Mental Health and the College Experience
February 21st, 2020 by Elaine Del Rossi
Depression among college students comes in many forms and, in a survey conducted by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors in 2013, 36.4% of college students reported they experienced some level of depression. According to the study, depression is the number one reason students drop out of school, and is a gateway issue that, if left untreated, could lead to other symptoms or even suicide. Depression is a common but serious illness that leaves you feeling despondent and helpless, completely detached from the world. It can interfere with life, making important everyday tasks such as working, studying, sleeping, and eating difficult.
Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain likely caused by a combination of genetics, and biological, psychological, and environmental factors. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), depression is the most common mental disorder. The rates of suicide among college age students has been on the rise for the past three decades and the second leading cause of death among Americans ages 15-24.
To get a better understanding of how to cope with some of these issues, NAMI has a wonderful guide.
Trigger mechanisms
Experts say that for the most vulnerable students, the hyper-competitiveness of college admissions can sometimes trigger a crisis. Staff from both Ramapo and TCNJ say that as the colleges have become more selective, they see more students suffering from anxiety. The competitiveness also can be a barrier to students getting help. “All through high school these kids didn’t have the room to be seen as anything less than competent,” said Ann Haas, research director for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. “They land at a good school, it comes after years of making themselves look good, and there is no room for imperfection,” Haas said. “They’re miserable and they know they are miserable, but they can’t ask for help.”
According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), anxiety and depression utilize the vast majority of treatment resources in counseling centers. Despite the average treatment length, these concerns are growing in frequency. This dual trend underscores the importance, and bottom-line value, of developing a spectrum of effective interventions aimed at the broader student population. The growing prevalence of anxiety and depression represents a substantial challenge for higher education.
One of the ways in which students can easily and privately access mental health services is through telemental health (TMH) services. In a world where college students utilize the digital world every day, TMH is gaining acceptance due to its convenience and a growing body of research that indicates its effectiveness with specific populations. TMH services may remove barriers to access for students who may not want to self-disclose or for those that may not be close to campus support services. Also, students may feel less threatened by online counseling than by in-person sessions. It is also essential to know what benefit/coverage is available from the insurance carrier and evaluate behavioral health coverage and what assistance the provider has in a particular area. It is also helpful to broadly communicate with students and parents what support and services are available specifically in mental health.
Student Health Advantage & Patriot Travel Medical – How to File a Claim
January 23rd, 2020 by Leah Hammond
You’ve just been to the doctor…so now what? You showed a copy of your ID card at the time of treatment, and the doctor’s office didn’t make you pay anything out of pocket. You may think that you are all set and need to take no further action, but it’s important to make sure that you file a claim after your visit to ensure your claims are processed and paid to the provider as quickly as possible! Below, we will detail the steps you should take to file your claim if you have a Student Health Advantage or Patriot Travel plan through International Medical Group (IMG) and how you can check to make sure your claims are being processed in a timely manner.
Step 1 – Show Your ID Card when Seeking Treatment
When seeking treatment in the United States, you will want to try to visit a doctor that is in-network. By going in-network, the provider should be able to direct bill the insurance company, so you won’t have to pay up front at the time of treatment. You’ll simply need to provide the doctor’s office with your insurance ID card, and they should be able to send the bill directly to IMG for processing.
Tip: These itemized bills are generally known as a HCFA or UB04 form, so you can request this information specifically from your provider after seeking treatment!
If you go to an out-of-network provider, or seek treatment outside of the United States, even if you provide the doctor’s office with a copy of your insurance ID card, they still may require that you pay for the services up front. If this happens, you’ll want to make sure to keep the receipts showing that you paid out of pocket and also request an itemized bill from the provider. This itemized bill will show the cost of services rendered, as well as special diagnostic codes that the insurance company will need to process your claim. It is also a good idea to request the doctor’s notes or medical records from your visit so you can submit this with your claim.
If you are prescribed any medication by your doctor, you will have to pay for the prescription in full at the pharmacy and then submit the receipts to be reimbursed later. Make sure to keep the receipt showing that you paid for the prescription, as well as the Rx label showing the name and dosage of the medication, so you can submit this with your claim.
