Indiana University
⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Living in the U.S. ⇒ About Health Insurance
About Health Insurance
Insurance Office on Campus
Poplars Building, Room E165
Telephone: (812)856-4650
Email: studenhc@indiana.edu
Health Insurance
All international students at Indiana University are required to have health insurance for themselves and their families. The U.S. does not have a nationalized health care system, and medical care here is extremely expensive. If you need medical care and do not have insurance, you may find yourself owing thousands of dollars. The health insurance system offers you protection against these costs.
IU has a mandatory insurance program for its students. As an international student, you are automatically enrolled in this plan when you register, and the premium amount will show up on your Bursar bill each semester. Details for the IU plan can be found at the Aetna Student Health website (mandatory policy for international students and scholars). Be sure to read the information carefully. You should understand your insurance policy thoroughly so that you can get the maximum benefit from it. In particular, make sure you read the section on the expenses that are not covered by the policy and the information concerning deductibles. If you have any questions about your coverage, contact the Student Insurance Office in the Poplars Building, Room E165, Tel: 856-4650; studenhc@indiana.edu.
Dependents
Insurance for dependents is not billed to your bursar account. You must purchase it separately within 15 days after their arrival in the country. J-1 and F-1 students may buy insurance for dependents from the IU Student Insurance Office in the Poplars Building, Room E165, phone: 856-4650, or by downloading the application from the Aetna Student Health website. Applications must be completed and mailed to Chickering within the 15–day arrival period. Please keep a copy of the application for your records. J-1 students may also purchase insurance for dependents from any other insurance company that offers comparable coverage.
Waivers (Exemption from insurance)
You may be eligible for a waiver from IU’s insurance program if you have purchased an insurance that covers you from your date of arrival or the first day of classes, whichever is sooner. The insurance will need to meet the following requirements:
- $100,000 minimum benefit ($250,000 is recommended)
- $50,000 coverage per accident (must include maternity benefits)
- $50,000 coverage per illness
- $10,000 coverage for medical evacuation
- $7,500 coverage for repatriation
- Deductible of not more than $500
- Co-insurance of not more than 25%
- Coverage Dates
- Fall Semester: August 15 or 1st day of classes to December 31
- Spring/Summer: January 1 or 1st day of classes to August 14
Coverage of Maternity and Childbirth
You will have to submit documentation that explains your policy in detail to the Office of International Services.
What happens if you get sick?
If you suffer from anything that the Health Center on 600 N. Jordan Avenue can treat (e.g., the flu, a cold, cuts or minor injuries), then you should go there. You pay a mandatory health fee every semester, making the cost of services at the Health Center cheaper than at a hospital or private doctor. There is no deductible at the health center if you have IU insurance.
Where to go & when:
IU Health Center
600 North Jordan Ave.
Hours: 8am to 4:30pm Monday–Friday
Phone: 855-5001
Health Center Website
The Health Center provides comprehensive health services for IU students. Call 855-7688 to make an appointment. If you cannot keep your appointment, you must call and cancel it at least two hours in advance to avoid a charge. Go to the Walk-In Clinic if you have an urgent problem or if you cannot get an appointment. The IU Health Center provides the following services:
- Medical Clinic: 855-5001; appointments with doctors, nurse practitioners and gynecological nurse practitioners; a walk-in clinic for urgent problems or when an appointment is not available; lab tests, X-rays, allergy shots and immunizations; an eye clinic; physical therapy; and a pharmacy.
- Counseling and Psychological Services: 855-5711; Psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers are available for individual, couple and group counseling.
- Health and Wellness Education Division: 855-7338; offers health and nutrition counseling, dietitian services and educational programs on topics such as exercise, stress management, contraception and AIDS. A free fitness test is also available.
- Sexual Assault Crisis Service: 855-5711; provides immediate crisis intervention as well as ongoing counseling services for victims of sexual assault. A crisis line (855-8900) is available 24 hours. There is no charge for this service. If you have the mandatory insurance policy, there is no deductible when you use the IU Health Center.
Community Health Care
If you have IU health insurance, it is less expensive and more convenient for you to use the Student Health Center for your health care needs. However, there may be times when it is closed, and you need urgent care. During these periods, there are two walk-in clinics in Bloomington:
- Prompt Care
- 326 S. Woodcrest Dr.; 353-6888; 8:00am–8:00pm, 7 days
- 3443 W. Third Street; 353-3443; 8:00am–8:00pm, Mon–Sat
-
First Health
- 100 N. Curry Pike; 339-9980; 8:00am–8:00pm, M–F; 9:00am–3:00pm, Weekends
In extreme emergencies, you may need to go to the hospital, which is always open. There are two hospitals in town, which both offer excellent service, but it’s very expensive to go to the emergency room if you have a non-emergency condition. The two local hospitals, which can both be reached by ambulance by calling 911 are:
- Bloomington Hospital; 601 W. Second St.; 353-6821
- Monroe Hospital; 4011 S. Tiwari Blvd.; 825-1111
Eye Care: The IU School of Optometry has two Eye Care Centers in town that offer a full range of services. Their hours vary, but are listed at: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/clinics/centers.htm.
- Atwater Center; 800 E. Atwater Ave.; 855-8436
- Community Center; 803 N. Monroe St.; 855-1671
There are many private practitioners and specialists in Bloomington. You can find listings for them all in the Yellow Pages, under “Physicians.” Before or during your first visit to a private practitioner, please be sure to clarify whether or not they will accept your insurance, and how their billing works. Some specialists will require a referral from a general doctor before they will see you.
At the emergency room, you will be charged the $500.00 deductible PLUS an additional $50.00. If you take an ambulance (call 911), this will cost you extra.
Call 911 for emergency ambulance service
Check under “Physicians” in the yellow pages of the telephone book for a listing of private doctors and specialists in the area. If you must go to the hospital or see a private doctor, then there is a $500 deductible in the Chickering mandatory insurance coverage. That means that you must pay the first $500 you spend on your medical care (doctor’s fee, hospital bills, prescription medicine) each year.
Make sure you keep all your bills or receipts. You will need to send these to the insurance company along with your name and insurance ID number. If you do not have your bills, the company will not reimburse you. You should claim all your medical expenses even if they are less than $500. The company will begin to pay your claims after you reach the $500 amount.
Remember that claims must be filed within 30 days of injury or first treatment for a sickness and all bills must be received by the company within 90 days.
