I attended an international student orientation recently at one of our client schools, Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Diana Jones, the Director of the Intercultural Office, opened the orientation by asking the international students how many were homesick and why.
For a moment, no one raised their hand.
Then a male student shyly raised his hand. He said he enjoyed being at Graceland, but he hadn’t been home in two years. That first domino had fallen. Hands started going up. You would think these students would miss family and friends, but other things started being revealed as well.
How International Students Deal With Homesickness in College
One student terribly missed the food from back home. A female student missed her Latin music and dancing weekends with friends. Another missed driving a car due to his license not being valid in Iowa. These students can only work on campus while attending college, so it made sense that a male student missed regularly working a job and being productive outside his academic classes. Another male student missed conversing in his Peruvian Spanish dialect. By the end of the session, 100 percent of the students had volunteered experiencing some sort of homesickness. These results fall in line with a recent study conducted by YouthSight (and released by the Nightline Association) which shed some surprising light on what international students face.
As this continued, my heart just broke more and more. Some of these students literally have oceans between them and their families. I’ve been at LewerMark for six years and this conversation opened my eyes to the challenges these students face above the more obvious ones of missing parents, siblings and friends.
Help Your Homesick Students with 24 Hour Counseling Services
Diana Jones asked about homesickness in college because she wanted to loop the students into the benefit LewerMark provides through our partnership with Lifeworks. The My Student Support Program (My SSP) provides students with 24/7 access to support and the platform, which integrates with existing campus resources, connects students to professionals and counselors who speak their native languages and understand the unique cultural challenges faced by students living abroad. Immediate support is available in six core languages, and ongoing support is provided in more than 60 languages via app, chat, web, telephone and video.
Additional Benefits of our International Student Support Program
My SSP covers services not often found in traditional health insurance packages for international students such as:
- Students struggling with peer pressure, loneliness, stress, depression, and anxiety
- School-related stress including debt advice and management that can occur from tuition and other expenses
- Students trying to balance multiple responsibilities while experiencing a new culture
- Students coping with bereavement, harassment, eating disorders, substance abuse, gambling, domestic violence, and gay/lesbian/gender issues
- Students dealing with pregnancy and childcare issues
My Student Support Program complements existing student counseling services and other resources. For example, we offer 24/7 access to counselors to provide live support outside of traditional campus counseling service hours, which includes multiple languages.
- A 24/7 free, confidential counseling service toll-free phone, e-mail, or instant messaging
- Face-to-face and/or online counseling services in multiple languages
- A multidisciplinary network of expert counselors who can identify presenting problems or needs
Resources for Students Homesick in College
There are many online sites that offer advice to students to combat homesickness. Here is a sampling:
Ithaca College Homesickness Guide
Tips for Dealing with Homesickness
Kaplan’s Homesickness Tips
A Student’s Guide to Dealing With Homesickness
As great as these online sites can be, they can’t replace a sympathetic and understanding counselor. Not every international student may need to tap into his or her health insurance when studying in the states, but it sounds like from my recent experience at Graceland University, almost all international college students could benefit from at least an understanding voice.
Choosing where to pursue a college education is a big decision for any student. The decision to move to a different country and pursue higher education is an even bigger step. Many international students are both excited and nervous to come to the United States.
For many students, the first week is often the most difficult. During the first week, you’ll need to set up basic tools and services and make crucial decisions that impact the rest of your stay.
These tips can help you navigate these challenges with ease.
Adjust Your Sleep Routine
Your first instinct when you step off the plane may be to get some shut-eye. After all, traveling wears out a person! Jet lag is also a major player: You might arrive in New York, DC, or LA during the sunlit hours, but your body knows that, at home, it’s time to wind down and get ready to sleep.
Fight the urge! Unless you’re falling asleep as you stand, try to stay awake. You’ll need to adjust before classes start anyway, but there are also plenty of businesses you’ll need to contact—and most are only open between 8 am and 6 pm.
Most people take about a week to fully recover from jet lag, but forcing yourself to start adjusting can help you overcome it more quickly.
Another helpful trick is to start adjusting your sleeping pattern to the time zone of your destination before you leave.
Switch Your Phone
When you’re traveling for a short time, it doesn’t make sense to switch cellphone providers. But travel plans and roaming fees add up quickly. If your stay is any longer than a week or two, choosing a US-based cellphone plan and provider becomes a more economical option.
If you have an unlocked phone that you brought from home, you can simply purchase a new SIM card and install it in your phone. If your phone is locked, however, you’ll need to purchase a new phone. You can choose a prepaid plan or a contract. Contracts are longer term but may require you to provide a credit check or a social security number. There are also pay-as-you-go or prepaid plans that may be easier for you to obtain. Here are some links to international student phone plans from cell phone carriers:
Pick an App
Once you’ve obtained cell service, you might be concerned about international calling and texting. After all, you want to stay in touch with your friends and family at home.
