Healthcare
Health Insurance
All U.S. students are covered under USAC insurance, which is included in the program fees. If you are not a U.S. student, please speak to your local international office about whether you are covered under USAC insurance. Claim forms and insurance ID cards will be distributed during orientation at the program sites or sent to you shortly before the start of the program. Students participating in programs in Australia and New Zealand are covered under local hosting university insurance providers. Specific insurance coverage information will be provided in your USAC acceptance packet and be accessible on your Student Gateway account. Health insurance is not optional and cannot be deducted from your program fees.
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Extending Your Health Insurance
All USAC programs include health insurance coverage throughout the duration of the program dates. The option to purchase travel insurance for additional dates is available if you wish to travel before or after the program dates. It is your responsibility to contact the insurance provider for coverage extension. Contact information is provided prior to departure and you must contact them directly for additional coverage.
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Insurance Claims
In most cases, if an accident or illness occurs, you will be responsible for payment up front and then wait to be reimbursed by the insurance carrier. Make sure to have a credit card to cover unexpected costs, such as an accident. Be sure to save all receipts so that you can file a claim with sufficient backup. It is your responsibility to file claims with the insurance provider directly.
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Proof of Full-time Student Status
If you need a letter confirming fulltime student status abroad, in order to
continue insurance coverage on another insurance plan, please contact the USAC
Central Office. We will provide you with proof of student status while a USAC
participant.
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Vaccinations/Medicine Abroad
Before departure, be sure to get the appropriate immunizations and medications as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and/or your physician. Some countries require vaccinations or other special inoculations prior to your arrival. These may need to be spread out over a series of months. If you have any questions regarding medical matters, you should check with your doctor.
If you are taking any prescription medication, bring sufficient supply to carry you through the duration of your stay. Medicine that is mailed may be stopped at customs. Always carry prescription drugs in the original bottle with a label showing your name, the instructions for use, as well as the name and dosage of the medication.
If you wear disposable contact lenses, bring enough to last the entire stay. If you wear glasses, consider bringing an extra pair or carrying the prescription for your contact lenses and/or glasses.
Information on contraception may be more difficult to get overseas than in the U.S. If you anticipate needing birth control while abroad, you should consider taking it with you.
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