[Study in the US] Medical insurance for studying in the US, 4 common medical insurances, 5 cost keywords, saving $1500 steps a year

Reading Time: 10 minutes

Last Modified 2021年12月1日

School is about to start. I am planning to study in the United States. I also had a headache for medical insurance for studying in the United States. I heard that school medical insurance is more expensive? What does medical insurance cover? What do the keywords in medical insurance often mean?

My friend gave birth to a child and was hospitalized for more than 20,000 US dollars (fortunately, there is medical insurance and only a few hundred US dollars after the cover). My wife had a dental visit before, and it was also 100 US dollars a time. U.S. medical care is so expensive, you really can’t live without insurance QAQ

Finally, I also sorted out how to save USD1500 every year in medical insurance. I hope it will be helpful to you!

After landing in the United States, after opening a bank account and finding a rental apartment, the enrollment process is the next step. Medical insurance is also a very important part. The school will force students to buy medical insurance, which is also part of the admission process. So what should I pay attention to when buying medical insurance?

U.S. Medical Insurance — Without insurance, if you run ER once, USD6886 will be sprayed out!

My wife used to run the ER (emergency room) for one night’s bill. If there is no insurance, nearly $7000 will be sprayed out!

Don’t run ER if it’s okay. In addition to ER, I will introduce which other places are available for 24 hours and can see a doctor, and it is half the price of ER!

Further reading: [Apply for Teaching] How to save $1500 a year for Student Medicover? Easy application 5 steps

Priorities to do when entering the U.S.:

“Visualization Overview” Guide to Study Abroad

Buying air tickets : [U.S. Travel] How do I buy air tickets in the United States? 3 steps to buy cheap air tickets
Report to school
Looking for a long-term rental house :
Open a bank account :
- [Study in the U.S.] 3 steps to open an account in a U.S. bank, 4 common U.S. banks
- [Account opening teaching] Citibank Global Express, teaching the use of Taiwan-U.S. dollar remittances, easy to open an account in 3 steps
Phone number
- Temporary sim card : 14 to 30 days temporarily, you can report safety to your family after landing
  - [Recommendation] (people outside US) directly use e-sim card, open online before departure, and use the Internet directly when landing: Mint Telecom
- Long-term use of telecommunications providers
  - I currently use Mint for 4G data per month for $15 per month (you can apply online and send it home)
  - [US Telecom] Save Mint Mobile, $15 per month, 5 easy steps to apply online
Apply for a credit card (start to accumulate credit records):
- [Study in the US] Can international students also apply for credit cards? 4 credit cards suitable for international students
- [Study Abroad Credit Card] Deserve Edu credit card, no SSN, easy application in 3 steps
My website for studying abroad
U.S. Medical Insurance :
1. [Study in the US] US study abroad insurance, 4 common insurance types, 5 cost keywords
2. [Apply for teaching] Student Medicover US medical insurance, how to save $1500 a year? Easy application 5 steps
U.S. stock ETF investment account opening: [Account opening teaching] Firstrade, an American brokerage firm, a 5-minute easy account opening tutorial
Changing your driver’s license: [Study in the US] Taiwan’s driver’s license is exempted from the test and the US driver’s license is easily changed in 33 states

Contents

1. Can I not buy medical insurance for studying in the United States? (Why)

U.S. Study Abroad Insurance — U.S. Study Abroad Medical Insurance

As an international student, the school will force students to buy medical insurance, most of which are included in the enrollment process, and the medical insurance certificate is required to complete the registration.

2. Who needs to buy medical insurance for studying in the United States? (Who)

2.1 F1 medical insurance

Most of the visas for international students are F1 visas. Schools usually have insurance requirements for F1. There are three common situations:

2.1.1 Situation 1: School medical insurance must be purchased

Most schools will compulsorily purchase group medical insurance for all international students, and the insurance fee will be added to the tuition. Usually this kind of insurance has comprehensive protection, but the cost is usually relatively high.

Take my school NYU as an example. My medical insurance cost for one year of enrollment in the 2017 school year is more than USD 3000.

2.1.2 Situation 2: Allow Waive School Medical Insurance

Some schools allow students to purchase alternative medical insurance that meets the school’s requirements and give up the insurance plan (Insurance Waiver) provided by the school. Usually, they can choose a cost-effective plan, saving USD 500-1500.

Take my school NYU as an example. When I enrolled in the 2017 school year , my senior sister recommended Student Meducover at the seminar . I probably saved USD1200. Later, I will also organize the 4 steps of how to save USD1200!

Apply for teaching: [Apply for teaching] Student Medicover US medical insurance, how to save $1500 a year? Easy application 5 steps

Attached is my 2017 briefing to listen to the lecture as a reference. Actually, it should be evaluated according to your school and the price at that time.

At the time I myself was, at the freshman orientation meeting, the senior sister recommended the Student Medicover insurance, the service is very good, the F1 visa period, OPT can be insured, and it is cheaper than the school by USD1200-1500.

