International Student Health Insurance
The State of New York requires all non-immigrant students (F-1, F-2, J-1 and J-2) to be enrolled in and billed for the International Student Health Insurance Plan. The University will bill you $ 580.50 for these health insurance fees for the Spring/Summer 2010, and YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THIS BILL.
Waivers Are Approved Only If: You are studying in your home country for an entire semester or academic year. You must provide a letter to us, informing us of your status, and the name of an academic department contact by the end of the second week of classes (February 15). AFTER THAT DATE WAIVERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Coverage:
Our mandatory plan covers the following:
Why Required Health Insurance?
The cost of health care in the United States is very high. This special health insurance plan will pay most of your medical bills for sicknesses and accidents, so you will not be overwhelmed by large medical bills, and you can continue your studies at Stony Brook. You will be able to use any doctors and medical facilities once you have seen a doctor at the west campus Infirmary (see "MANDATORY HEALTH FEE"). Please note, this health insurance plan will not take care of dental or vision problems, immunizations (shots), or well care such as routine check ups. We recommend you have these problems addressed or corrected before you come to the United States.
DEPENDENTS (F-2 or J-2 spouse and/or children) must also have this insurance. The Student Health Insurance Office can give you an enrollment form, but you must pay the additional cost for dependent coverage. This MUST be done either within 30 days of the arrival of your dependents in this country, OR within 30 days of the birth of a new baby, or your marriage, OR within 30 days of the beginning of an enrollment period. Insurance is effective upon receipt by the insurance company of your application and a bank check or money order.
Mandatory Infirmary Fee
The State of New York requires every student at Stony Brook to pay a mandatory (required) infirmary fee. This fee permits ONLY students to use the Infirmary on the West Campus, where most services are free. The Infirmary is not a hospital, and cannot take care of serious medical problems. The Infirmary fee cannot be used for medical services outside the Infirmary. That is the reason for the required health insurance plan described on the first page. Please remember, you MUST hand in your Health Form to the Infirmary before class registration; all your series of immunizations (shots) must be completed, and reported on the Health Form before registration.
More Insurance Information:
The insurance administrator for the International Student/Scholar insurance plan is HTH Worldwide, which uses the Aetna health insurance provider network. For medical providers, go to www.aetna.com and look for "Open Choice PPO."
If you need further insurance information, call the Student Health Insurance Office at 631.632.6054, Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 4:15 PM EST (New York time). If you wish to leave a message, please spell your name, and give your Stony Brook ID number, academic department, and telephone number. Or you may contact the office via email at leta.edelson@stonybrook.edu . The Student Health Insurance Office is in the Infirmary on the West Campus (behind the Student Union Building).
Special Notes For F-1 International Graduate Students With Stipends:
F-1 students with graduate stipends (TAs, GAs, or RAs) must enroll in the GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PLAN at the beginning of the semester.
If you think you qualify for the GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PLAN, you must complete and submit a special enrollment form, available at the Student Health Insurance Office (contact edmond.anderson@stonybrook.edu). You must still pay for "MEDICAL EVACUATION AND REPATRIATION" (MEDEX) insurance, which costs $42 for Spring/Summer 2010. MEDEX pays for sending a very sick student back to his or her home country.
If you have a dependent who is also a registered international student at Stony Brook, the dependent will be AUTOMATICALLY BILLED FOR AND ENROLLED IN the required International Student Health Insurance Plan.
LINKS
How to Use the Insurance Plan and Claim Benefits
For International Visiting Scholars, and Optional Practical Training Participants
Contacts at the Office of International Services