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In order to go through your college education and come out in flying colours, it is important to stay healthy. Injury and illnesses can seriously hamper your capacity to deal with the imminent pressures of your academics and extracurricular activities. As an unhealthy student, it is difficult to manage the stress that is inevitable for a higher education student.
Health care system in America, though extremely good is also expensive and highly complicated. Health insurance plays a major role and it is absolutely essential as a student to take health insurance coverage for as long as you are a student here.

Responsibility of getting a health care rests with the individuals. Most of the universities and colleges offer their own insurance health coverage plans making the job of choosing from myriad options for students easy. Students have to opt for the plan before enrolling in the courses. Health insurance cost is in built in the tuition fee. However, if you are a student working part time as a teaching assistant, you may be eligible for having your insurance paid by the institution.
For students who already have health coverage, they can forgo the school plan. However the plan they hold must meet the requirements and cover the student in case of an emergency condition.

Students must therefore submit proof of their insurance plan and get it approved by the university before they are exempted from purchasing the plan from the college. There are various websites and insurance agents offering a variety of insurance plans for students who do not want to take the plan through their colleges. If you are an international student, you must ensure the plan you choose meets the requirements for US visa, school and state.

As an international student, you are eligible for various specialized plans offered by many companies keeping in mind your budget constraints. Offers include sports coverage, mental health coverage and maternity coverage. Another aspect to remember is that insurance in America does not cover every single illness or injury. Before you receive benefits from the insurance company, you are usually required to pay a part of the costs beforehand for prescription drug cost or treatment. Co-pay for example is a payment which you have to make at the service time. This cost is included usually in the treatment bill. Similarly, deductible is an amount that is pre-fixed and has to be paid by the patient before he even applies for health insurance coverage.

Be careful in choosing your student health insurance plans as most of them have a list of conditions. Go through the conditions carefully and understand the extent of coverage as most of the time, you may face unexpected circumstances when your insurance is denied to you. As with any other insurance plan, student health insurance generally does not cover diseases that already exist. Coverage does not also include medically unnecessary treatment, injuries that are self inflicted or treatment hitherto received in their home country. If you have any doubt on your student health insurance plan selection, you can take the help of the international student office in the university.