,075.

So, how you all doing tonite?

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

Health Insurance continued..

ICICI Students medical insurance

HSB — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:09:00 +0000

To find out how ICICI students medical insurance works, I spoke to ICICI agent regarding their International students health insurance and their 3rd party administrator ( SOS International ).

If you have to visit a doctor for treatment, you can go to any doctor. Pay for their expenses and file a claim and get it reimbursed. Sounds simple and easy.

But, you have to pay the provider ( doctor ) first and then file a claim. What if you have to pay more than you can afford?

I have an X-ray in Emergency Room and have the bill for $729.81 ( my insurance covered it and I had to pay $1.71)

So, ICICI chat guy said, SOS will arrange for Cashless facilities, where we can get treatment for medical conditions and file the claim after we get the bill and pay the provider.

I called SOS International over the phone to find about cashless facilities. They said its depends on the provider ( doctor/hospital).

I’m not saying someone shouldn’t take insurance from India. But, talk to few people. I have given my opinion. Just to let you know, I have expressed my views and used ICICI for reference. Please free to checkout other companies like Aetna, United Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, ..

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

ICICI Students medical insurance

How Studdent Health Insurance Works

HSB — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:34:00 +0000

This post is the continuation of the previous post regarding Travel Health Insurance.

To make how health insurance works, I google’d to find this good link from eHealthInsurance

It will explain the concepts of deductible, co-payment, co-insurance, out of pocket maximum. There are different types of health insurance based on the above explained terms. In India, health insurance is not a big concept, since medical expenses are cheap when compared to U.S. if you wonder how costly it can be, let me give my real life experience.

Student Health Insurance Coverage – Example

Like every other student, I signed up for the mandatory student health insurance coverage offered by that university will provide. Some universities its optional. They accept the health insurance provided by outside companies. Since, its new concept and never paid attention to the details when all is well. I have been to University hospital ( within campus ), they will ask for ID card and get the treatment for free and we have to pay for the medicines.

I had an health problem and its was serious one. So, I started looking at the details. Spoke to few seniors to understand the terms ( deductible, co-payment, co-insurance, out of pocket maximum) and few more terms like network, in-patient stay, …

I created a new account with the medical insurance website and searched to find the doctor who will treat my condition. Can we go to any doctor we want? Yes, you can, but if that doctor doesn’t come under the network with your health insurance company, you will have to pay more.

Health insurance companies will negotiate deal with doctors for providing treatments to their patients ( like you and me. Say $100 for general checkup which is negotiated rate) for lesser cost.

If we go doctor in different network ( he might charge $150 for general checkup) so my insurance company will pay only $100. We have to pay the rest ($50).

I found the doctor in my network and he treated my condition. In my plan deductible was $500 and out of pocket maximum was around $5,000. Total cost of surgery was around $24,000.

Insurance company will pay 80% of 24,000 and rest I have to pay. Which is around $4,500.

Now, you will have an idea of how much health insurance will help you. But, I still ended up paying the rest.

I don’t to do a lengthy post. But, if still haven’t answered the question, to take insurance offered by companies in India or not? I couldn’t get few details from their websites about the student travel and medical plan they offer. I have emailed them to clarify few things. Will let you know the advantages and dis-advantages.

I missed few other terms like policy, coverage, insurance premium. You should find all the details from Google.

Till then happy packing – you can use list of items to pack to US within 23 Kgs suitcase.

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

How Studdent Health Insurance Works

Students Health and Travel Insurance to U.S.

HSB — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:39:00 +0000

There are many companies in India advertising to buy cheap travel insurance and health insurance. I did happen to face the dilemma to buy insurance from India or from here. Usually they sell as a package that has 2 parts

Travel Insurance
Health Insurance ( during travel and while in U.S.)

Travel Insurance

This would cover any lost baggage’s, delay in flight transit, delayed baggage’s and other things. Some plans I looked at cost around Rs 20,000 ( max plan , lower plans were available for cheaper cost). And there is deductible associated with all the claims. Let me explain the concept of deductible.

Suppose you had a to visit a doctor for some treatment and the visiting fee is $200. If your medical insurance plan says, you have to pat deductible of $100 per claim, then you have to pay $100 for the doctor and insurance company will pay $100.

I saw for almost all the claim you have to pay deductible. Is it worth the cost? We have to dig deeper.

Medical Insurance ( international travel medical insurance)

Few live above I explained the concept of deductible. Same applies to medical/travel and other insurance types. So, far I haven’t come across any insurance plan that will pay 100% without any deductible.

Students health insurance also works under the same concept. But, I saw that you have to pay $100 deductible for each claim. Which feel its little bit expensive.

Now, lets talk about do we need International Travel / Medical Insurance?

Choice is left to you. I have explained about positives and negatives. In coming post I will post my experience. that will give you still better picture.

Again, if its mandatory to take students insurance provided by the university, you will have no choice, but it take it. Its usually cheap and has good benefits and network coverage.

If you have a choice, where you have have your own medical insurance and waive the plan offered by the school, you can go with that too. In this situation I have seen students taking plans offered from India.

Happy Traveling!

Post from: Happy Schools Blog

Students Health and Travel Insurance to U.S.