Because medical care can be very expensive, it is important to have health insurance, even if the school does not require it. General Conditions International visitors do not have to worry about any unusual health hazards in the United States.
Tap water is safe to drink nationwide.
AIDS is as much a problem in the US as in other countries. College students are a particularly high risk group because of unsafe sex practices and unrealistic beliefs about HIV transmission. It is not possible to tell whether someone is HIV-positive just by looking at them. If you have unprotected sex with a HIV-positive individual, you will almost certainly become infected. If you need an ambulance or emergency medical care, dial 911 on any phone 24 hours a day.