Step 2 – Complete the Claim Form
Next, you will need to complete a claim form with more details about why you went to the doctor so the insurance company can determine if your visit is an eligible, covered expense. It is very important to complete this form in full, with as many details as possible. This form is needed whether you go in-network or out-of-network, and a new claim form needs to be completed once per injury or illness.
If your visit to the doctor was the result of an accident, you’ll also want to make sure to complete the general accident questionnaire form. This form will detail more information about the accident that occurred. If you have any supporting documentation from your accident, like a police report, you’ll also want to submit this to IMG for review.
Step 3 – Submit Your Documents to IMG for Review
Once you’ve completed the claim form and accident questionnaire (if applicable), you’ll want to submit these documents, along with any itemized bills and receipts, to IMG for processing. You can submit these forms via email, fax, mail, or through your online MyIMG portal.
- Email: customercare@imglobal.com
- Fax: +1.317.655.4505
- Mail: P.O. Box 9162, Farmington Hills, MI 48333-9162 USA
- MyIMG: https://myimg.imglobal.com/
The insurance company may also need a copy of your passport, and if you are a student, a copy of your visa and student status, so it’s best to include all of these documents when you are submitting your claim to make sure IMG has everything they need on file to get your claim processed.
Tip: With both the Student Health Advantage and Patriot Travel plans, you have 180 days from the date you go to the doctor to submit a claim for review. If you submit your claim after 180 days, IMG will not cover your expenses, so it is important to submit your documents as quickly as possible after seeking treatment to make sure your claim will be processed.
Step 4 – Follow Up
It generally takes 30 business days from the time all necessary documents are received for a claim to be reviewed and processed. It is your responsibility to make sure your claims are processed, so we suggest checking on the status of your claim periodically by contacting IMG directly.
- Phone: +1.317.655.4500
- Email: customercare@imglobal.com
You can also check on the status of your claim through your online MyIMG account. We recommend creating your online MyIMG account upon purchasing your plan or when submitting your claim, as this is a great resource for submitting and checking on the status of your claims.
Tip: If you have created your MyIMG account, you will receive an email notification letting you know when there is an update about your claim.
Step 5 – Explanation of Benefits Review
Once your claim is processed, an Explanation of Benefits (also known as an EOB) showing how your claim was processed will be sent out via mail to you directly and will also be available through your online MyIMG account.
Sometimes, when a claim is processed, it is determined by the claims team that more information is needed to make a determination about your claim. This could be a missing claims form or accident questionnaire that wasn’t submitted, or even medical records from your provider detailing more about your condition. If more information is needed, this will be indicated on your EOB, and it is your responsibility to make sure that this information is submitted to IMG so that your claim can be finalized.
If the claim is fully processed, the EOB will show exactly how the claim was paid and if there is any patient responsibility that you need to pay as well. You may have an outstanding balance from a deductible, co-pay, or an uncovered portion of your bill that you will need to pay to the provider directly. If you paid out of pocket and need to be reimbursed, payment will generally be sent via check, but you can also opt to have this sent via wire transfer to your bank account.
If you have any questions on how to file your claim or need help understanding how your claim was processed, you can contact our team of licensed customer service representatives who would be happy to help!
Schengen Visa Insurance – Webpage Relaunched!
December 19th, 2019 by Jennifer FrankelInternational Student Insurance just relaunched the new Schengen Visa Insurance page which details what the Schengen area is, who needs to apply for a visa, and what the insurance requirements are.
The new page brings all the content together from what used to be, multiple articles. The new looks make it easier to find the information you need and a fun and engaging way.
If you or someone you know will be going to the Schengen Area, you may be required to get a Schengen Visa. This visa comes with a list of insurance requirements that you must meet in order to be issued your visa. To do this, you will need to submit a visa letter to the consulate from your insurance company. The requirements that need to be listed on the visa letter are as follows:
- Minimum coverage of €30,000 (equivalent to $50,000 USD)
- Coverage must be valid within the entire Schengen region and for the full duration of stay
- The policy must cover any expenses which might arise in connection with emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and/or repatriation (up to and including that of remains in the case of death)
Luckily, we have several plans that will meet your insurance requirements. To learn more, receive your official insurance visa letter, and apply please visit:
NHS Visa Insurance Fee Impact for International Students Studying in the UK
November 21st, 2019 by Ross Mason
The United Kingdom (UK) draws international students from all corners of the globe, and for good reason as it has one of the best education systems in the world. However, over the last few years, the number of international students coming into the UK has struggled from a mixture of Brexit uncertainty, increase in terrorism and changes in visa laws.
