A typical international student s first decision associated with Healthcare Insurance is usually when he/she purchases an optional practical training insurance plan. OPT insurance is insurance for an international student on an F-1 visa (and his/her dependents) when undergoing OPT, usually a 12- or 29-month employment period meant for the international student to gain practical knowledge in his/her field of study.
optional practical training insurance for international students is designed as a short-term Health insurance to help F-1 visa holders and their dependents tide over the optional practical training period with medical coverage for sudden and unexpected ailments and accidents.
Most school-sponsored health insurance plans do not offer coverage for a student under OPT, and if they do, it s often priced much higher than the international student health insurance plan. Until the F-1 holder returns to the home country, or gains employment, OPT insurance provides health coverage that is so important in the United States.
One thing to note is that unlike international student health insurance, OPT health insurance is not mandatory, but it is important to remember the high costs of healthcare in the United States before taking a decision to live without insurance. In the United States, it just takes one accident or health complication to empty out savings and destroy the credit report of a person.
Some of the typical benefits offered by OPT insurance include inpatient and outpatient care, emergency medical assistance, ambulance services, dental expenses (excluding routine care), emergency medical evacuation, accidental death and dismemberment, as well as repatriation of remains. Most plans also cover prescription drugs for new ailments.
Being a short-term insurance plan, OPT insurance typically excludes maternity benefits and routine eye and dental exams. Most OPT insurance plans also exclude pre-existing conditions; however, it is possible to find plans with look-back periods as short as one year.
Benefits of OPT health insurance plans range from coverage of $25,000 to $1 million, and a range of deductibles are available, depending on by the plan. Most OPT insurance plans can be purchased for durations from five days to a year.
It is a good idea to keep in mind the employment or repatriation plan of the student before purchasing OPT insurance. If planning to return to the home country immediately after the OPT period, it is best to purchase insurance for an entire year. If the plans are fluid, it might be worthwhile to purchase insurance monthly, until coverage is extended by an employer.
Source: http://www.hicow.com/united-states/health-insurance/insurance-1180811.html