International Student Health Insurance
The
following is helpful information when considering international student health
insurance and medical care.
WHAT IS HEALTH INSURANCE?
- Doctors and hospitals might be
very expensive in the USA; health insurance helps you pay some of your
medical care costs.
WHY GET HEALTH INSURANCE?
- Buying medical insurance now may
save on medical costs in the future
- Medical insurance provides your
routine care (such as health physicals) and preventative care (such as
shots and screenings)
HEALTH CARE TIPS
- Carry your insurance card with
you and show it whenever you visit a doctor or hospital
- “In-network” means that the
doctor or hospital has agreed with the insurance company to provide
medical services at lower prices
- In-network does not
automatically mean that all services will be paid for by insurance
- “Out-of-network” means that the
doctor or hospital has not agreed with the insurance company to provide
medical services at lower prices and services may be more expensive than
“in-network”
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN URGENT
CARE AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM (ER)?
- Urgent Care is for minor
illnesses or injuries, such as:
- Colds, coughs, sore
throat, or flu
- Fever
- Minor cuts, sprains, and skin
rashes
- The Emergency Room (ER) is for
major emergencies, such as:
- Accidents
- Major injuries
- Severe shortness of breath
- Loss of consciousness
- Bleeding that does not stop
- Seek medical help right away if
you have a medical emergency. You can be treated in the ER without
insurance; if you forget your health insurance card you can always
provide the insurance information later
DEPENDENT HEALTH CARE (HUSBANDS,
WIVES, AND CHILDREN)
- The Primary Member is the main
person that holds an insurance policy. If you buy your own health
insurance, you are the Primary Member
- Dependents of the Primary Member
may be included in the insurance plan. Husbands, wives, and children are
dependents if included in the Primary Member’s insurance plan
- Insurance price depends on your
age and gender
- Private insurance companies
OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT
INSURANCE
- In an emergency, the hospital
Emergency Room (ER) must help any person who comes to them
- There are free or low-cost
clinics as well
Planned Parenthood
- Provides women’s health services
such as birth control, testing, abortion, STDs, and emergency
contraception
Federally
Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
Provide
low-priced services regardless of visa status Sample Locations
- Uptown: Heartland International
Health Care
845 W. Wilson
Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-4283
(773) 506-4283
- West Town: Erie Family Health
Center
1701 West
Superior St., Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 666-3494
(312) 666-3494
- Lower West: Mercy Diagnostic and
Treatment Center
1713 S.
Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 567-7933
(312) 567-7933
- Englewood: UIC/Miles Square
Health Center
641 W. 63rd
St., Chicago, IL 60621
(888) 724-0116
(888) 724-0116
- South Chicago: Chicago Family
Health Center
9119 S.
Exchange Ave., Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 768-5000
(773) 768-5000
- Roseland: Aunt Martha’s Youth
Service Center
200 E. 115th
St., Chicago, IL 60628
(877) 692-8686
(877) 692-8686
- South Lawndale: Circle Family
Health Care Network
1201 S.
Campbell Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 379-1480
(773) 379-1480
Community Health Clinics
- Offer medical and dental care,
health education, lab tests, medications, and social services
- Provide health care at no cost
to low-income, uninsured individuals
- Locations
- West Town
2611 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 395-9900 - Englewood
641 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621
(773) 994-1515 - Some universities and medical
schools such as Rush University, Loyola, UIC, and Midwestern University
provide reduced health and dental care services
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