Health Insurance

Medical care is extremely expensive in the United States. It is important that you obtain medical insurance (also known as health insurance) in case you need to visit a doctor, receive medical treatment, or in the event you become hospitalized. Walsh University policy requires all international students to maintain insurance coverage meeting the following minimum standards:

  • Minimum coverage for basic accident and illness: $50,000 per condition
  • Repatriation of remains: $7,500
  • Medical evacuation (return to home country for medical treatment): $10,000
  • Deductible (amount you must pay before your insurance provider pays): $500 maximum
  • Medical insurance almost never covers all medical expenses, and you will usually be required to pay "co-pay" fees or a certain percentage of your treatment expenses.

Many of the terms associated with medical insurance may be unfamiliar to you, and there are many different options and providers. Please discuss medical insurance questions with the Director of Culture & Belonging or the Director of Academic Support Services.

Each fall and spring semester you are required to show proof of medical insurance to the Director of Culture & Belonging before enrolling in courses for the next semester. You should also be prepared to present your insurance card to the doctor or hospital before receiving treatment. It is your responsibility to ensure that the doctor you’ve chosen is a primary provider for your health insurance.

Visit your own doctor. Get a reasonable supply of any medications you expect to be taking. Also get a copy of your prescriptions, written in English. Medications in the US can be very expensive and often require a prescription. Also, though good substitutes are available for most Western medications, some traditional treatments such as medicinal herbs are not available in the US. You may want to bring a supply of these with you. It is wise to have a signed statement from your doctor explaining the use of any medicinal herbs since the US government has strict laws about drugs. Complete any dental work or eye examinations before you leave home, as these are not covered by Walsh's International Student Health Insurance plan. If you wear eye glasses or contact lenses, bring two pairs and a copy of your prescription with you.

International Student Health Insurance Requirements Policy

Walsh University requires all full-time undergraduate and graduate students to have health insurance. Students who do not have health insurance will need to purchase their own policy. Good health is essential to your academic success; adequate insurance can assist you in getting the care you need to maintain your health.

For more information or for enrollment process details, please download the student health insurance brochure (PDF).

International students must provide their health insurance policy, in English, to the Director of Culture & Belonging to ensure federal compliance.

The International Student Insurance Health Plan is available to all registered students. Married students who enroll in the plan may also enroll their eligible dependents. You are not obligated to purchase this plan, but we strongly recommend it. The Student Health Insurance Plan applications will be available at the Orientation Program for new international students. If you choose to be covered by another insurance plan, you must ensure that coverage meets the following minimum requirements set by the U.S. Government:

When applying for health insurance, the cost may vary in relation to your age and health condition. The same is true for your spouse if you insure him/her. Dental insurance is not included in either the University's or in most insurance plans.

Hospitals

  • Aultman Hospital
    2600 Sixth St. S.W.
    Canton, Ohio 44710
    330.452.9911
  • Mercy Medical Center
    1320 Mercy Dr. N.W.
    Canton, OH 44708
    330.489.1000

Urgent Care Centers

  • Health Services: Aultman NOW Washington Square
    6525 Market Ave. N.
    North Canton, Ohio 44720
    330.363.8680
  • Mercy Health Center of North Canton
    6200 Whipple Avenue N.W.
    North Canton, Ohio 44720
    330.966.8884
  • Aultman North
    6100 Whipple Ave. N.W.
    North Canton, Ohio 44720
    330.305.6999

In the event that you have an unexpected accident or sickness while in the United States this health insurance plan can help pay your medical bills. It is important to remember that medical treatment in the United States is very, very expensive and the U.S. healthcare system is designed for everyone to have health insurance.

It is important that when you receive the insurance card in your campus mailbox, that you register on-line for an account at IMG for students. This will allow you to see your claims, give information to your parents, and receive important information on your individual policy and plan. Each time you visit a hospital, or doctor outside of the university, it is important to show the facility administration your insurance card.

Highlights for the Insurance

  • Coverage Year Limit is: $500,000
  • Maximum Limit per illness or injury is: $300,000
  • Coverage Deductible is: $100 per illness or injury
  • Coverage Year Out-of-Pocket Limit is: After he deductible is met, company pays 80% of expenses out of network (U.S.) or 100% in-network and internationally
  • Emergency Medical Evacuation is: $500,000
  • Repatriation of Mortal Remains is: $10,000
  • Intensive Care -  After deductible is met, a company pays 80% of expenses out of network (U.S.) or 100% in network (U.S.) and internationally
  • Hospitalization / Room & Board: Average semi-private room rate, including nursing and ancillary services
  • Hospital Emergency Room Injury: Company pays 80% of expenses out-of-network (U.S.) or 100% in-network (U.S.) and internationally. Not subject to emergency room deductible
  • Hospital Emergency Room Illness After deductible is met, company pays 80% of expenses out-of-network (U.S.) or 100% in-network (U.S.) and
  • Mental or Nervous/Substance Abuse: Outpatient: $50 per day; $500 maximum limit. Inpatient: After deductible is met, company pays 80% of expenses out-of-network (U.S.) or 100% in-network (U.S.) and internationally up to $10,000 maximum limit
  • Prescription Drugs and Medication: After deductible is met, company pays 80% of expenses out-of-network (U.S.) or 100% in-network (U.S.) and internationally; $250,000 period of coverage limit for insured student and $100,000 period of coverage limit for dependents. Retail pharmacy prescription drugs and medication are paid at 50% out-of-network and international with a 90 day dispensing maximum
  • Dental: Non-emergency treatment at a dental provider due to an accident-$500 period of coverage limit per injury unexpected paid to sound, natural teeth-$350 period of coverage limit.
  • Intercollegiate/Interscholastic/Intramural or Club Sports $5,000 period of coverage limit per illness or injury
  • Physical Therapy (Medical order or treatment plan required): After deductible is met, company pays 80% of expenses out-of-network (U.S.)
  • or 100% in-network (U.S.) and internationally; limit one visit per day
  • COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Coverage COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 shall be considered by the Company the same as any other Illness or Injury, subject to all other Terms and conditions of this insurance
  • Teladoc Consultation (Groups only) Company pays 100% within the U.S.; mental and nervous disorders not covered
  • 12 Month Pre-Existing Condition Limitation. (Meaning new students have to wait one year on this insurance if you have a previous health issue you will need assistance with)

