Except for certain low income U.S. citizens and permanent residents, no government assistance is available for those people who need health care but cannot afford it. The cost of medical care is the fastest rising expense in the U.S. today. That price does not include surgery, doctors fees, blood or other diagnostic tests, medications and miscellaneous fees. Since most Americans cannot afford the high cost of medical care, they rely on insurance in medical emergencies. For an international student, one serious illness, injury, or catastrophic medical emergency can mean financial ruin and spell the end of his or her educational dreams.
Medical insurance is an absolute necessity in the United States.
If you are ill or injured during a time when the student health center on campus is open, you should go there for treatment. If it is not open, you should call the toll-free number on your insurance card for information about what facilities and what doctors are providers for your insurance plan. For emergency illnesses or accidents, you can seek treatment in a hospital emergency room, but you should seek other options if your condition is not life-threatening. If they need care when the doctor s office is closed, you can call his or her regular office telephone number and the answering service can contact the doctor right away. Because the student advisor must mail your payment to the insurance company, you should write a check or purchase a money order.