Easily save $1500 in 4 steps

Refer to the briefing I attended the NYU TSA medical insurance seminar in 2017

STEP1. Confirm that the school can Waive

This step is very important. Not every school or state can buy an external insurance to come to Waive School’s on-campus insurance! The schools in Texas that I know are hardly good at Waive, and my friend’s University of Michigan!

I helped my friend call the customer service, just ask, if your school is not on the list I listed, please call the customer service (Customer Service: (812) 360-2313) and ask about your school. Can it be Waive?

As far as I know, Waive has New York State and California:

New York state

New York University
University of Rochester
Pratt Institute
The New School
Fashion Institute of Technology
Skidmore College
Pace University
Adelphi University
Clarkson University
Baruch College

California

UC series all schools
University of San Diego
California Institute of Technology
California Institute of the Arts
Pepperdine University
Stanford University
University of Southern California
University of Nevada- Las Vegas

STEP2. Purchase medical insurance

Fill in your

State, school
Age (different ages have different prices)
Time interval (start insurance time, end time)
Plan: Elite, Prime (choose according to your medical needs)

Apply for Student Medicover

STEP 3. Fill in the school Waive form

Every school will have a place where you can waive, just fill in the form and upload it!

STEP 4. Confirm that the medical insurance fee in the tuition fee is exempted

Finally, in a few days, you go back and look at the insurance column in your tuition bill. It should be zero!

Save USD1000 – 1500 easily!

2.1.3 Situation 3: The school does not provide international student insurance

Some schools do not provide medical insurance for international students. In this case, it is recommended to choose the medical insurance that suits you. You can refer to the common medical insurance companies I found to choose a suitable medical insurance for yourself. After all, seeing a doctor in the United States is really a sky-high price.

2.2 J1 Medical Insurance

The visiting scholar visa is also a very common student visa. Unlike F1, the US government has minimum insurance requirements for J1/J2. ( Exchange visitor program/insurance )

The insurance limit for each injury or illness is at least USD 100,000
Repatriation of the dead body insured amount USD25,000
The cost of medical evacuation to the country, the insured amount is USD50,000
The deductible for each injury shall not exceed USD500

2.3 OPT Medical Insurance

International students with an F1 visa can apply for OPT to work in the United States after graduation. During OPT, the school will no longer be required to purchase insurance, but it is still recommended to buy a medical insurance that suits them (you can also buy it online at Student Medicover )

But if the employer you find will provide employees with medical insurance, you don’t have to worry about this problem, otherwise it will be more insurance to buy one for yourself. If the employer provides insurance, you can directly register with the company (Group Health Insurance), or you can buy individual health insurance (Individual Health Insurance) yourself. Here are where to buy it.

Take myself as an example. My company provides medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance. But I also have friends who bought medical insurance by myself during OPT. Especially during the period of COVID19, medical insurance must be provided for protection.

3. What kind of medical insurance to buy (What)

3.1 Common 4 types of medical treatment

	Need a family doctor	Referral is required to see a specialist	Doctors in the Net	Out-of-net doctor
HMO is the most common	need	need	Can
PPO is the most common			Can	Can
EPO			Can
POS	need	need	Can	Can

New York engineer Jack finishing

3.1.1 HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

One of the most common plans is to choose a Primary Care Physician. If you want to see a specialist, you must first go to the family doctor and get the Referral before you can be referred (emergency and obstetrics and gynecology can be referred directly). These specialist doctors must all be in-network doctors.

3.1.2 PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

One of the most common plans is that you don’t need to choose a family doctor, you can go directly to a specialist for consultation. Doctors inside and outside the medical network can see it, but doctors outside the network may pay a higher amount by themselves. The premium is higher.

Common medical insurance for international students (I bought the Student Medicover recommended by my senior sister when I was in NYU), all of which belong to this category. After graduating from my school, my company also provides this kind of medical insurance.

3.1.3 EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization)

You can choose or can only choose any doctor in the network, but you don’t need Referral.

3.1.4 POS (Point-of-service)

Between HMO and PPO, you must choose a family doctor. You must also get Referral to see a specialist, but you can see a doctor outside the network.

3.2 Comparison table of 4 common American study abroad insurances

	Introduction
Student Medicover	F1, J1, OPT can buy insurance on this platform. NYU can also be Waive. Before buying, you can confirm whether the school can be Waive.
PSI	Like SM, it is also a distributor of United Healthcare.
School insurance	Usually included in the tuition, usually the school insurance premium is higher than the above two.
DIANins	There are three programs for international students.

