It is important to have health insurance in the U.S. because the healthcare system here is different from most other countries.
Health insurance does not mean free healthcare. It just helps protect your money and pays for some medical services.
PIE students with an F-1 visa (who do not have a government scholarship) must pay for and receive IU health insurance EVEN IF you already have health insurance or travel insurance.
This is an Indiana University rule. The Office of International Affairs (OIA) enrolls F-1 visa students automatically in health insurance program through the ANTHEM insurance company. PIE staff will help you to access your insurance card through the Anthem Sydney Health App during this first week of school. If you want to enroll your F-2 dependents in health insurance, you will need to do that here
Students with B-2 visitor visa status are allowed to purchase Indiana University health insurance through ANTHEM as well.
Talk to the OIA advisor (or email inpie@iu.edu) if you are a visitor and you want to have this health insurance.
The U.S. healthcare system is different from most other countries. Here are some suggestions to use healthcare most effectively.
For minor illnesses, go to the Student Health Center on the IU Indianapolis Campus. You may need to call and make an appointment. You may also need to pay a fee for your visit. You may also have to pay for the cost of prescriptions and/or any medical or laboratory tests that are done.
You can also go to walk-in health clinics in some stores:
These are real health clinics with real doctors. You may need to pay a fee for your visit. You may also have to pay for the cost of prescriptions and/or any medical or laboratory tests that are done. The advantage is that you can walk in with no appointment.
When you go to the doctor:
DO NOT GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM of the HOSPITAL for your health care UNLESS it is a true emergency. Here are examples of a true emergency:
