As a benefit of your BSMP scholarship you will be provided health insurance that meets or exceeds J-1 visa regulations (see below). IIE, on behalf of CAPES/CNPq, will pay for the coverage upon receipt of an invoice from your host institution. It is your responsibility, however, to ensure you are enrolled in an appropriate plan that meets these requirements for the duration of your authorized program. If you find the health insurance provided by your host institution does not meet the requirements stated below, or it cannot provide any coverage at all or for the entire duration of your authorized program, you must inform IIE immediately via bswbinsurance@iie.org. In these two cases, IIE will enroll you in its private health plan for the duration of your authorized program.
J-1 Visa Health Insurance Coverage Requirements:
- Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
- Expenses associated with medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
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An insurance policy secured to fulfill the requirements of this section:
a. May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards
b. May include provision for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25 percent of the covered benefits per accident or illness.
- Policy must be underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or have;an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-” or above; or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above.
Important Notes:
- If you have any questions about your host institution’s health insurance plan, or the health care that will be available to you, you should feel free to contact your host institution’s Health Center/Student Services Office.
- It is very important to have all necessary dental care or immunizations completed prior to your departure. Dental care and immunizations are very expensive in the U.S. Please be prepared as your host institution will require you show proof of immunizations prior to course registration.
- If pre-existing conditions are not covered by your health insurance plan, you will need to plan accordingly. A pre-existing condition is any condition which (i) originated prior to your effective date of coverage or (ii) you received consultation/treatment/medication from a physician about prior to your effective date of coverage.
- You are fully responsible for covering the cost of immunizations, dental care, medical care, etc. not covered by your host institution’s or IIE’s health insurance plans. Please be prepared to incur out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, etc. or services not covered by your health insurance plan.
- If you are considering arriving in the U.S. prior to the Start Date on your Terms of Appointment, or remain in the U.S. for any portion of your 30-day grace period, it is highly recommended that you purchase traveler’s health insurance coverage.
BSMP Health Insurance Confirmation Form
The purpose of the BSMP Health Insurance Confirmation Form is to confirm that BSMP students are enrolled in an adequate health insurance plan as outlined in their Terms of Appointment. BSMP students must submit the Health Insurance Confirmation Form within 10 days of their arrival in the United States. The form contains instructions on how to properly complete and submit. Should you have any questions about the content of the form, we encourage you to print it out and contact your university’s health insurance office for assistance. It is a program requirement to have proof of health insurance in each student’s record.
IIE Insurance Request Form
Since BSMP students must be enrolled in an adequate health insurance plan that meets J-1 visa regulations at all times during their authorized program, there will be certain cases where BSMP students will need to be enrolled in IIE’s private health insurance plan. You should complete the IIE INSURANCE REQUEST FORM if any of the following conditions apply to you:
- Your university is unable to provide you with health insurance.
- Your university is able to provide you with health insurance, but the health insurance plan does not meet J-1 regulations.
- Your university is unable to provide you with health insurance as of your Program Start Date written on your Terms of Appointment.
- Your university is unable to provide you with health insurance for a specific period during your authorized program (winter or summer breaks). For information on coverage prior and after to your authorized program, please see Traveler’s Insurance.
In addition to this form, you must submit documentation that confirms you will not have coverage for the dates you specified in the form. The following are acceptable forms of proof and should be included as a PDF attachment along with the IIE Insurance Request Form :
- A letter from your university’s health center/office or international student advisor which confirms you will need health insurance for the time you indicated on the IIE Insurance Request Form.
- A copy of your summary of benefits that confirms your dates of coverage do not cover your entire authorized program. For example, if your Terms of Appointment start date is January 1, 2013, and your insurance coverage begins on January 20, 2013, then you qualify for IIE’s private health plan for the entire month of January, 2013.
Important Notes:
- It is your responsibility to ensure you are enrolled in an appropriate plan that meets these requirements for the duration of your authorized program.
- IIE reserves the right to request additional information before enrolling you in IIE’s private health insurance plan.
- Please allow up to ten days for your request to be processed.
Staying healthy will have direct positive effect on your overall exchange experience and academic success. Three major components that contribute to a happy and healthy exchange experience are: (i) understanding the U.S. health care system; (ii) managing stress and physical fitness and (iii) knowing how to approach American food.