Luckily, there are plenty of free apps that allow international calling and messaging. Whatsapp, Skype, Facetime, and Viber are all great options that will let you keep in touch around the world.
Bank Accounts and Credit Cards
You’ll likely rely on cash during the first few days after your arrival in the US, but you’ll also find cash is inconvenient in many cases. Instead, set up a bank account and a credit card to make payments quicker and easier.
Select Health Insurance
The American medical system is different from almost any other on the planet. Some international students find it overwhelming; most will experience some difficulty navigating it. Selecting health insurance should be a priority on your list—even if you don’t think you’re going to get sick during your stay.
Your school may have a mandated plan for international students, in which case you may already have coverage. Nonetheless, you should research the kinds of coverage you have and what you’ll need; you may want to purchase additional coverage.
There are more students in the US today than ever before, and the number of students is expected to continue to grow over the coming years. Both the domestic student population and the international student population are growing, as more US citizens take advantage of the opportunity to study at postsecondary levels and more international students choose to study in the US.
That has led schools to focus on two new concerns: How they can provide for their diverse student population, and how they can increase their enrollment by continuing to recruit new students. Luckily, these two concerns overlap in one easy solution: Schools should mandate their student insurance.
Mandating Your Policy
Plenty of schools offer insurance for both their domestic and their international students. But these plans are often voluntary; that is, students can choose to enroll in the program or not. This is good in some cases as it relates to US domestic students because they may have better coverage provided by their parent’s benefits plan.
However, this is often not the case, which means many students do not have adequate insurance coverage. Further, when students are left to shop for insurance on their own, they may not know what they need. They’re more likely to simply purchase a plan with a low price, which could mean they end up paying a lot out of pocket later on when they actually need health care.
The most effective solution to this situation is creating a mandated policy. This means the student insurance plan offered at your school is non-optional: Students must be enrolled. By mandating the policy, you ensure that every single student at your school has the same level of insurance coverage.
Why Mandate?
As mentioned, students who are offered a voluntary program can choose not to enroll in the program. Supporters of voluntary programs argue that this gives students more choice in selecting a student insurance plan that covers their needs. More often than not, however, this means students either purchase inadequate coverage or simply skip buying insurance altogether.
What’s the problem? Well, for one thing, many students have limited funds, so plans with low price tags are immediately appealing. A bigger problem, however, is that students simply don’t understand what they need in an insurance plan.
Even seasoned school administrators can find themselves tangled up in a web of insurance jargon, trying to sort out what the plan does or does not cover. Now imagine an 18-year-old fresh out of high school or an international student who speaks a different language trying to sort out the same thing!
Mandatory Policies Protect All Stakeholders
By mandating a policy, the school administration is saving the student from a confusing, potentially frustrating shopping experience. The school is also taking a step toward protecting students by mandating student insurance: Students will no longer be caught offguard by out-of-pocket costs because their coverage was inadequate or they didn’t fully understand their plans.
This is a scary situation for students. Mandating your policy can attract these students to your school as they attempt to avoid out-of-pocket costs and frustration.
Give Your Recruiting a Boost
Asking students to pay additional fees for a mandatory student insurance plan may seem like a surefire way to lose new enrollments; most students feel postsecondary education is expensive enough. But here’s the catch: Students like being offered the protection of a plan that’s been vetted by people in the know.
They know that school administration is looking out for their best interests by mandating a plan—and the school has reviewed the plan to make sure it meets certain criteria. That takes all the guesswork and frustration out of reviewing coverage on the students’ end.
That can make your institution look like a much better choice than a school that offers no plan or a voluntary plan—and it shows you’re invested in the well-being and success of your students!
As more international students than ever attend US institutions of higher learning, enrollment has increased at virtually every school in the country. International students are now selecting schools that were not considered destinations for them previously, while simultaneously more and more American citizens are taking advantage of opportunities to further their education.
Increasing enrollment has also meant there is increased competition for attracting students. When students have so many options, schools—including community colleges—need to stand out. One way to do that is to offer a customized health insurance plan for international students. Yet, opinion is divided on whether insurance is something all institutions even need to offer.
Standing out in the Crowd
One of the most important reasons community colleges should offer health benefits for their international students is that it helps them stand out in the crowd. As much as increasing enrollment has meant that there is an increasing number of international students, there are more great school choices than ever. Similarly, as students aim to further themselves, they may favor institutions over community colleges.
Offering health benefits is one way an institution can stand out in the crowd, then. Offering benefits can help schools attract new students and retain current students, thus increasing their enrollment.
Care for Your Community
It makes sense for a community college to be involved in the community around it, and that’s another reason your school should offer health benefits. When your students have proper health insurance coverage, you’re not only protecting your students and your institution, but medical providers in your community as well.
Students who lack coverage and experience a major medical event and cost will need to pay out of pocket for medical fees—and they might simply skip out on the bill. This can negatively impact hospitals and other care providers who serve your community, and it leaves all your stakeholders with a bad taste in their mouth.