If you are an international student looking to study in the UK, one aspect that you will not want to overlook is your healthcare. The UK does have a nationalized healthcare system (otherwise known as the NHS), but over the course of the last 10 to 15 years, the NHS has battled with spiralling costs and overuse, which has led to the government to start to clamp down on who can access it. It was even estimated that health tourism and abuse of the NHS cost the system £110 to £280 million per year!
Immigration Act 2014
Under the Conservative government of David Cameroon, a new immigration bill was introduced that came into force in April 2015 that required all those applying for a visa to pay a health surcharge as part of their application. Originally set at £200, the new surcharge was to try and plug the gap that had been left by abuse of the system. The new fee then further increased late last year, so now the fee is set at £400 for all visa applications, with a discounted fee of £300 for students.
Who does this impact?
The health insurance surcharge is only charged in the following instances:
- National from outside the European Economy Area (EEA)
- Studying for more than 6 months
If you are studying for less than 6 months, you will not need to pay the fee, however you will also not get any access to the UK’s national healthcare system. What this means to you, is that you will either need to purchase travel insurance, or the NHS will charge you 150% of the actual cost incurred to the NHS.
This also brings up a whole new question about what happens post-Brexit, if that ever happens. That is a question that we cannot really answer with any conviction, and it will be up to the final Brexit deal as to what that will look like. We do know that in the short term, if there is a Brexit deal, there will be a hiatus period of about 1 to 2 years where things will continue to run as usual while laws are passed. So there will not be any major changes to this while Brexit goes through.
This is not insurance!
What is really important to remember is that this is NOT INSURANCE. For students coming into the UK that are paying the fee, this will simply give you access to the NHS for medical treatment, just like any other citizen of the UK.
There are a number of things that you need to make sure you keep in mind:
- Waiting Times – the NHS has a number of excellent features, and while it does provide every citizen of the UK with free medical care, there are some downsides. Most namely in waiting times, and with payment of the fee you get access just like anyone else. If you need to see a specialist, waiting times can be in the months, so you will want to purchase additional travel insurance so that if you do need to see a private doctor, you have the ability to do that through your insurance plan.
- Travel Benefits – the NHS will only cover you for medical care, but there are certain travel benefits to consider as an international student. What if you are hospitalized and want your family to come and be by your bedside? What if you pass away while studying in the UK and need to be repatriated back to your home country? What happens if your flight is delayed or you lose your luggage traveling to the UK? The NHS will not pay for these types of expenses, so it’s a good idea to consider purchasing travel insurance that will supplement the NHS fee and cover you for things above and beyond what the NHS provides.
- European Travel – with the UK’s close proximity to the mainland of Europe, you are only an hour flight, or a few hours on the train, from some of the most amazing countries in the world. The NHS fee will not cover you if you travel to these countries, so you would need to purchase insurance for each trip you make.
As a student coming to study in the UK, the NHS fee is something that you will need to pay (as long as you are from outside the EEA and studying for more than 6 months), but that does not mean you will not need insurance. The NHS fee simply provides you with access to the NHS, and will not provide you with all the other things insurance plans do!
If you are looking for a great insurance option for studying in the UK, check out our European Travel insurance plan that will offer you cover that goes beyond the NHS fee.
The U.S. Healthcare System- What You Need To Know Before You Go
October 23rd, 2019 by Natalie Holland
For international students traveling to the United States, having knowledge of the healthcare industry in the US will allow you to feel confident about what to do in the case that you get sick or injured. While it can seem daunting, if you have the knowledge you need, taking control of your healthcare is simple. Below we have outlined a few key details about the US healthcare system and what to do if you need to seek treatment.
