Health and safety is the last thing most students consider as they buckle down and focus on academics. Most students go through graduate school without seeing the halls of a health center/infirmary/clinic. However, when you find yourself alone in a strange country, you’ll be the only one looking out for yourself. There’ll be no parents asking you about your meals or constantly reminding to take your vitamins. No family doctor or doctor-relative to see to your needs, and sometimes a phone call away. Students who have to use health care abroad will agree that it is expensive and sometimes lacking in the TLC department.
Tips: Visit your doctor and dentist before leaving. Go to the dentist for cleaning, have cavities checked and filled, etc. Optometrist/Ophthalmologist:ask for your prescription, and an extra pair of glasses/contacts. Also, stock up on prescription medicine
As a foreign student, you will be required to enroll in your university’s health insurance program or present your own medical insurance equal or more than what the school is offering. Some countries like the United Kingdom and Spain provide health insurance for free. The UK provides free health insurance for students who are staying six months or longer. In Spain, health insurance is provided for students 28 years and younger. Other countries like the US, Germany, Australia and Japan provide health insurance programs but the benefits vary with each school. You might think paying health insurance fees a waste of money but when you get sick, or worse have an accident you end up with a huge medical bill that will eat up a huge chunk of your savings. While Tricia was a student, she had a minor accident, but luckily her health insurance company paid for the expenses.
What exactly is health insurance?
Medical care is costly and the only way to avoid paying huge sums of money for this is to carry health insurance. Insurance protects against the need to meet the entire burden of expenses by spreading the cost among groups of people.
Health insurance does not cover all medical expenses in all cases. It is routine for individuals to have “co-payments,” a percentage of the bill, often 20% of the bill, for which they are personally responsible. There are often items in the policy that are excluded, like pre-existing conditions (illnesses or injuries before the insurance policy began), and preventive care such as contraception. Other items not covered by typical health insurance programs are dental care and optometry costs.
Health insurance normally covers the following: medically-necessary treatment, diagnostic tests (radiology and laboratory), annual gynecologic exams, annual physical exams, in-patient and outpatient benefits, prescription benefits, and mental health benefits.
Source: ‘Health Insurance in the US, How to Stay Healthy in the US,” Published online by the NYU Office of International Students and Scholars
Tip: If you plan to bring along your spouse and children with you, they will also be required to have health insurance. Check with your university if they offer family insurance. Some medicine and services come free for children younger than 16.
Once you’re enrolled, the university will send you a health insurance card with a list of benefits and exclusions. Always keep it handy in your wallet just in case you might need it in an emergency or get into an accident.
If you are lucky enough to be in a country like the UK that provides free healthcare, the UKCOSA advises to register with a doctor immediately and not to wait until you are ill. This means going to the doctor’s receptionist with proof that you are a student. You should ask to be added to the list of National Health Service (NHS) patients. To avoid paying the full (private) cost of treatment makes sure the doctor knows you want treatment from the NHS. If you are accepted you will be sent a medical card, which will include your NHS number. The UKCOSA cautions that while some services are free, there are some that you will have to pay for. So make sure that if you have to pay a percentage of a service like dental treatment, try to find out the cost beforehand so there are no nasty surprises.
According to Vanessa Go who went to graduate school in both New York and Chicago, you can even go to your school’s health center for minor ailments. This can include headaches, allergies, some schools offer free flu shots when flu season begins.
Preventive Measures
The best way to avoid getting sick is by staying healthy. This means eating right and getting a good amount of exercise. The Cooking, Cleaning and Laundry chapter provides healthy recipes you can prepare in little time. Keeping healthy is basic common sense. Everything our mothers taught us holds true: drink lots of water, take your vitamins, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, get a good amount of sleep and stop watching too much TV!
During the initial few months, you actually lose weight as you adjust to your new home. You’re still getting used to the food (especially in countries where rice isn’t a staple), adjusting to the unaccustomed amount of exercise (mostly through the unaccustomed amount spent on walking) and stress from academic requirements. Once you’ve settled into your routine, you might become a victim of the supersize phenomenon, especially in the US where one meal can actually be good for three meals back home. The term “Freshman 10” was coined to refer to weight gain.
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