| Health care insurance is a necessity today. Most | | | | expenses, subject to the condition that the |
| educational institutions in the United States require | | | | student continues to be registered with the |
| students to be covered for healthcare. Surveys | | | | college for a particular duration. |
| reveal that nearly thirty percent of students in | | | | Many companies sell commercial health insurance. |
| the US do not have healthcare insurance, and ask | | | | The terms may differ widely, hence, it would be |
| their parents for financial help when in need. | | | | essential to purchase a plan that offer facilities |
| These students are most likely to drop their | | | | that one finds suitable. The best way would be to |
| studies for financial reasons, as they have to | | | | make a list of the features that are important, |
| work to pay off their dues of healthcare | | | | and then get the details for different plans from |
| expenses. | | | | various companies, and compare them to decide |
| Many students find it difficult to meet the costs | | | | which plan is the best one. |
| of healthcare insurance, because it does not come | | | | Under the commercial health plan, there is the |
| cheap. However, it is advantageous for a student | | | | temporary student health insurance, which is |
| to have this medical insurance. | | | | meant for students staying away from home. It |
| Although there are many plans offering student | | | | can be availed for periods of thirty days, to six or |
| health insurance, they can be categorized into | | | | twelve months. According to the temporary plan, |
| three basic types: parent's health care plan, college | | | | the student can find a doctor or hospital of his |
| health insurance plan, and the commercial health | | | | choice by taking an Indemnity Plan. Alternatively, |
| insurance plan. Each of the mentioned plans has | | | | he or she may take the Managed Care Plan, |
| their own advantages and disadvantages. | | | | which allows a choice of doctors and hospitals |
| Under the parent's health care plan, a college | | | | that are in the plan's network. The Managed Care |
| student may not be covered, after a certain age. | | | | Plan has lower premiums than the Indemnity Plan. |
| If that is the case, extra coverage called COBRA | | | | Most states in the US have legal stipulations, which |
| needs to be obtained, which is not necessarily | | | | require compulsory health care insurance for |
| cheaper than purchasing a different plan | | | | foreign students, and set a minimum amount that |
| altogether. Moreover, it may be a pre-requisite | | | | should be available for emergency evacuation, |
| that the student should have at least 'x' number | | | | medical treatment and repatriation of remains, if |
| of college credit hours to qualify for the coverage. | | | | required. International student medical insurance |
| The college plan can offer coverage through HMO | | | | costs approximately six to seven hundred dollars |
| (Health Maintenance Organization), or PPO | | | | per annum. |
| (Preferred Provider Organization). These are group | | | | In view of emergencies requiring medical |
| plans and generally cheaper than commercial | | | | attention, it is essential for students to be |
| health plans. However, the coverage offered may | | | | covered under health care insurance. It is a |
| be limited. Other options would have to be | | | | precondition for registration in most educational |
| explored for coverage that is more | | | | institutions in the US. Many states have laws that |
| comprehensive. The college plan is preferable | | | | make it compulsory for foreign students to be |
| when there is an 'on campus' hospital. Most of the | | | | covered by the health care insurance. |
| college plans cover all accident or health care | | | | |