The holiday season is fast approaching and as an international student, this time of year can be difficult. This time last year you probably were worrying about making it home for the holidays after a long finals season, or maybe thinking about what to get your roommate as a gift! This year, however, as the pandemic continues to affect our lives, the holiday season might look a little different. No matter how you are spending the season, here are a few tips for how to stay healthy and happy over the holiday break.
Having to stay abroad during the holidays, without your family to spend time with, can be disheartening. However, not being able to fly home saves you a lot of money! This year why not get yourself something you have always wanted? After the year you’ve had you deserve some self love. Finish up your finals and treat yourself to a reward.
While you might be physically by yourself this year, in the age of technology we are never truly alone. Being able to talk to your family and friends face to face and make it feel like you are right there with them. Plan a time to have a virtual holiday party with your loved ones by accessing a free Zoom or Google Meet online room. You can cook, dance, and celebrate together without worrying about COVID-19.
Everybody’s favorite part of the holiday season is the traditions they uphold year after year with their friends and family. Maybe in your house you always cook a big meal, sing special songs together, or play a fun game! No matter what you celebrate, it is important to keep your traditions going this year. You can even use this time to make some new traditions to pass on in years to come.
Make sure that you are taking care of yourself and your needs during this time. It is always a good idea to check in with yourself and see how you are feeling. For a lot of students, this might be the first time you spend the holidays by yourself and that can take a major toll on your emotional wellness. While it is okay to feel upset about your situation, you don’t want your mental health to suffer. Try learning some breathing techniques to keep yourself balanced or follow an online meditation video to put things into perspective. If necessary, you can always sign up for virtual therapy or counseling. Sometimes, your school might even offer it for free! If not, be sure to check with your insurance provider to see if this is something you will need to pay out of pocket.
For more information on emotional wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic, click the link below.
Let us know how you are spending this holiday season and check out our social media channels for more!
For the 15th year InternationalStudent.com has hosted their annual Travel Video Contest. This year, in light of Covid-19 the theme was altered, and students shared a glimpse of their international education pursuits during the pandemic. InternationalStudent.com was pleased to announce the TVC: Life After Lockdown winners on November 20th – the last day of International Education Week. If you missed the announcement of who walked away with a prize, you can get caught up here!
Viewers’ Choice Winner ($1,000):
“Story of My Life” by Larissa Silveira
The Viewers’ Choice Winner is determined by votes from visitors on InternationalStudent.com. This year visitors were able to choose their favorite video from the nearly 120 submitted entries around the world and chose “Story of My Life”. Larissa not only received $1,000 for being a fan favorite, but she also received an automatic entry into the final round of the contest.
The contest winners were determined from the list of 10 finalists by the InternationalStudent.com judges panel. Congratulations to each of the winners!
Third Place Winner ($250):
“Dear 2021” by Julia De Camargo Correa
Julia shared her message to 2021, hoping that it brings with it the study abroad dream she has been preparing for in the Netherlands.
Second Place Winner ($500):
“The Home of an International Student” by Aashna Singh
Having to trade her studies in New York for isolation in North Carolina due to the pandemic, Aashna takes us on her journey of social distancing and online classes.
First Place Winner ($4,000):
“In the Light of Covid-19” by Fiqah Rahman
A passionate storyteller from Brunei and current student at NYU, Fiqah highlights the light she found during the pandemic- and how it has helped carry her through. Although her international journey hasn’t been what she expected, she was able to find the positive in what has been a rocky road for many during the year.
If you would like to see what other international students and exchange participants have been up to and experiencing during the pandemic, check out some of the other 2020 TVC: Life After Lockdown entries!
As you’ve surely noticed by now, the healthcare system in the United States is a bit tricky. Agents, insurance carriers, PPO networks, — surely they’re all the same thing, right? Unfortunately not, but we will be going through what these mean and how they work together to make your insurance plan work.
We, at ISI, are insurance agents. Insurance agents typically offer multiple plans from different insurance carriers, and can help you select an appropriate plan that would suit your situation. The main insurance carriers that we work with are Tokio Marine HCCMIS, International Medical Group (IMG), Seven Corners, GeoBlue, and Point Comfort Underwriters. We can answer questions about the benefits of the plans, help you purchase the plan, and help you through the claims filing process. We are also happy to help you cancel your plan, extend your plan, and send you information about your plan such as your ID card, visa letter, and other policy documents.
