Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2011 at 3:47 pm

Do you plan on studying in the United States? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity where you can study in top-notch universities and colleges and enjoy the American life! Travel around the US, eat the various foods, explore the culture, and all the while get a good-quality education.

If you plan to come to the US to study, one important factor to consider before coming to the US is your health care. As a Chinese international student, you will find that the health care system in the US is much different than that of China. Depending on the type of visa you have, you may or may not need to present proof of insurance. If insurance is not required by your visa, however, you may find that your school or program may require the health insurance instead. This sometimes strict insurance requirement is primarily because most insurance in the US is private so if you do not have an insurance plan in place, you will be assuming all of the costs – and like many countries, these costs can add up to thousands and thousands of dollars that you would be responsible for paying!

Don’t get caught in this situation, know what you need to do before arriving in the US as a Chinese international student so that you have a safety net in place. Typically, Chinese students come to the US to study either on a J-1 exchange visa or an F-1 international student visa. If you will be coming to the US on a J-1 visa, you will need to meet the following requirements according to the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs:

(a) Minimum Insurance Coverage – Insurance shall cover: (1) medical benefits of at least $50,000 per person per accident or illness; (2) repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500; and (3) expenses associated with medical evaluation in the amount of $10,000.

Some programs may supply you with insurance coverage or you may be required to purchase insurance on your own. If you will be coming to the US in advance of your program, you may not be eligible for your school’s insurance plan. In this case, as a Chinese international student, you will be responsible for having a health insurance plan during the entire length of your stay.

If you will instead be coming to the US under a F-1 international student visa, you will notice that there are no insurance requirements set forth by the government. Even though there may not be a governmental requirement, most programs recommend that you have an insurance plan in place and many schools may not allow you to study if you do not have any insurance! It is important to check with your university or college about any insurance requirements they may have. Some schools require Chinese international students to purchase the plan set forth by the school, while others will allow you to waive the insurance plan altogether if you can provide proof of insurance. Each school is different so it is important to verify what your requirements are so that you will be properly covered for the length of your stay in the US.

Read it in Chinese (中文）中国留美学生医疗保险须知

Posted by Jennifer Frankel

Jennifer is the International Director at International Student Insurance. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Florida where she holds a Masters in International Business and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. She has lived and worked abroad in Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and England, and traveled extensively in South America, Europe and Asia.