The US healthcare system can be confusing even for Americans, so navigating it as an international student requires extra guidance. Understanding your insurance, knowing where to seek care, and managing health needs proactively are essential to a successful and safe academic experience.
Healthcare Basics
Health Insurance: Most universities require international students to have health insurance. Many auto-enroll you.
Campus Health Center: Your first stop for non-emergency medical needs, often at no additional cost.
Prescriptions: Medications require a US prescription. Bring documentation of current medications from home.
Emergency: Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies. ER visits are expensive, use urgent care for non-emergencies.
Understanding Health Insurance
- Premium: Monthly cost of having insurance, often included in your student fees
- Deductible: Amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance starts covering costs
- Copay: Fixed fee you pay for each visit or prescription
- Network: Doctors and facilities that accept your insurance. Out-of-network care costs much more
- Waiver: If you have comparable coverage, you may be able to waive the university plan
Where to Seek Care
- Campus health center: Routine care, basic illness, mental health, vaccinations
- Urgent care: For non-life-threatening issues that need prompt attention (sprains, infections, fever)
- Emergency room: Only for true emergencies (chest pain, severe injury, difficulty breathing)
- Telehealth: Many insurance plans include virtual doctor visits for convenience
Before You Arrive
Get a comprehensive physical exam in your home country. Bring copies of vaccination records (MMR, Tdap, etc.), prescription details with generic drug names, eyeglass prescriptions, and dental work. Some vaccines are required for enrollment and may be expensive in the US.
Mental Health Support
- Campus counseling: Free and confidential, with counselors experienced with international student concerns
- Cultural sensitivity: It is okay to request a counselor who understands your cultural background
- Stigma: Seeking mental health support is normalized in US academic culture
- Crisis support: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available to everyone in the US
Pro Strategy: Save your insurance card information on your phone (photo of front and back). Know your plan's nurse hotline number for when you are unsure whether you need to see a doctor. Many plans have 24/7 nurse lines that can advise you for free, potentially saving you an expensive unnecessary visit.