Insurance carriers are the companies that actually issue your insurance policy and will pay medical bills for your eligible medical expenses. The insurance carrier is the company that will collect your premium for your plan, and issue refunds if you cancel your plan. The insurance carrier will also be able to verify benefits for a specific treatment when you are at the doctor’s office.
When you are trying to go to a doctor’s office for a visit, the doctor’s office probably will not recognize the names of the insurance carriers that we use, like Tokio Marine HCCMIS, IMG, or Point Comfort Underwriters. Luckily, our plans are Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. A Preferred Provider Organization is essentially a group of doctors, hospitals, physicians, and other service providers who are contracted and agree to a standard price list for common services. Many of our plans use the UnitedHealthcare PPO Network, which is one of the largest PPO networks in the United States. A doctor’s office may not recognize the name of our insurance carriers, however they will know whether or not they are a part of the PPO network. If the doctor’s office does accept the PPO network that your plan uses, the doctor’s office will be considered “in-network”. Going to an in-network doctor will allow the doctor’s office to directly bill the insurance carrier. This means fewer out of pocket costs for you at the time of service.
After visiting the doctor, you will need to file a health insurance claim in order to have your eligible medical expenses covered. Typically, this involves filling out a short claims form which details why you went to the doctor, and attaching any receipts or bills that you may have received from the doctor’s office. These then need to be sent into the insurance carrier. Please feel free to reach out to your insurance agent, and we are happy to guide you through the claims filing process or you can go to your Student Zone to start the claim process.
While insurance agents can assist you through the claims filing process, insurance agents do not have access to your claims information, due to a medical privacy law in the United States called HIPAA. This law essentially allows your personal medical information to only be shared with people that you explicitly name. When filling out a claims form, you will sign a HIPAA authorization form for the Insurance company, so that they can access your relevant medical information for your visit to the doctor.
As puzzling as all of this is, ISI works closely to ensure seamless coverage to make the process as painless as possible for international students. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions that you may have!
This year we are launching a Holiday Video Contest where we can learn all about your traditions, memories, favorite recipes, and more. Show us whatever you would like to film about your holiday season! Some topic suggestions will be shared in the following month on our social media pages if you need some inspiration. The best part is, when you submit a video you gain the chance to win a $25 gift card sent right to your email.
We can’t wait to hear from you. Want to learn how to participate? Here are the contest rules:
We want your holiday season to be full of great memories, let us be one of them this year. If you have any questions about the contest please send us a message on Facebook and we will get back to you.
*Please note that entering the contest means you agree to your video being shared on the International Student Insurance social media pages and on our blog.
The last thing you heard about growing up in a catholic household in South America, if you heard about it at all, were topics like sex or sexually transmitted diseases (STD). I remember the first and only time I heard about sex education in Colombia was one day in 4th grade at my catholic school. They’ve invited a few experts and had us watch a short documentary on why abstinence was the only way to avoid STD’s. Up to that point, no one addressed what sex or STDs were, only that they were bad for your health.
In the US, these topics are addressed more frequently and more openly. For a person that comes from a very conservative household, it was a bit of a cultural shock to hear people talk about sex and sexually transmitted diseases in such a manner. Those subjects remain tabooed in many parts of my home country to this date. However, it is important to be knowledgeable about these subjects as an international student wherever you go so you can protect yourself and stay safe during your international experience.
So let’s start with defining what a sexually transmitted disease (or infection) is:
An STD (sexually transmitted disease) or STI (sexually transmitted infection) are diseases or infections that can only be spread through infected body fluids or skin. As their name states, generally they are contracted when someone has sex.
According to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were over 2.4 million combined cases of STDs in 2018 in the US. Women between the ages of 15 to 24 years old account for 44% of reported cases of Chlamydia, men accounted for 86% of reported cases of Syphilis, and Gonorrhea diagnoses have almost doubled among gay and bisexual men in the past five years.
A study done in 2014 by the University of Cincinnati examined Asian college students’ overall knowledge of sex and STD’s. The results indicated that overall knowledge of these subjects in male students was very low. The study also found that students who had lived in the US for at least 3 years held significantly higher knowledge of these subjects than their counterparts. As you can see, part of your international experience is likely to expose you to more effective sex education when it comes to preventative action.