3.3 5 common keywords for medical insurance payment

Premium : Premium paid regularly. (But usually the insurance for international students is bought for a whole year.)
Deductible
Coinsurance
- For example: the medical bill is USD 1600, Deductible USD 1500, Coinsurance: 30%
  - Deductible: You will pay USD 1500 first
  - More than Deductible is USD 100: Medical bill USD 1600 – Deductible USD 1500
  - Coinsurance: The insured must pay USD 30, and the insurance company will cover USD 70
Co-Payment : Similar to the registration fee, the money to be paid every time you go to a clinic or specialty. It usually falls at USD10-30, and the charges vary according to different hospitals and specialties.
Out-of-pocket Maximum : After exceeding the upper limit of your total payment, the insurance company will pay in full.
- For example: Medical bill USD 25,000, Out-of-pocket Maximum is USD 10,000
  - You only need to bear USD 10,000, and the remaining USD 15,000 will be borne by the insurance company

4. Where to buy? (Where)

	Introduction
Student Medicover	F1, J1, OPT can buy insurance on this platform. NYU can also be Waive. Before buying, you can confirm whether the school can be Waive.
PSI	Like SM, it is also a distributor of United Healthcare.
School insurance	Usually included in the tuition, usually the school insurance premium is higher than the above two.
DIANins	There are three programs for international students.

You can directly click the link above and you will be connected to the official website.

Apply for teaching: [Apply for teaching] Student Medicover US medical insurance, how to save $1500 a year? Easy application 5 steps

Attached is my 2017 medical insurance process.

Confirm that the school can be Waive
Buy medical insurance
Fill out the NYU Waive form
Medical insurance premiums in the tuition are waived

5. How to see a doctor? (How)

5.1 Classification of U.S. Medical Institutions

	Clinics	Urgent Care	Emergency Room
time	Regular commuting, reservation required	24 hours can walk in	24 hours can walk in
service	Specialist outpatient clinics, vaccinations	Deal with sudden minor emergencies, colds and fevers, allergies, fractures	General childbirth, surgery and hospitalization
cost	$	$$	$$$ (we cost $7000 a night)

The suggested order is from left to right, according to your emergency situation

Clinics : Most of the time, visits will be done in clinics. Common specialist clinics, vaccinations, and maternity check-ups for pregnant women. Usually the clinics are normal commuting hours, and appointments must be made in advance for clinic visits.
Urgent Care
Hospital (large hospital): There is an Emergency Room (emergency room) with complete equipment and medical staff. Generally, the birth of children, surgery and hospitalization are carried out in large hospitals.
Pharmacy (Pharmacy): In the United States, there are separate hospitals and pharmacies, and doctors have to go to the pharmacy to buy medicines after they prescribe them. Common drugstores such as CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, etc., can buy prescription, non-prescription, and health foods.
Convenient Care ( Convenient Care Clinic): A convenient service launched by some pharmacies. You can see a doctor without making an appointment. Usually the convenient clinic is a senior nurse (Nurse Practitioner) or a physician assistant (Physician Assistant), which can provide simple physical examination and nursing services. , The more famous is CVS Minute Clinic.

Extended reading: [New York Travel] Supermarkets-3 must-know supermarkets

5.2 Medical procedures

Usually when you need to see a doctor, you can first check the medical insurance partner hospital you bought, and call to make an appointment. You may need to log in your personal and insurance information for the first appointment.

General see a doctor

Search for medical insurance partner hospitals
Phone Appointment
Visit a home doctor, if the situation is complicated, refer to a specialist

emergency

If it is a sudden illness or injury, you can search for Urgent Care, a relatively convenient clinic where medical staff can deal with more complex problems, and it is cheaper than emergency rooms in large hospitals.

Search for Urgent Care (no appointment is required to see a doctor)

Emergency

If the situation is critical and life-threatening, you must go to the ER (emergency room) of a major hospital immediately. You can call an ambulance by calling 911. The ambulance is dispatched. Additional fees are also required, but some medical insurance can also be reimbursed for 90%.

Frequently Asked Questions for Readers

Q1: I have an F1 visa and want to change to Student Medicover insurance. What should I do?

1. Confirm that the school is eligible for Waive

2. Purchase Student Medicare medical insurance

3. Fill in the school Waive form

4. The medical insurance premium in the tuition fee is waived

Q2: Can every school be able to Waive and purchase off-campus medical insurance?

Not necessarily!
It depends on school policy!

It is recommended that before buying off-campus insurance, you can read the school regulations or ask the insurance company you want to buy!
Take Student Medicare as an example:

The schools in Texas that I know are hardly Waive, and my friend’s University of Michigan!
Most of New York State and California can. You can refer to the List I have collected so far. It doesn’t matter if you don’t see your school. You can directly ask the insurance company!

Q3: I just graduated and I have been in OPT for 90 days, during the transition period before going to work, do I need to buy insurance?

Of course, it is strongly recommended, otherwise, during these 90 days, medical resources are needed. Without insurance, it will be a sky-high price!

Q4: If the school medical insurance is too expensive and I want to change to an off-campus insurance, is there a recommendation?

I myself was at the freshman briefing. The
Student Medicover insurance
recommended by the
senior sister was
very good.
It was covered during F1 visa period and OPT, and it was USD1200-1500 cheaper than the school.
I have used Student Medicare insurance myself, and I also welcome to leave a message and recommend insurance that you think is good!