U.S. Healthcare System
A major difference between the U.S. and many other countries is how the health care system works. In the U.S., healthcare is privatized. In other words, there is no universal national health care plan. This makes it very expensive to receive treatment and medicine without health insurance. In addition, there are specific laws that govern which medications require a doctor’s prescription, and which do not. Medications that do not require a doctor’s prescription are called “over-the-counter,” and these can be found at local supermarkets, pharmacies or retail stores.
As a benefit of your BSMP scholarship, you have been enrolled in either (A) your host institution’s healthcare plan OR (B) the Institute of International Education’s Private Programs Health Insurance administered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). In either case, it is essential that you fully familiarize yourself with your plan as well as some of the aspects of the U.S. health care system.
In order to be better prepared, we recommend you do the following:
Learn about your host institution’s health plan or CISI by familiarizing yourself with the respective website and the information provided therein.
Questions to ask yourself included:
- When do I need a prescription?
- What does the plan cover?
- What is not covered?
- Is there a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible (see explanations of these terms below)?
- What is a claim form? When do I need it? Where do I find it (on the website) and where do I submit it?
- Is there a dental or vision plan? Do I need dental or vision coverage?
- Where can I seek medical care and what are the hours of service?
- Who are the doctors that provide n? Is there a co-pay for prescriptions?
- Where is the nearest pharmacy?
- Visit the health center on your campus as soon as possible to better understand what services it offers, when it is open, and what you need to do to receive care. It is recommended that you ask the health center staff what you need to do if the center is not open and you need immediate medical care. They should be able to tell you where is the nearest off-campus urgent-care clinic or hospital emergency room. Life-threating situations that would require immediate attention at an emergency room are uncontrolled bleeding, high fever, broken bones, seizures or unconsciousness.
Definitions:
- Co-pay: a specified amount of out-of-pocket expenses to be paid when visiting the doctor visits and paying for a prescription
- Co-insurance: a certain percentage of the total covered costs to be paid for medical services.
- Deductible: an amount out-of-pocket expenses that must be paid before an insurer will pay any expenses.
Important Notes:
- It is important to note that not all health insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions and the costs associated with treatment. If there is a medicine you take for a pre-existing condition, it is recommended that you secure enough in your home country for the time you will be in the U.S. Otherwise, it may become very expensive.
- Always be ready to explain your symptoms and conditions from the onset to a physician or nurse. When doing so try not to feel intimidated and always tell the truth. Be prepared to tell them what medications or treatments you have taken or are currently taking. Always feel free to ask them as many questions about your condition, treatment, medical procedure or cost as you’d like, even if you have already left the office.
- Check with your host institution’s health center to see if you need to complete a medical form and/or submit immunization documentation. If you are required to have immunizations (tuberculosis, measles/mumps/rubella, hepatitis, influenza, meningitis), you may be able to receive them in your home country or upon arrival. In some instances, host institutions require certain immunizations or tests be administered in the U.S.
- A patient’s privacy must be respected and be kept confidential by law. With a few exceptions, licensed physicians, nurses or other medical care staff, including psychologists and other mental health professionals, are not permitted to discuss a patient’s medical symptoms, conditions, illness or treatment without written consent. These few exceptions include a life-threatening condition, an unconscious state leaving someone unable to make a decision, or abuse.
- No matter what the possible cost, your health and well-being must always come first, so it is of the utmost importance that you see a doctor if you are injured or ill. Please use your best judgment to assess which medical care facility is appropriate for your current condition.
- It is your responsibility to keep yourself up-to-date on any changes to your health insurance plan and coverage dates. If you are going to be traveling internationally during your program, or if you plan on staying in the U.S. for any part of your 30-day grace upon completing your program, you must make sure you have international health insurance coverage for these periods. Should you need to purchase additional coverage for temporary periods such as these, you can ask your host institution’s center for information or you can visit http://caremed-travel.net/.
