Being an international student can take you to all sorts of new and exciting places. You will be exposed to different cultures, cuisine, and a way of life that you’ve only seen in the movies and read about in books. But since you will be in unfamiliar territory, you may not know how to connect with a doctor or medical care provider. Finding the right fit for health insurance will help you (as an international student) feel safe and secure during your travels—here are five benefits of health insurance for international students.
When you’re in a new country, it can be daunting to figure out where to go if you get sick or have a medical emergency. Fortunately, when you have health insurance, you can get help finding a doctor or hospital that is located within your insurer’s provider network, often referred to as a “PPN” or preferred provider network.
Not only will a good insurance company save you the stress of finding reputable healthcare and help you find the closest physician or hospital, but they’ll also direct you to seek services “in network,” resulting in substantial savings when it comes time to pay the bill. It’s nice to know that any time you need help finding a hospital or doctor, there is someone you can call for trusted advice.
If a major accident happens, it can be difficult to find the right words in a new language to describe the issue. When you have a quality health insurance plan, however, there will be translators available, which can be a big relief for international students.
Another great feature of good insurance plans is providing access to registered nurses via phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 200 languages. Imagine it’s the middle of the night and you don’t feel well and aren’t sure where to go to get help or how to explain your situation in English. A NurseLine is available 24 hours a day and includes translation services as well.
Medical evacuation and repatriation is the process of returning to your home country after you have experienced a major medical emergency. Typically, once a student becomes stable, it’s best to send them home as quickly as possible so they can begin to recuperate with the support of their family and friends back home.
While no one wants to imagine having to deal with an issue that would send you all the way back home, it is a major relief to know that someone will help you arrange the trip back to your home country, and even pay for it! Great insurance plans will also include a “compassion visit benefit” that will fly a close family member or friend over to visit you on a short term basis while you recover in the hospital, before you head back to your home country to get better.
Sometimes it can be hard to know whether you need to go to a doctor, a hospital, an urgent care clinic, or if you just need talk to someone about something that is troubling you. If you don’t know what your options are and who you should contact for help, you can call your insurance company for a helping hand. Of course, always remember—if you or someone around you is experiencing a true medical emergency, you need to dial 911 and ask for an ambulance!
At LewerMark, you can use MyNurse 24/7 to access a registered nurse at all hours of the day. Just like with emergency services, MyNurse 24/7 is also available in 200 languages to make sure you can completely understand the answers to your health questions.
Health insurance for international students is an important part of preparing for your time away at school. If you ever need advice regarding a plan that works for you, you can contact LewerMark to discuss your options.
