2004-11-10
This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Education Report.
We continue our Foreign Student Series. Today, in part eleven, we
talk about a cost that students who want to study in the United
States may not always consider. That is, the cost of health
insurance.
Most Americans are responsible for their own medical costs. These
can be extremely high if a person gets very sick or has an accident.
So people buy a health insurance plan to make sure these costs will
be paid.
Most American colleges and universities have student health
centers. There may even be a teaching hospital that can treat more
serious problems.
Some medical services may be included in the cost of attending a
school. But health insurance is usually needed for extra services.
So most full-time college students must have insurance.
Students may already be protected under their family's health
plan. If not, many colleges offer their own plans.
The University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, will be our example.
Students pay a health service fee. Then there is no extra charge
when they are treated for minor medical problems at the University
Health Center. But the school wants students to have health
insurance to pay for other services.
The insurance plan offered by the university costs about one
thousand seven hundred dollars a year. Such health insurance plans
generally pay for hospital services, emergency room care and visits
to doctors. They usually do not pay for care of the teeth. And they
usually do not pay for treatment of medical conditions that existed
before the student arrived at school.
International students at the University of Michigan have two
choices. They can buy the university health plan. Or they can have
private insurance that is approved by the university.
The school also offers a special International Student Insurance
Plan. This pays for most of the services offered by the University
Health Center that are not included in the health service fee.
Students in the United States can also buy private insurance
policies from independent companies. Whatever plan is right, schools
want to know that all their students can pay for their health care
needs.
Our Foreign Student Series is on the Internet at
voaspecialenglish dot com. And for student information from the
State Department, visit educationusa.state.gov.
This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy
Steinbach. This is Gwen Outen.