Protecting yourself from an STD or an STI is the best way to ensure you don’t have a bad experience in a foreign country. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:
It’s always best to make sure you are covered for STD’s and STI’s by your insurance plan. Not all insurance plans are created equal so be sure to contact your insurance company and confirm your benefits. Here are some of our plans that include coverage for testing and treatment of STD’s and STI’s, including HIV, like any other new condition:
Navigator Plan | Cigna Global | Xplorer Plan |
---|---|---|
Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
In the unfortunate event that you are faced with an STD, be sure to seek out medical treatment as soon as possible and follow your doctor’s advice. With the increased cases of COVID-19, telemedicine might be offered through your insurance plan and most doctors are able to give you initial guidance if you are worried about a sexual transmitted disease or infection.
We’re pleased to announce the new Patriot Exchange plan, which is now available for purchase on our website.
The Patriot Exchange plan is an excellent option for international students or scholars, on F-1 and J-1 visas and this plan will also allow them the option to add dependents to the policy. Additionally, the dependents could also apply on their own for this plan. This would mean that an F-2 or J-2 visa holder would be able to purchase the plan without needing an F-1 or J-1 visa holder to be the main policyholder!
This plan is designed to provide you with coverage for new, eligible illnesses or injuries that occur after the effective date of the plan and aren’t tied to any of the plan’s exclusions.
Some highlights of the plan include:
To review the benefits table, please click here.
This plan offers a $5,000,000 policy maximum but it will allow the insured person to choose their policy maximum per injury/illness, as well as the deductible. The policy maximum options would be $50,000, $100,000, $250,000, or $500,000 and the deductible options are $0, $100, $250 or $500 and they would apply per every new condition. After the deductible has been paid, the plan offers 100% of coverage when you visit providers within the UnitedHealthcare network.
Another important highlight of this plan would be that visits to the student health center, walk-in or urgent care clinics would be subjected to a copay and the deductible would not apply! For visits to the student health center, the copay would only be $5, while for the Urgent care center and walk-in clinics, it would be $50 and $20, respectively. If your plan has a $0 deductible, none of these copays would apply.
IMPORTANT: J-1/J-2 visa holders would need to purchase a plan with a policy maximum of at least $100,000 per injury/illness in order to be compliant with the insurance requirements set by the US Department of State for J visa holders..
If you’re not sure which plan is the best option for you, you can always contact our friendly customer service representatives, which will be more than happy to assist you in finding the best plan option for your personal needs.
When it comes to considering which insurance plan is right for you, it is important to familiarize yourself with the insurance plan’s network of doctors, hospitals or clinics – often referred to as a provider network. A provider network is essentially a list of doctors, hospitals and clinics where you can get medical attention.
Before purchasing an insurance plan, take the time to find out where you can go, and make sure you can get to them easily. If you already have a relationship with a doctor, you may want to confirm that they are part of the plan’s network otherwise filing a claim may be more difficult (and depending on your plan, you may have to pay more out of pocket).
Health insurance costs in the US are very expensive, so many insurance companies will negotiate the rates directly with doctors, hospitals and clinics. As part of this arrangement, you will often pay less out of pocket and filing a claim will be much easier. Before even enrolling in an insurance plan, it’s important to search what options you have, and make sure that you can easily get there if you need to seek medical attention.
Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of going to a doctor, hospital, or clinic that is in your insurance plan’s network.
One of the advantages of going inside the network is that your insurance company has agreed to a discounted rate with that provider. Because of this, the insurance company will typically pass on the savings to you, and you will pay less out of pocket. Your deductible, copay and/or coinsurance will typically be less that what you would pay if you went to a provider that is not in your insurance plan’s network.
Another advantage is that your insurance plan will typically only cover what is Usual Reasonable and Customary (URC). URC is the average cost of treatment in that area. If you go inside the plan’s network, the rates are agreed upon by both the provider and the insurance company, and there is no concern that they are billing you above that cost. However, if you go outside the network, the provider can charge whatever they’d like for treatment. That means that if your provider bills you more than the URC, you could be paying an unexpected amount out of pocket.
Another advantage of going in-network is that there is a streamlined process for direct billing to your insurance company. This means that you don’t have to pay for your medical expenses up front (you will still need to pay the deductible or copay at the time of visit), and can instead have the provider bill the insurance company directly to pay for any covered expenses. You will need to present your ID card at the time of treatment, and your doctor, hospital or clinic will send the bills directly to the insurance company to be paid. While there is great benefit in direct billing, you may still need to submit some paperwork before your claim can be processed so be sure to check with your insurance company.
Now that we’ve outlined the importance of going inside your plan’s provider network, we will turn our attention to how to find providers inside your plan’s network.
