Each student must carry adequate medical and accident insurance. Marist College provides limited accident and sickness insurance coverage designed specifically for American students abroad. The premium for this insurance is included in the program fee.
Please take the time to review the summary of insurance coverage enclosed with this booklet, as well as the health insurance coverage you may already have and what it includes. Keeping in mind that all students have varying medical needs and that each host site will not have the same health care services, you need personally to make an assessment of your needs. A few important questions:
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) also includes health/accident, repatriation and medical evacuation coverage. A summary of the coverage is provided with the ISIC card, and is available at http://www.isiccard.com/
Please note that while abroad you will NOT have the medical insurance coverage through Marist that you had while on campus and will not be billed for it. The MAP provides insurance to all students on a Marist program through HTH Worldwide. The fee for this insurance is included in the program fee.
Information on HTH insurance will be available to students during orientation. Students are expected to review their coverage through HTH.
Remember! Know and understand the benefits of your insurance plan(s).
It is strongly recommended that you have a thorough medical and dental checkup as soon as possible and at least 2 months pre-departure to allow time for any tests your doctor may order, or for scheduling follow-up visits for treatment, vaccinations, etc.
Study abroad can be stressful both physically and mentally. A healthy mind and body are essential to a successful study abroad experience. If you are experiencing any physical or emotional problems, please address them before leaving the U.S. If you haven't been feeling well, make an appointment with your doctor for a check-up; if you anticipate any dental work (e.g. extraction of wisdom teeth), get it done before departure; if you are experiencing any emotional, eating, or substance abuse problems, seek professional advice and consider deferring your participation in an overseas program until you have the problem well under control. The sorts of pressures, which lead to eating disorders, emotional, and dependency problems, are only exacerbated when you are coping with adjustment to a new culture, language, and way of life. Leaving the country will not make your problems go away -- if anything, it will make them worse.
The range of counseling services available to students on the Marist College campus and most U.S. college campuses will probably not be available overseas. Many insurance policies, if they reimburse for counseling services at all, may not do so for services obtained overseas. In the event that appropriate counseling is unavailable overseas, you will be advised to withdraw from the program and return home. For your safety and well-being, it is vital that you inform us of any physical, emotional, or psychological difficulties or special needs you may have on the Special Needs form provided by the MAP. On the other hand, if you are simply nervous about experiencing a different culture, don.t worry. You are not alone. Stop by or call our office to talk about your concerns.
Ask your physician. Also, consult the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, which provides information on vaccinations for travel abroad, as well as other information: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/.
You should be sure to bring copies of prescriptions for any medications you may need and for glasses or contact lenses if you wear them. Since medications tend to be expensive overseas and because it sometimes can be difficult to get the appropriate equivalent medication, we recommend that you bring an adequate supply of whatever medications you may use while abroad. Any medications you bring should be in the original, properly labeled containers. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring an extra pair in case you lose or damage your original pair.
HTH Insurance
http://www.hthstudents.com/
International Travel Health Consultants (Office in Poughkeepsie)
http://www.globaltraveler.com/
