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Importance of Health Care for International

Students Majda George

International Student and Scholar Services

Prof Rolando Villalobos

An overview

Introduction

!  International students are coming to the United States to study in the independent school setting

!  Pull factors versus challenges

Problems

!  Fewer international students seek attention for common illnesses

!  International students utilize health services less than the general population

!  International students do not often seek the assistance of available health care providers while at school

!  Reason?

! 

The barriers

!  Nurses and doctors need to advise students about:

stress management sleep requirement

proper nutrition

!  Students need:

comfort reassurance communication

Key advising points

!  Health care is very expensive in the United States

!  No government assistance

!  International students and scholars are responsible for their own health insurance and health care costs

Important

Key Terms - 1

!  Medical Lifetime Maximum - The maximum amount paid for covered medical costs during the policy- holder’s lifetime.

!  Medical Annual Maximum - The maximum amount paid for covered medical costs in one year.

!  Benefits per illness or injury - The maximum amount paid for covered medical costs related to any one condition (illness or injury).

!  Deductible - The specific amount that must be paid by the policy-holder before the insurance company begins to pay.

Key Terms – 2

!  Copay - A specific dollar amount the policy-holder pay for certain services. Typically applies to doctor visits and prescriptions drugs.

!  Coinsurance - The percentage of the total medical bill the patient is responsible for paying.

!  Pre-existing condition - A medical condition determined to have been in existence before the policy went into effect.

Visa status

!  The most common visa categories for academic activities in the United States are:

F-1, for academic students

M-1, for vocational students

J-1, for exchange visitors

!  Only J exchange visitors and their dependents are required by regulation to maintain health insurance.

F and M students and dependents

!  They do not need one to qualify for visa

!  Most universities require F1/M1 students to have medical insurance

!  Many F2/M2 are uninsured due to high cost

J students

!  J-1 and J-2 are required to have insurance / minimum coverage

!  May choose to establish the insurance requirements that are higher than the requirements found in exchange visitor program regulations that have been in place since 1993.

!  New regulations have been proposed in 2009. but have not been yet accepted

!  Exchange program sponsor also must comply

Health Insurance Options

!  3 choices:

1. School sponsored health insurance plan

2. Purchasing a health insurance policy from a private company in the United States

3. Bringing health insurance policy from home country

School sponsored health insurance plan

!  Hard Waiver: waiving the mandatory school policy if student’s private health insurance meets certain minimum requirements.

School sponsored health insurance plan

!  Mandatory: for all enrolled students and all visiting scholars. Schools may offer a separate health insurance plan for international students/scholars

!  Voluntary: students/scholars who actively purchase coverage are enrolled.

Purchasing health insurance

!  Challenging to identify which policies offer sufficient coverage in the event of an illness or injury.

!  American College Health Association’s (ACHA) Standards for Student Health Insurance/Benefits Programs

(lists types of recommended coverage that can be helpful in analyzing other kinds of insurance as well)

Concerns when choosing

!  What is not covered?

!  Are there any time limits?

!  Is there out of pocket maximum?

!  What is the maximum coinsurance?

!  Is there a in-network hospital near by?

International Student Insurance

http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com

ISO Insurance

https://www.isoa.org

Bringing health insurance policy from home country

!  Needs to meet institutional minimum requirements, when applicable

!  Student needs to fill out a form to request approval of alternative insurance coverage

!  Depending on the school, the deadline is usually before the first day of class

New

!  Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) ,starting January 1, 2014 individuals who do not maintain “minimum essential healthcare coverage” must make an additional payment to the IRS when they pay their taxes. This is often called the “individual mandate.”

!  All international students and scholars are expected to complete and file tax forms with the U.S. federal government, whether or not they had earned income during the tax year. In addition, F-2 and J-2 dependents must also file certain tax forms.

For more information

!  http://www.nafsa.org/uploadedFiles/Chez_NAFSA/Resource_Library_Assets/Networks/ISTA/HealthInsuranceAndCareForISSfinal2.pdf

!  http://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/how-to-administer-a-program/

!  http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Foreign-Student-Liability-for-Social-Security-and-Medicare-Taxes