Many insurance plans will have an online search tool where you can find all of the participating providers in your geographic location. If you have a specific doctor or clinic that you would like to go to, you can always give them a call just to make sure they accept the network of the plan you intend to purchase. Your insurance ID card will oftentimes have the logo of the network that the plan uses, so that you can let your doctor know the network your plan uses.
Our most popular insurance plans for international students, the Student Secure, Patriot Exchange and Student Health Advantage plans, use the UnitedHealthcare network. The UnitedHealthcare network is one of the largest networks in the United States, has providers in all 50 states, and provides an easy-to-use online search tool to locate providers within your area!
Learn more about insurance provider networks by checking out our related articles on our Insurance Explained section.
Choosing a health insurance plan to cover you in case the unexpected happens is now more important than ever. Whether you’re re-evaluating your health insurance needs, purchasing a plan to meet your school’s or visa requirements, or looking for a plan to cover you on OPT, it can be challenging to make the right decision on the level of coverage that works best for your needs and your budget.
Our Student Secure plan is our most popular health insurance option for international students on a F-1, M-1 or J-1 visa. This plan is available in four levels so students can choose the benefits that work best for their needs.
We’ve highlighted some key benefits to consider to help you choose which level is best for you!
The policy maximum is the total amount that the insurance company is obligated to pay each year for covered expenses; any expenses in excess of the policy maximum will not be covered. The overall policy maximum differs from the maximum paid out per injury / illness, so it’s important to differentiate the two. The maximum per injury or illness is the total amount the plan will cover per condition. So, for example, if you had a major accident, the Smart plan would cover that accident up to $100,000, but the total coverage you would have on the plan is $200,000 each year.
You can see the differences of the four levels and the different coverage options below:
Smart | Budget | Select | Elite | |
Overall Maximum | $200,000 | $500,000 | $600,000 | $5,000,000 |
Maximum per injury / illness | $100,000 | $250,000 | $300,000 | $500,000 |
While evaluating the various levels of coverage, it’s equally important to consider the amount of out of pocket expenses you can expect. The deductible varies depending on which level you choose as well as where you get medical treatment. After the deductible is paid, you will be responsible for any coinsurance. The coinsurance is the difference between what you and the insurance company pays towards the total cost of a covered condition. After the deductible, the Smart level covers 80% of your medical bills (you pay 20%) up to the policy maximum. Alternatively, if you go inside the plan’s network on the Elite level, after the deductible the plan will cover 100% up to the policy maximum.
Learn more about out-of-pocket expenses here
You can see that as you move up in the levels of coverage, the insurance company covers more:
Smart | Budget | Select | Elite | |
Deductible per injury / illness | In network: $50 Out of network: $100 | In network: $45 Out of network: $90 | In network: $35 Out of network: $70 | In network: $25 Out of network: $50 |
Coinsurance (Inside the USA) | In network: 80% up to the maximum Out of network: Usual, Reasonable, and Customary (URC) | In network: 80% up to $25,000, then 100% thereafter Out of network: Usual, Reasonable, and Customary (URC) | In network: 80% up to $5,000, then 100% thereafter Out of network: Usual, Reasonable, and Customary (URC) | In network: 100% In network Out of network: Usual, Reasonable, and Customary (URC) |
It’s important to understand what type of sports coverage is offered on each level of the Student Secure plan. While all levels of the Student Secure plan cover leisure and recreational sports, you will need to purchase the optional sports rider on the Budget, Select and Elite levels if you want additional coverage for intercollegiate, interscholastic, intramural or club sports. The coverage of this rider varies depending on the level:
Smart | Budget | Select | Elite | |
Sports & Activities Leisure, Recreational, Entertainment, Fitness | Up to the Overall Maximum Limit | Up to the Overall Maximum Limit | Up to the Overall Maximum Limit | Up to the Overall Maximum Limit |
Optional Sports Add-On | No coverage | up to $3,000 | up to $5,000 | up to $5,000 |
When conception occurs after the insurance plan’s start date, the Student Secure covers maternity on the Budget, Select and Elite levels, including pre-natal, delivery, and post-natal care as well as expenses for miscarriage and complications of pregnancy.
Smart | Budget | Select | Elite | |
Maternity | No Coverage | Up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $25,000 |
The Student Secure provides benefits for mental health, including coverage for substance and alcohol abuse on all levels of the plan. Many schools require students to have mental health coverage on their health insurance plan and it’s important to evaluate which level will meet any necessary requirements.