Managing Stress and Physical Fitness
Adjusting to life in a new culture can be stressful at times, but it should be viewed as a time of personal growth and challenge. You will find that things are different – some things you will like and some you will not. In either case, knowing that you will become frustrated at times (trying to find you way around, making new friends, understanding what is being said) and knowing how to manage this frustration will be very helpful. If you notice a change in your mental outlook or sleeping or eating habits, or experience symptoms such as stomach aches, constipation, fatigue, headaches and heart erythema, it is important to seek assistance by going to the health or consulting center or international student office. Sometimes finding someone who will listen and try to objectively help find solutions to a problem will be just what is needed. It is also essential to find balance, not trying to do too much and making sure you have time exercise regularly and do activities that you enjoy. It is proven that exercise on regular basis helps reduce stress and increase physical and mental energy. Most campuses have a recreation center where students can play on intramural teams or borrow/rent equipment.
In order to be better prepared, we recommend you do the following:
Read your host institution’s counseling and recreational websites or stop in their offices to find out:
- What types of facilities are there?
- Where are they located and at what times are they open?
- Do I need to make an appointment/sign up, or can I just drop-in?
Other questions to ask or research:
- What is cultural adjustment?
- How are U.S. values different from my own?
- How can I manage my time better?
Approaching American Food
Diet and nutrition are one of the most difficult challenges international students face when they are trying to adjust to surroundings. This can be especially hard in the U.S. where familiar foods from your home country are rare, including certain ingredients and Halal dishes, and many cafeterias are full of high-fat, low fiber foods such as pizza, burgers, fried chicken, and French fries.
In order to minimize the adjustment to food in the U.S. and potential health problems, you need to make sure you are eating in moderation and making healthy choices. Try to choose a variety of foods, ones that are high in dietary fiber and low in fat or sugar. Many cafeterias now offer salad bars, vegetarian meals, soups, and sandwich stations. These tend to be healthier, as long as you watch what you put on that sandwich or which salad dressing you choose. International restaurants and specialty food stores are becoming more and more common. You can ask at the international student office or other international students on your campus where to find these restaurants or stores.
In order to be better prepared, we recommend you do the following:
Read your host institution’s dining website or stop in at the dinning office to find out:
- What types of on-campus dining facilities are there?
- Where are located and at what times are they open?
- Can I take any food (an apple or banana) with me for later?
- Do they have nutritional facts or serving information on the food they serve?
- Do they have weekly menus so you can plan where and when you will eat?
Other questions to ask or research:
- Does the health center have information about making nutritious choices or do they offer any tips for eating healthy at college/how to eat healthy?
- What are the local restaurants and grocery stores in the community? Do they offer ethnic food?
- How to read nutritional labels or serving suggestions.
If you are considering arriving prior to the start date written on your Terms of Appointment or remain in the U.S. for any portion of your 30-day grace period (defined below), we highly recommend you purchase traveler’s health insurance. Your BSMP scholarship does not cover these periods.
Arrival Prior to Program Start Date: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows J-1 Exchange Visitors to enter the United States 30 days or less in advance of the Exchange Visitor’s program start date as shown on the Form DS-2019.
Departure after Program Completion (30-day Grace Period): Following the completion of a J-1 exchange visitor’s program, the period defined on the Form DS-2019, USCIS allows participants a 30-day grace period. This is commonly referred to as the "Grace Period." During this 30-day grace period, J-1 exchange visitors are no longer in J-visa status, and are now under the jurisdiction of the USCIS. The 30-day grace period is only for exchange visitors to settle their affairs, travel and visit friends/family, and prepare for departure. Under no circumstances can exchange visitors continue and/or complete exchange activities; this includes taking classes/final exams, conducting research, or participating in Academic Training/Research or Teaching Assistantships. Please note that while you may travel within the U.S., we recommend that you do not travel beyond the borders of the United States as you may not be permitted re-entry.
Below is a list of companies in the United States that offer health insurance plans to exchange visitors. Please note that this list is for informational purposes only, it does not represent any endorsement by IIE.
All Aboard Benefits
Tel: 1-800-462-2322
www.allaboardbenefits.com
CMI Insurance Specialists
Tel: 1-410-583-2595
Fax: 1-410-583-8244
http://www.cmi-insurance.com
CareMed International Travel Insurance
Tel: 1-855-547-6499
http://caremed-travel.net/
ISO Student Health Insurance
Tel: 1-800-244-1180
www.isoa.org
Travel Insurance Services
Tel: 1-800-937-1387
www.travelinsure.com
United Healthcare Student Resources
Tel: 1-800-767-0700
https://www.uhcsr.com