Finally, the skateboarder's name was called. Hyun approached the clerk and handed her the papers now filled out. Among the information requested was a line which read Responsible Party. When the clerk asked why Hyun had not filled in a name he replied he did not understand the meaning of the term Responsibly Party. She replied, It is the person who pays your bill. When the injured skateboarder explained that he thought the care here was free she told him it was not. She further told him that he could not be treated until the matter of who was responsible for paying the bill for his treatment.
After a conference one friend said Hyun could use his credit card to pay the bill. The clerk agreed to this. The skateboarder's injury was x-rayed and set in a small cast. He was directed to make an appointment with the doctor who had treated him. This treatment, known as follow up visits, would not be free either but he could arrange payments with the treating physician.
The weary party of treatment seekers arrived back at the International Residence at four a.m. very tired and having learned a very important lesson about health care in the USA.
Nothing is free. Hyun's treatement for his injury totaled to over $4000.00. Health care in the United States can be very costly. And in the USA health care must always be paid for. If you do not have insurance to pay for your care you must have cash or some means to pay for it. This is a hard and fast rule.
If you are already here in the USA you may have had some experience with this requirement. If you have not yet you will.
If your campus has not provided you with health insurance and health care information UC Davis ,a large public university in California, USA ,has a page here which has an overview of the Health Care payment requirements and medical care availability on their campus. They may not at all be similar to your campus but their descriptions are generally accurate.
If you have not yet arrived at your campus in the USA it is advisable for you to get all of the care you can at home. You must also find out about your health insurance options which are available for you when you arrive.
Other wise you might end up with an expensive surprise like Hyun.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Student Health Insurance
Planet College recently had a conversation with a charming Fashion Merchandising Major, Yiu, from Hong Kong. During out conversation we discussed many facets of her experience as an International Student in the USA. Chief among her concerns paying for health care. Specifically her confusion had stemmed from an incident which had ocurred over the recent Thanksgiving holiday.
With the campus nearly empty some students from the International Residence decided to try skateboarding, a popular pastime with many students on Yiu's campus. With the way clear and large areas to operate the skate boards the students were having fun until one fell and cracked his wrist. It was obvious that this injury would need attention so the students went to the campus student health center which was closed due to the holiday.
From the campus the students traveled to a local pharmacy, part of a large national chain which also includes a wellness center for treating some minor illnesses. After a brief examination, for which the pharmacy charged $45.00, the examining nurse told the students that she was not qualified to treat an orthopedic injury. Orthopedic is the USA medical term for bone treatment. The injured student was directed to a local walk-in medical clinic where he could receive proper care. A walk-in clinic in the USA is a medical care facility which is open to anyone without an appointment but as the student's learned the hours of such a facility are often limited frequently from approximately 7 a. m. to 9 p.m. When the students finally found the place it was closed. A sign on the door explained that if the injury was an emergency they should go to the emergency room of a local hospital.
By this time several hours had passed since the injured students initial fall and the injured student was in great pain and feeling ill. The small party of students found the hospital and located the emergency room which was crowded. An attendant took the name of the potential patient handed him several pages of paperwork to fill out and explained that someone would be with them. By then it was nearly midnight and the waiting area was filled with sick and injured people. (continued)
With the campus nearly empty some students from the International Residence decided to try skateboarding, a popular pastime with many students on Yiu's campus. With the way clear and large areas to operate the skate boards the students were having fun until one fell and cracked his wrist. It was obvious that this injury would need attention so the students went to the campus student health center which was closed due to the holiday.
From the campus the students traveled to a local pharmacy, part of a large national chain which also includes a wellness center for treating some minor illnesses. After a brief examination, for which the pharmacy charged $45.00, the examining nurse told the students that she was not qualified to treat an orthopedic injury. Orthopedic is the USA medical term for bone treatment. The injured student was directed to a local walk-in medical clinic where he could receive proper care. A walk-in clinic in the USA is a medical care facility which is open to anyone without an appointment but as the student's learned the hours of such a facility are often limited frequently from approximately 7 a. m. to 9 p.m. When the students finally found the place it was closed. A sign on the door explained that if the injury was an emergency they should go to the emergency room of a local hospital.
By this time several hours had passed since the injured students initial fall and the injured student was in great pain and feeling ill. The small party of students found the hospital and located the emergency room which was crowded. An attendant took the name of the potential patient handed him several pages of paperwork to fill out and explained that someone would be with them. By then it was nearly midnight and the waiting area was filled with sick and injured people. (continued)
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