Insurance Information
Medical Insurance
In the U.S., it is MANDATORY to have health Insurance. For the initial days say a month, get a plan from India.
In the U.S. you can take -
1. NU Health Insurance (NUSHIP) - Though expensive, it is an excellent plan, and provides full support. People who have a tendency to fall sick must take this.
2. Other third party insurances such as the ICSWEB (Plan B). That is the most widely used insurance policy among Indian graduate students. The best part about ICS is that you can pay your premium in installments of 3 months. That really helps in the settling down phase.
3. Another insurance website is http://www.travelinsure.com which is cheaper than ICS Web.
As soon as one arrives in US he/she is required to get Social Security number immediately. It is a very simple procedure.
DO NOT buy any two year health insurance plan from India. A one month plan is fine. Ask the company as to how they settle payments, whether you have to call a person in India . Most of them are partners with International agencies for operations in the U.S. Give them a scenario where someone who has their policy falls sick and has to see a doctor and ask them to explain the whole process from there. That will give you a better idea of each policy.
Some of these companies also give Travel/luggage insurance coupled with one month health insurance. Some policies are tailor made for first time student travelers to U.S.A, so choose your insurance wisely.
One student says;
"Hi, This is regarding the Health Insurance from: www.icsweb.org (Plan B). I have had an excellent experience with this Insurance Company, when I fell sick in Winter. I had Flu, with very high temperature of 105. I was blacking out, and was taken to the emergency room. I was kept on IV-fluids, and many tests were taken. The Bill came up to $3500, for the 3 visits I paid to Beth Israel Medical centre. And all this, including the charge for the ambulance was all paid by my Insurance agency. I am really grateful to this company, and would highly recommend that you take this Insurance, and be rest assured you will be taken care of."
Once you get access to your my-neu account, DO NOT FORGET to waive the NU-SHIP fee from your tuition amount if you are taking some other policy.
Medication
In the U.S., it is very important to have a coverage of medical insurance as medical treatment is extremely expensive. In order to be covered under any kind of health insurance, you have to possess a SSN.
If you need to take medicines containing habit forming drugs, it is wise to have a prescription for them prepared in advance by your physician, or at least an explanatory letter/medical report from him. Also ask your doctor to furnish you with the generic names of any medicines that you or family members need or are currently using as brand names for medicines may be different in the U.S.
It is always a good idea to carry past diagnoses and treatment records for any children that may be traveling with you. American doctors always question new patients about their medical histories before treating them any further.
Several medicines that are commonly available in India qualify as prescription drugs in the U.S. and cannot be obtained over the counter in a pharmacy (drugstore). Pharmacies do not, generally, accept prescriptions written outside the U.S. Carry at least a month's supply of medication for any on-going medical problem. This will allow enough time for your health insurance to become active and for you to find a new physician.
All medication that you carry should be clearly labeled and have a valid prescription accompanying it. Since several medicines available in India are banned in the U.S., carrying a prescription will guard you against any suspicion of smuggling. This applies especially to homeopathic medicines (which, by the way, are very rarely available in the U.S.) that are often mistaken for illegal drugs at customs.
If you fall ill
God forbid, but if something happens to you, here is what you should know:
The Medical Benefit Card which is sent by the Medical Insurance Company is an important card and should be acquired at the earliest.
This card entitles you to coverage under certain medical categories only.
There are two acceptable ways of payment for the Doctor's services which depends on the Doctor. The Doctor's receptionist is the best person to ask payment related questions.
Some Doctors ask you to pay them (by cash, check, credit card etc.) immediately after the service. The receptionist will then give you a formal bill, which you must send (by postal mail) to the Medical Insurance Company alongwith the claim form. The Medical Ins. Co. will then send you a check after verifying your claim. Other Doctors will note down the details of your Medical Insurance Company from your card.
They will then send the bill to the Insurance Company and receive the payment directly. You need not pay the Doctor.
But in both the above modes, remember that there are certain charges which the Insurance Company will not pay and which they don't cover. So find out the details from the Insurance Co. about your respective coverage/medical problem etc.
For certain kinds of medical problems where you have to visit the Doctor repeatedly, only a fixed number of visits per year are paid by the Insurance Company and not all.
How to decide on the Doctor to visit ?
Ask your colleagues or other Indian friends. Otherwise check up the yellow pages (phone directory). Look under the "Physicians" heading. Telephone the Doctor and fix up an appointment. Only in cases of emergency, do the Doctors see you immediately, otherwise it is always by appointment.
You can claim the expenses for any Dr. prescribed medicine that you have to buy from the Drug (medical) Store.
NOTE:
- Pain in the lower back and strain between the shoulder blades and a stiff neck are very common due to the kind of spring mattresses and soft foam pillows available in the U.S. and one just needs to get used to it.
- Beware of Dental problems since they are usually not fully covered under the Insurance Scheme.