Smart | Budget | Select | Elite | |
Mental Health | Outpatient: Up to $50 per day $500 maximum Inpatient: Up to $5,000 | Outpatient: Maximum of 30 visits. Coverage includes drug and alcohol abuse. Inpatient: Maximum of 30 days. Coverage includes drug and alcohol abuse. | Outpatient: Maximum of 30 visits. Coverage includes drug and alcohol abuse. Inpatient: Maximum of 30 days. Coverage includes drug and alcohol abuse. | Outpatient: Maximum of 30 visits. Coverage includes drug and alcohol abuse. Inpatient: Maximum of 30 days. Coverage includes drug and alcohol abuse. |
Pre-existing conditions can be covered on the Student Secure plan after 6 months on the Select or Elite levels and after 12 months for the Budget level. The Smart plan does not cover pre-existing conditions at all. However, all four levels include up to $25,000 in coverage for an acute onset of a pre-existing condition (which means that there would be limited coverage for a sudden and unexpected occurrence or recurrence of a pre-existing condition, except if the condition was chronic or congenital).
Smart | Budget | Select | Elite | |
Pre-existing Conditions | No Coverage (acute onset up to $25,000) | 12 month waiting period | 6 month waiting period | 6 month waiting period |
Additional benefits for vaccinations and personal liability can be found on the Elite level. This level will offer coverage for personal liability up to $250,000 and immunization coverage for routine vaccinations inside the US, up to $150.
It’s important to evaluate each level of coverage and determine what works best for your personal needs in addition to any requirements that you may have from your school. All levels of the Student Secure plan will meet the US department of state requirements for the J visa, in addition to offering coverage for COVID-19, as any other eligible illness allowing for direct payment when going inside the plan’s provider network.
The Navigator plan is a great insurance plan option for those who want a policy with comprehensive coverage while outside of their home country. With benefits included for preventive and primary care, this plan is designed to cover you for as little as 3 months up to one year. You can also renew this plan annually. This plan offers concierge-level medical assistance and direct payment to any doctor, hospital, or clinic in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network in the US or in their extensive, yet carefully selected provider network outside the U.S.
The GeoBlue Navigator plan has an unlimited annual maximum outside and inside the United States. Additionally, the Navigator allows you to customize specific aspects so that you can get the exact plan you need. For one, you can choose your deductible from $0 to $5,000 which sets your coinsurance maximum. With a $0 deductible, your coinsurance maximum is only $1,000! Along with coverage for new eligible injuries and illnesses that occur after the plan starts, this policy has coverage for 8 primary care office visits, preventive care for children and adults, and unlimited telemedicine visits. Keeping the needs of international travelers and students in mind, this plan also provides coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation in amounts that meet and exceed most visa requirements. You can read even more about the benefits of this plan by visiting our Navigator Benefits page.
Coverage for COVID-19 is included in this plan, just like any other eligible illness. If you have symptoms and need to be tested for COVID-19, this plan can cover testing as well as subsequent treatment. For more information on signs and symptoms of COVID-19 please visit our Coronavirus Information page.
This policy is medically underwritten, so you would have to answer a series of medical history and lifestyle questions when you apply for coverage. Based on your responses to these questions, the insurer can decide (1) to rider the policy to exclude certain conditions, (2) to increase the amount of premium required for the coverage, or (3) to deny coverage entirely. You will be contacted for approval prior to the insurer increasing the premium, and if riders are added to your plan, you’ll have the option to cancel within 10 days for a full refund.
To start your personalized quote, or to apply for coverage, click here.
If you have questions about the plan, or would like to speak directly with one of our licensed customer service representatives, please contact us and we would be happy to assist you.
Each year students around the world anticipate the annual Travel Video Contest hosted by InternationalStudent.com. For 14 years thousands of videos have been created by students in all corners of the globe sharing where they would like to travel during their time as an international student, or where they would like to study. With a global pandemic, during the 15th year of the contest it has received a refresh; students can enter the 2020 contest by submitting a 2 minute or less video that shares one or both of the following:
The contest officially opened on September 1st and will remain open for new entries until October 13th. Entrants have the chance to win one of the following prizes:
The Viewers’ Choice Award Winner will be determined by votes from visitors like you and announced with the other finalists during the week of November 9th. The First Place, Second Place and Third Place Winners will be determined by our esteemed judges panel comprised of international educators, travelers and supporters. If you would like to enter the InternationalStudent.com TVC: Life After Lockdown contest make sure you enter before the October 13th deadline. You can get started by reading the contest rules and getting extra tips for success. Once you’ve created your short video for the contest, enter to win right online. Good luck!