Many insurance companies offer private, individual health insurance policies to international students and family members. If you prefer to use a privately purchased health insurance policy instead of the Chickering Group’s policy, please remember the following important points when shopping for health insurance:
• Minimum Requirements: If you are a J-1 or J-2 visa holder or are an MSU student who plans to request a waiver of the mandatory Chickering Group insurance policy, any private health insurance you buy must meet the following minimum requirements:
• $50,000USD per sickness/illness (both inpatient and outpatient coverage)
• $50,000USD per accident/injury (both inpatient and outpatient coverage)
• $10,000USD for medical evacuation
• $7,500USD for repatriation of remains
• Maximum $500USD deductible
• Worldwide coverage
• Coverage must be effective for the entire time period for which a waiver is requested.
Please Note: No matter what your visa status, we recommend that you purchase a health insurance plan that covers far more than $50,000. This amount will not fully cover you in the event of a major illness or injury. We recommend you consider purchasing a plan with a medical coverage maximum of at least $250,000 – if not more.
• Pre-existing Condition Coverage: A “pre-existing condition” is a medical condition that you have before you purchase health insurance coverage. Some insurance policies will cover a pre-existing condition only after a waiting period of, for example, six months. Some insurance policies will not cover any pre-existing medical conditions. Caution! If your family member has a pre-existing medical condition, be sure you purchase a health insurance policy that will cover pre-existing conditions! (The Chickering Group policy will cover pre-existing conditions after a six-month waiting period.)
• Maternity Coverage: “Maternity coverage” is insurance coverage for costs related to pregnancy and childbirth. Some private international student health insurance policies offer maternity coverage, but some policies do not. If you are a female, we strongly recommend that you purchase a health insurance policy with maternity coverage. (The Chickering Group policy includes maternity coverage.) Important: No maternity coverage is provided by the U.S. Government or the State of Michigan! A woman holding a nonimmigrant visa status (F-1/F-2/J-1/J-2) who becomes pregnant and does not have health insurance with maternity coverage must pay the full cost of prenatal care and childbirth. The average cost to deliver a baby in the United States ranges from $5,000 - $10,000USD! If you may possibly become pregnant during your stay in the United States, health insurance with maternity coverage is necessary. For more information, please read our page on Having a Baby in the US.
• Dependent Eligibility: Some health insurance companies will offer health insurance policies to dependents (F-2/J-2) only, however some companies will only offer insurance policies to dependents if the student (F-1/J-1) also buys an insurance policy with that same company. If you are a graduate student with an assistantship that provides health insurance coverage for free, it is important for you to find a health insurance company that will offer a health insurance policy to your family members without requiring you to purchase health insurance yourself.
• Maternity Coverage for Dependents: To the best of our current knowledge, there are no insurance companies that offer health insurance policies with maternity coverage to F-2/J-2 dependents only! Some companies offer maternity coverage to dependents if the F-1/J-1 student is also enrolled in their insurance policy. For more information, please read our page on Having a Baby in the US [linked].
• In-Network and Out-of-Network Coverage: Insurance providers will typically define certain health care providers as “In-Network” or “Out-of-Network.” If you use an In-Network provider, your level of coverage will be better than if you use an Out-of-Network provider.
Example: You hurt your leg and need a doctor’s attention. Treatment for the injury will cost $2,000. You can choose to see Doctor A or Doctor B. According to your insurance provider, Doctor A is In-Network, while Doctor B is Out-of Network.
Doctor A
Coverage:
In-Network: $50 deductible; 95% coverage thereafter
Calculation:
a) $2,000 - $50 = $1,950
b) $1,950 – ($1,950 x .95) = $97.50
c) $50 + $97.50 = $147.50
You Pay: $147.50
Doctor B
Coverage:
Out-of-Network: $100 deductible, 80% coverage thereafter
Calculation:
a) $2,000 - $100 = $1,900
b) $1,900 – ($1,900 x .80) = $380
c) $100 + $380 = $480
You Pay: $480.00
When shopping for a private health insurance provider, be sure that the provider you choose has
In-Network providers close to Michigan State University.
Any provider you choose should list at least one of the two major hospitals in the Greater Lansing area as In-Network providers. The two major hospitals are:
• Sparrow Hospital, 1215 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48912
• Ingham Regional Medical Center, 401 W. Greenlawn, Lansing, MI 48910