Protect Students
Obviously, the number one reason any school should offer health benefits is to ensure students have adequate coverage. That way, when students get sick or need medical attention, they don’t need to worry about how to cover the costs.
It also helps keep your campus healthy. Students without medical insurance may not seek treatment for the common cold, flu, or other contagious illnesses that could lead to them spreading it around campus and infecting staff and students. Keep everyone healthy by offering health benefits to students at your institution.
What about the Cost?
A formidable issue for community colleges considering offering health benefits to their students is the cost. At a time when big companies are slashing health benefits and transferring costs to employees, most people think health benefits are far too costly for institutions like community colleges to offer. After all, if big companies bringing in millions or billions of dollars in revenue can’t afford health benefits, how can anyone else?
Health benefits don’t need to cost an arm and a leg, however, and plans can be quite affordable. Always be sure to do your research and determine what insurance plan is going to offer your institution the best possible value. Value goes beyond a price tag, of course; there are plenty of things to take into consideration when you’re shopping for a plan. The good news is there is a plan that fits your school’s needs—including its budget.
The Verdict
The answer to the question of whether community colleges should offer health benefits is very clearly “yes.” Offering benefits helps schools protect their students, their staff, and everyone else in their communities. Benefits can also help schools increase their enrollment by attracting new students. The best part? Offering benefits doesn’t need to break the bank.
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.
1. Your Insurance Company Can Help You Find a Doctor or Pharmacy
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.
2. Translators Are on Hand for Medical Emergencies
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.
3. They Can Help You Get Home in Case of a Major Emergency
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.
4. You Can Talk to a Health Care Professional 24/7
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.
Coming to a new country is exciting. You have the opportunity to make new friends and experience a whole new culture, all while studying at a new school. To ensure that you make the most of your investment in your education, you should protect yourself with a health insurance plan that works for you. It’s crucial to do your research. When it comes to making the right decisions for your education, purchasing health insurance while you are studying outside of your home country should be at the top of your to-do list.
You Need to Take Care of Your Health—Especially If You Take Prescription Drugs or Have a Pre-Existing Condition
When you have decided to study in a foreign country, it is important to plan ahead. While different insurance plans will provide different levels of coverage, not everything will be covered in each one—items that are not part of your plan are called exclusions.
If you have a long-term “pre-existing” condition, you should look closely at the exclusions of any potential plan to make sure you find the coverage that is right for you and plan for any medication needs in advance. For example, if you take specialized medication, consider bringing along a supply with you when you come to the US to last until your next trip home. Since every person has different medical needs, you need to plan ahead to make sure your time abroad is safe, productive, and enjoyable.
Your School May Require Health Insurance and J-1 Visas
Since many schools may require a specific level of health insurance, you’ll want to research in advance to make sure any coverage you purchase on your own will meet the requirements of your school. Almost all colleges, universities, and even high schools will want to make sure their students are insured because if a student does not have insurance, the cost of an accident or illness can literally cost millions of dollars! Who can afford such a bill? Not the student, nor the school. Even if you are healthy and don’t think it is important to get health insurance, the school you attend may “mandate” that you purchase some kind of insurance protection while you are in the US, either through the school directly on a group plan, or on your own, with an individual plan.
Buying Insurance Could Save You Money
No one plans on getting sick or injured, but if it does happen, you will be happy that you purchased health insurance in advance. In the US, if you go to the hospital without insurance, you will be expected to pay for your care directly, and the US has the most expensive healthcare costs in the world! Imagine if you found yourself in the hospital, and after your recovery, you are handed a bill for several thousand dollars. The average cost for one night in a non-profit US hospital is $2,289. Depending on your ability to pay the bill, you may be pursued by a collection agency to repay the costs.
That’s why health insurance for international students is so important. Dealing with the challenges of a new language and culture is already stressful enough. So trying to tackle the US healthcare system on your own without insurance can turn your trip from enjoyable to frustrating.
You’ll Be Less Stressed If You Already Have Insurance
Imagine you rent a car for a weekend in the country, but you don’t buy insurance for it. You’ll likely worry the entire time about whether or not you will scratch or damage the car, distracting from the fun of your experience. Purchasing health insurance while you are in the US is the same way. You may think you don’t need to buy insurance while living in a new country, but why take the chance and then worry about it? Do yourself the favor of having one less thing to worry about.
Insurance Is for Your Benefit
Getting the right health insurance is for your own benefit. While your school, your parents, and even the government all want you to be safe and healthy, at the end of the day, insurance is meant for you. You will be doing yourself a favor if you do the research and find an insurance plan that works best for you.
Begin all your planning by researching important information about the country you will be visiting. Your research should also include looking into health insurance for international students. If you have any questions about finding the right insurance plan for your studies, you can contact LewerMark and we will be more than happy to help you.
