Understanding Deductibles, Co-Pays, And Coinsurance: A Simple Guide For International Students

Yes. The January 1st start date applies for all of these and for most plans students return to, regardless of what time in the school year you need it. So even if you maxed out in December, it begins again in January. It’s cold timing, especially for winter semesters. We always caution students about that so they don’t schedule care too close to year-end without any sense of what comes next.”

In some cases, yes. But it’s tricky. Some insurers do permit mid-term changes, but only in certain circumstances, such as losing other coverage or experiencing a life-altering event. You can’t usually jump ship just because you’re unhappy. That and “read everything, compare everything” — monthly premiums, coverage, limits — before signing anything, she said. Switching later can be costly or put you at risk of a gap.

You’ll probably pay more. Maybe a lot more. You also have some insurance companies that won’t pay them anything if it’s not in their provider network. Others only give partial coverage. A few require pre-approval. “One kid we helped wound up spending $380 in cash for a five-minute walk-in appointment just because his clinic was off the list for his plan. Always check with your health insurance company to ensure that an HAE CENTERS provider is considered in network, because assumptions should never be made.

Often, yes. Some plans impose higher coinsurance for certain services — like an ambulance ride or a hospital stay — even after the deductible is reached. Others waive coinsurance completely for life-threatening emergencies, and then charge a bigger percentage for continuing care thereafter. It all depends on one’s insurance policy. We have had students get hit with surprise percentages that have been granted after recovery, not during the emergency, but after the follow-ups began.”

Start by reviewing your habits. If you seldom see doctors and have no health conditions, you might get by with a plan that has a higher deductible and lower premiums. But don’t guess. Some do predict that they’ll remain healthy, and then are slammed by the flu. At Canadian LIC, we assist students in finding that perfect middle – overseas student insurance plans that provide you with what you need and not leave you paying thousands of dollars unnecessarily. Instead of focusing just on the price, we’re trying to get at how much you can actually afford if something goes wrong.

Usually no. That is the whole idea of the maximum out-of-pocket limit: You hit it, and then the insurance starts covering 100 percent of covered services. But there’s a catch: Not all insurance plans have a cap. And not all services are included in it. If your plan specifies no maximum or excludes certain treatments from the tally, you could be on the hook for a tiny share even after many months of expenses. We help students sort this out before they’re enrolled, not after the bills arrive.

No. In most cases, you’ll be sold special insurance for international students, which is not the same as public health insurance, such as OHIP (Ontario) or MSP (British Columbia). Such plans that focus on students may include restrictions on certain types of medical services or prohibit access to public hospitals. Some don’t include dental, vision, or pre-existing conditions, unless they are added on separately. That’s why it’s important to run International Student Insurance Quotes by someone who can tell you what they include — and maybe more importantly — what they’re leaving out.

You don’t—unless you ask. Far too many students are taking for granted that counseling or therapy is covered, only to find out later that their insurance carrier excluded it or tacked on a prohibitive co-pay. One client we helped had to spend 60% of her therapy costs out of pocket because coinsurance applied only to “physical” care. If your plan doesn’t discuss mental health, don’t assume — you’re likely not covered.

Possibly. Most insurance companies will take claims 60 to 90 days — or more. But receipts, paperwork, perhaps even medical records, are required. We assisted a student from Kenya to recover over $700 for X-rays after they never knew the test was a covered service. It was time-consuming and paper-laden, but it worked. Keep all your documents. Every time.

A few plans include insurance cost calculators or 800 numbers you can call to find out potential costs. But they don’t all display everything, particularly not coinsurance, special rates for doctor visits, or off-network charges. That’s where Canadian LIC comes into play. We dissect real-world math based on your insurance, where you live, and the specific service you want. And cost shouldn’t be a mystery when you’re already sick.