The 24-25 daily rates are as follows:

$2.48 per Student =$905.20 yearly
$10.13 per Spouse = $3,697.45 yearly
$2.37 per Dependent Child = $865.05 yearly

The U.S. Healthcare System

To all international students studying in the United States, the U.S. healthcare system might seem impossibly complicated and confusing. This is because the US healthcare system is impossibly complicated and confusing; most U.S. citizens don't even fully understand it. The following is a short guide to help you to better understand the U.S. health care system, so you will be fully prepared for your stay in the United States.

Quality of U.S. Health Care

The United States boasts the greatest medical expertise and the finest clinics in the world. If you are sick or injured during your studies in the U.S. and you are treated in a U.S. hospital, you can be certain that you are receiving some of the finest care in the world.

The U.S. Spends Money On Health Care

The U.S. spends far more on health each year than most countries; in 2009, the U.S. spent 17.4 per cent of GDP on health, far more than the "rich country average of 9.6 per cent (OECD)." For reference, the next highest spender was Holland at 12 percent of its national wealth.

The Value of Health Insurance

As long as you have health insurance, this should not affect you as an international student in the US. With health insurance, you will be entitled to the high quality care provided by the U.S. health care system. However, without valid health insurance, you may find that quality health care is not nearly as accessible to you, and you may need to pay colossal medical fees should you become ill or injured.

Health Insurance for International Students

Just as U.S. citizens are not required by law to have health insurance, neither are F1 and F2 visa holders staying in the U.S. (although your school can require you to have it to enroll in classes).While you as an international student may not think you need health insurance to study in the US, it is highly recommended that you purchase it and in some cases your school or government may require it.

If you become ill or injured while you are staying in the U.S. and you do not have the appropriate insurance, you run the risk of paying very expensive medical bills, or even of receiving no health care at all. U.S. hospitals only treat emergency cases without prior payment, and may refuse treatment without evidence of insurance or a deposit. Researchers have found that the average charge for an emergency room visit in the U.S. is approximately $1,233 - 40% higher than the average American pays for rent each month. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you purchase health insurance before leaving for the United States, or soon after your arrival.

Important Insurance Terms

Finding an affordable student health insurance plan can be difficult, especially if there are insurance terms you don't understand. Simply having the basic understanding of insurance definitions can make the difference between having a plan that will cover you for the majority of your medical expenses and one that leaves you paying thousands of dollars.

Listed below are some of the most important definitions to know when searching for a health insurance plan.

Premium

This is the actual cost of your insurance plan. Keep in mind that the higher the premium, the higher your coverage and thus, the less you will have to pay in medical bills throughout the year.

Deductible

The Deductible is the amount that you must pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company will begin paying towards any covered expenses. The deductible affects how much money you will pay to the doctor or hospital, and is typically paid at the time of treatment.

Depending on the plan, the deductible may be paid once per calendar year or once per new condition:

Once per Year

Once-per-calendar-year deductibles are paid once for the entire year and don’t need to be paid again until you renew for an additional year.

Once per Condition

Once-per-condition deductibles are paid each time you visit the doctor, unless it’s a follow-up visit for the same condition.

Co-Pay

Like a deductible, this is the amount of money you must pay out of pocked before the insurance company begins to pay for your eligible expenses. Typically, this is required instead of a deductible or coinsurance, and requires you to pay a set fee for a specific visit.

Provider Network

Provider network (also known as an in-network provider) is a group of medical providers that have contracted with the insurance company to provide health care services. In-network providers typically charge less for the same service compared to non-network providers, so using an in-network provider can save you money and they will usually accept direct payment from your insurance company.

Usual, Reasonable and Customary

Usual, Reasonable and Customary (also known as URC) is the average cost for a particular treatment in a particular geographic area. It is the amount that insurance companies use to describe the limit on how much they will pay for covered expenses.

Example: If most providers usually charge $5,000 for a particular procedure in New York, the insurance company will not pay a doctor $10,000 for the same procedure. Instead, they will limit their payment amount to "Usual Reasonable and Customary" - in this example, $5,000.

Pre-existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions include any injury or illness that you may have prior to getting the insurance plan. The definition can vary by plan so it’s important to check with your plan to see the exact definition.

Repatriation of Remains

On most insurance plans, repatriation of remains covers the cost of returning the insured’s body back to their home country in case of death.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

Emergency Medical Evacuation provides medically necessary transportation to the nearest qualified medical facility, not necessarily your home country.

Beneficiary

This is the person who would receive any insurance benefits in case the policy holder was to pass away while on the insurance plan.