United States Healthcare
The healthcare system in the United States is vastly different than systems anywhere else. While US medical care is among the best in the world, it is extremely expensive. Whereas your home country may have universal healthcare, the United States relies on individuals paying their own medical bills or individuals enrolling in an insurance plan to help cover the cost of their medical bills. This means that those coming to the US to study as international students will need to purchase an insurance plan so that they do not end up paying all the expenses themselves.
Where To Seek Treatment
Emergency rooms in the US are very expensive and are made to treat you in very serious cases. In the case of a true emergency, you should visit an Emergency Room to receive treatment right away. What do you do, though, if you need treatment for something that doesn’t need immediate attention, but is still important? In the United States, it is best to visit an Urgent Care facility, Walk-In Clinic or your university’s Student Health Clinic. Not sure where you should go?
Learn more about insurance provider networks here: https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/insurance-provider-networks.php
What Insurance Plan Should I Buy?
Many schools in the US require their international students to have health insurance, whether through a university plan or individually purchased. If your school does allow you to purchase a plan individually, they may provide you with a set of requirements that must be met by your policy. If you aren’t sure what your school’s requirements are, or whether one of our health insurance plans will meet them, check out our School Requirements page to simplify the process.
It is important to note that healthcare in the US is never really free, even if you have insurance. You might see advertisements for health insurance policies telling you that it will cover all of your expenses. It is also important to be wary of plans that advertise as ‘free’. While a plan could have very comprehensive coverage that requires little out of pocket expenses, this policy would be very expensive.
The best way to be prepared for any difficulty that might arise is to be informed. The video below will help you understand the US healthcare system by providing you with all the knowledge you need to prepare you for the journey ahead.
Health and Travel Insurance with No Deductible
September 23rd, 2019 by Jennifer Frankel
Has this ever happened to you: You go to the doctor, show your health insurance card, and the receptionist tells you that you’ll need to pay something out of pocket? In the United States, healthcare can be very expensive, and oftentimes US health insurance plans have certain cost sharing measures to help keep the cost of the insurance plan relatively low.
Unlike in other countries where there may be a nationalized healthcare system or you can purchase health insurance that covers almost all of your costs, US health insurance plans typically require that the patient pay a certain amount out of pocket when they seek medical attention.
If you are an international student or traveler, it’s important to be aware of what you will need to pay out of pocket when you use the plan to avoid any surprise bills! If this is a concern, rest assured that there are plans that will cover you without a deductible, coinsurance or copayment.
Common Out of Pocket Expenses
To determine whether you need to pay something out of pocket when you go for medical treatment, you need to look for the deductible, copay and coinsurance on your health insurance policy. If you are not familiar with these terms, they mean the following:
- Deductible – The amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering your medical expenses. This can be paid once per year or once per condition, depending on the terms of your plan..
- Copay/Copayment – The amount you pay out of pocket each time you go for treatment. Depending on the terms of your plan, this can be paid each time you go to the doctor, urgent care center, or Emergency Room. The copay is usually a small amount, and it’s important to check the policy wording to see if and when this needs to be paid.
- Coinsurance – This is a percentage that both you and the insurance company pay for your covered medical expenses.
Finding A Plan With No Deductible
While many plans require payment of a deductible, copay or coinsurance, there are plans that are available to international students and travelers that have no deductible, and cover you 100% for your eligible expenses while you are abroad. Here are a couple of examples:
Atlas Travel – This plan will allow you to choose your deductible, including a $0 deductible. By choosing a $0 deductible, the urgent copay is also waived. With this plan, if you go inside the network, out of network or if you are outside the US, the plan will then cover you 100% up to your policy maximum. The exception to this is if you go to the Emergency Room in the US (this copay does not apply outside the US) and you are not admitted for an illness (this does not apply to injuries) then you would be responsible for a $200 copay.
Patriot Travel – This plan is available in a Standard and Platinum level, both of which have the option to choose a $0 deductible. Like the Atlas Travel plan, if you choose a $0 deductible the urgent care clinic and walk in clinic copays are waived. If you choose to go inside the network in the US or if you are outside the US, this plan will cover you 100% up to the policy maximum. The exception to this is if you go to the Emergency Room in the US (this deductible does not apply outside the US) and you are not admitted for an illness (this does not apply to injuries) then you would be responsible for a $250 deductible.
