Posted on Saturday, August 17th, 2013 at 10:37 am

As an international student studying in the United States, your US school most likely requires that you present proof of adequate health insurance coverage before you are allowed to enroll in your classes. While dealing with all the worry and stress that comes with choosing a health insurance plan, you may be wondering, “ Why does insurance matter to me? ”

Although it is true that health insurance can be expensive, in the long run (and even in the short run), it is always better to have it than to not. You never know when disaster will strike in the form of injury or illness, and it is always best to be prepared. If you do not have health insurance and you become sick or hurt, you may be stuck with colossal medical bills (our latest video shows some examples of the cost of the medical care in the USA), and end up paying far more than you would have paid for health insurance in the first place. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and even if (as is hopefully the case) you end up never needing to make use of your health insurance coverage, it is far better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

In addition to providing you with access to preventive care, prescription drugs, and treatment for illnesses or injuries, health insurance protects you from the financial ruin that can occur when significant medical care is needed, particularly in the case of a chronic or ongoing illness.

Without health insurance, people are more likely to go without preventive care, to delay or forgo medical care which can be detrimental to your health. Having health insurance allows you to stay healthy, without worrying about accruing huge expenses. Did you also know that if an uninsured person is ill and comes to an emergency room for care, they are often charged more for medical services than insured patients.

Make sure that, should the unexpected occur, you are safe and protected. Having adequate health insurance coverage is well worth the cost. Read more about international student health insurance and how it can work for you in our insurance explained section of our website and if you have any question, please contact one of our insurance experts for help.

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.