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 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.

Every international student must have health insurance. Your institution will likely offer an insurance plan that might be automatically applied to your account, unless you opt out of it. They require that students provide proof of insurance before they register for courses. If a student has similar insurance from elsewhere, the college -sponsored plan can be waived.

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. Going the online route can provide the convenience, flexibility and non-pushy atmosphere that an international student will benefit from to make the best choice.

You must also consider coverage for your dependents Dependents cannot be covered under student insurance plans separately—they must either be added to the student’s health insurance plan, or purchase other short-term coverage.

To release their liability, most colleges require an international student to sign a waiver in case he/she opts for outside insurance. Most colleges specify criteria for outside insurance to be considered comparable to their plan. With a simple phone call, most online insurance Web sites will be able to guide and suggest insurance products that meet the criteria.

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. You can consider purchasing short-term insurance plans for that period.