Why a $0 Deductible Insurance
If you want a plan that will cover you immediately, then this type of insurance is well-suited for you. It can mean that you won’t need to pay anything out of pocket when you go to a network-doctor, clinic or hospital.
Enrolling in an insurance plan with no deductible may also be a requirement of certain visas around the world. A common example is Spain. Many times Spanish consulates and embassies want to see you have a health insurance plan with no deductible, and both the Atlas Travel and Patriot Travel plans will not only meet this requirement, but they will also give you a visa letter immediately after purchase.
If you are interested in learning more about health and travel plans with no deductible, please contact our customer service representatives who would be happy to go over the plan benefits as well as provide you with a customized quote.
2019 Travel Video Contest
September 11th, 2019 by Leah Hammond
The annual InternationalStudent.com Travel Video Contest is now open for submissions!
Entering its 14th year, the InternationalStudent.com Travel Video Contest now boasts 5 unique prizes, with a First Place Grand Prize of $4,000. Here’s your chance to be a winner this year.
If you are currently studying outside of your home country, your video must describe any trip you would like to take. If you are not currently studying outside of your home country, your entry must describe your proposed study abroad. Eligible entries could win 1 of 5 prizes to use towards either of these dreams. To enter is simple: submit a 4-minute or less video that was made specifically for the 2019 Travel Video Contest telling us about your proposed international education or if you’re already an international student, your trip. Your entry will be scored by our judging panel that consists of highly esteemed professionals in the international education industry.
Winning prizes include:
First Place Winner: $4,000
Second Place Winner: $500
Third Place Winner: $250
GoAbroad Choice Winner: $500
Viewers’ Choice Award Winner: $1,000
For deadlines, rules, regulations, and all the things you’d need to know about the 2019 Travel Video Contest, simply visit the TVC homepage. If you’re an instructor, counselor, or personnel of any kind in the international education sector, and would like to share this contest with your students, please don’t hesitate to download the official poster.
Best of luck to all entrants! We cannot wait to watch and be inspired by your dreams and videos!
Health Insurance for International Students at Stetson University
August 16th, 2019 by Diana Nolasco
Stetson University recommends ISI as a pre-approved insurance option for international students. Learn more and apply online to meet your school’s requirements.
Because healthcare can be so expensive in the United States, Stetson University recommends that all international students have a comprehensive medical insurance plan before departing their home country.
Like most universities, Stetson University maintains that all J-1 visa holders must purchase plans that meet these certain requirements:
- The plan must include a minimum of $100,000 in benefits per accident or illness
- The plan must offer a minimum of $25,000 coverage for repatriation of remains, a minimum of $50,000 coverage for emergency evacuation, and a maximum deductible of $500
They also recommend that all international students on a F-1 visa enroll in an insurance plan that meets these same requirements.
Fortunately, all levels of International Student Insurance (ISI)’s Student Health Plan meet these requirements.
For students ages 24 and younger, the rates are as follows:
- Smart Plan– $371.28 per year
- Budget Plan– $513.24 per year
- Select Plan– $1,161.16 per year
- Elite Plan– $2,140.32 per year
These levels of the plan include comprehensive coverage for doctor visits, hospitalization, prescription medication, and emergency evacuation and repatriation. Pre-existing conditions and maternity are covered by all levels aside from the Smart Plan.
Once the policy is purchased, international students will be required to demonstrate proof that they have coverage that meets the university’s requirements. This can be done quickly and easily with the Stetson staff at WORLD: The David and Leighan Rinker Center for International Learning.
Wellness, Immunizations, and Birth Control for International Students in the U.S.
August 15th, 2019 by Leah Hammond
When planning on studying in the U.S., the last thing you might be thinking about is the cost of healthcare. It is well known that healthcare costs are very high in the United States, so it’s important to make sure that you have a health insurance plan in place when you arrive. Health insurance plans for international students are generally designed to offer coverage in case something unexpected happens. Routine and preventative care isn’t always covered in these plans and you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket if you are looking for these kinds of services. In this blog, we’ll discuss different options to help find coverage for annual physicals, immunizations, and birth control at an affordable cost!
