Medical care is very expensive in the United States, and consequently, insurance is a necessity, not a luxury. Especially for students from another country, international student medical insurance is a confusing yet essential part of American life. Knowledge is power, and a student must know the basics of how student insurance works.

Most colleges and universities require that a student be adequately insured when enrolling as a full-time student. Usually, colleges and universities have a basic student insurance plan in place that students are enrolled in by default. Students can opt out of the college-sponsored plan by providing proof that they have other comparable health insurance coverage.

Remember that students who are U.S. citizens might already have existing insurance plans through their parents plans. You can choose either the college-sponsored international student insurance plan or an ‘outside’ plan with equal or better coverage. Remember to check the details of your college-sponsored plan; it is sometimes more expensive and offers little flexibility in terms of options.

There are two ways to go about purchasing international student insurance outside the college: calling an agent or checking prices online. For the international student, the most effective way is probably to go online, where comparison Web sites can provide details of plans that meet specified criteria.

You must also consider coverage for your dependents. They cannot be insured under a student insurance plan unless you are the primary plan holder. However, they can be covered under other short-term insurance plans.

To release their liability, most colleges require an international student to sign a waiver in case he/she opts for outside insurance. To sign this, the student must have insurance that satisfies the college’s specified criteria. Insurance comparison sites that provide a range of insurance products are usually able to clarify questions about this aspect.

Some usual benefits of international student health insurance are consultation and hospitalization, prescription drugs, maternity, mental health, emergency medical evacuation, accidental death and dismemberment, and repatriation of remains in case of death. Most plans also cover sports injuries, in addition to medical diagnostic tests.

A plan holder must remain a full-time student in order to continue insurance. If a student is under the Optional Practical Training period after graduation, he/she must look for other insurance. A good option for that time is a short-term insurance plan.

Dan Miller often writes about international student insurance.