Routine and Preventative Care
For some international students, your college or university may require that you have an annual physical and certain immunizations before you can enroll in classes. While routine and preventative care, like a general wellness checkup, annual physicals, and immunizations, are typically excluded from international student coverage, you can usually find this type of treatment at an inexpensive cost to you.
- Walk-In Clinic: If your plan does not include coverage for preventative care or immunization, you can visit a local pharmacy walk-in clinic, like the CVS Minute Clinic or the Walgreens Healthcare Clinic for affordable treatment. The cost will depend on each service, but you can expect to pay approximately $69 to $89 for a physical examination, $50 or less for a flu shot, $49 for a TB test, $135 for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination, and $240 for each dose of the HPV vaccination. You can contact your local walk-in clinic to find out more about the pricing of the services they offer.
- Student Health Center: If your school offers an on-campus student health center, you may be able to receive an annual physical and certain immunizations at little to no cost. You should call your on-campus facility to inquire more about the free services they offer and if any fees would be associated.
Before going to the doctor, it’s important to check your health insurance plan to confirm what is included in your coverage. While most international student plans don’t include coverage for routine or preventative care, International Student Insurance does offer different plan options that include limited coverage for immunizations and wellness.
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Elite Level Only Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR); Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (TDAP); Chicken Pox (Varicella); Hepatitis B; and Meningitis (Meningococcal MCV4 and B) | including vaccinations Gold & Platinum Level Only |
Birth Control Prescriptions
In the United States, birth control is available by prescription only. Generally, contraception is not covered by international student health insurance plans, which means both the initial visit to the doctor and the prescription would not be covered. Luckily, there are different options out there to find low-cost birth control around the country!
- At-Home Delivery: Websites like HeyDoctor, Nurx, PRJKT RUBY and Simple Healthoffer different forms of contraception, from the pill, the ring, and the patch, for as low as $15 per month without insurance. Through these websites, you can consult with an online doctor to find the right prescription for you! Some sites require you to complete an online questionnaire, while others require a video consultation, and availability varies from state to state, so make sure to do your research to find the best option for you.
- Planned Parenthood: Planned Parenthood works to make healthcare in the United States accessible and affordable. They offer wellness exams, birth control prescriptions, and STI testing at low costs and some centers even charge based on income. The costs for these services vary by location, so you’ll want to call your local Planned Parenthood to find out what you can expect to spend for an exam
As you can see, there are many ways to find healthcare services that can still be cost-effective, even if your insurance plan won’t cover the expenses. It is important to do your research and compare costs before seeking treatment to make sure you are finding the most affordable options out there!
Health Insurance for International Students at Polk State College
August 12th, 2019 by Diana NolascoPolk State College has selected ISI as the recommended insurance option for international students. Learn more and apply online to meet your school’s requirements.
As an international student, it is important to have medical health insurance throughout your studies in the US. Due to the high cost in medical care, most schools in the US require international students to purchase health insurance before enrolling in the classes. Polk State College is no different. Polk State College requires international students to have medical coverage throughout their time in the US. Luckily, International Student Insurance (ISI) provides health insurance plans for international students that are comprehensive and affordable, and meet Polk State College’s insurance requirements.
Polk State College recommends the Student Secure plan for their international students’ health coverage. While the Student Secure is available in four levels, three of the levels will meet their requirements for international students: Budget, Select, and Elite. These levels include coverage for:
- Doctor Visits
- Hospitalization
- Prescription Medication
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Organized Sports
- Maternity
- Mental Health
For an international student ages 18 to 24 years old, the cost for one year is:
- Budget – $513.24 per year
- Select – $1,161.16 per year
- Elite – $2,140.32 per year
To purchase this insurance, international students can go to the Student Health plan to enroll directly on our website. If you need assistance, our team of customer service representatives are available by phone, email, or live chat and would be happy to help.
Once purchased, our team will send you a confirmation email which you can show to your international student advisor at Polk State College as proof of coverage.
Updated 7/28/2020
