***This is part of a series of articles compiling useful resources and information for new graduate students. Some of the information in this series will be relevant for anybody new to MSU, including undergraduates, postdocs, faculty and staff. The topical areas range from settling into East Lansing and Michigan, getting to know which services can be found on campus to administrative steps and information needed throughout a graduate program at MSU. For the full series, see this playlist dedicated to (international) graduate students.***
Health Insurance
As an international student, you need to have health insurance. MSU will automatically enrol you in the Blue Care Network health insurance. There are only very few circumstances in which you can waive the health insurance coverage. This insurance can be used for pretty much anything except for dental and vision care.
Dental insurance is covered through Delta Dental and can be purchased in two enrollment periods (July-October for a Fall semester start and November-February for a Spring semester start). Depending on your employment type at MSU, you probably qualify for a reduced fee (i.e. MSU will pay half of the cost of coverage).
Vision insurance can be purchased any time of the year through Vision Service Plan.
I’d strongly recommend going to the Health Insurance information session organized by OISS to get a good explanation of how health insurance and the health care system work in the US. Here, I am listing just a few important words in American health insurances.
Deductible: Amount you must pay before your insurance “kicks in”. This is not applied to all services and is a yearly amount to be reached before the insurance covers the services (you may be left with Co-pays or Co-insurance payments).
Co-Pay: A fixed amount you pay for specific services. E.g. for visits to a specialist.
Co-Insurance: Your share of the cost of covered services, calculated as a percentage. This only applies to some services.
Out-of-pocket maximum: Amount to be reached beyond which the insurance pays 100% of covered services (deductible, co-pays and co-insurance payments all count towards the out-of-pocket maximum).
You can contact both OISS or the Blue Care Network representative at Olin Health Center if you have specific questions. Make sure to look at your member guide also.
Health Care Services
MSU has its own health services. The main health centre is Olin Health Center on the northern end of campus, though there are also some neighbourhood clinics dotted around campus. Students have 3 free visits at Olin per year. After that you will have to pay a Co-pay for your visits. Make sure to bring your student ID and insurance card. The doctors there can also refer you to a specialist if needed. And there is an in-house laboratory (in the basement) in case you need any blood work or other tests done. You can also get a free flu shot (i.e. vaccination) there.
There are 3 main access points to health care depending on the severity of your condition – Primary Care, Urgent Care, and the Emergency Room. See this resource for when to go where. If you are unsure where to go or need other immediate advice also after hours, there is a 24/7 phone nurse available.
Appointments, reminders for check-ups, test results, contact forms to directly communicate with your doctor, online payment for services rendered and more can be found in your online Health Portal.
Mental Health
There are several mental health services available on MSU’s campus (free for students) as well as independently off-campus that are covered by your Blue Care Network insurance.
The Counselling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) located at Olin Health Center offer up to 8 free visits per year for all students. They offer drop-in, mini sessions (10-15 minutes) called CAPS Connect at different locations on campus too. CAPS also organizes several support groups, including one dedicated to international students.
If you are employed by MSU (as a Graduate Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant) you are eligible to use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP offers short-term counselling services and can also refer you to counsellors outside of MSU if you are looking for more long-term/ regular support. Their services are usually limited to 6 sessions per “issue”.
There is a regular offering of mental health or wellness courses/ workshops offered through Health4You. A popular one is “Breaking free from the monkey mind” or workshops on mindfulness, stress management or emotional eating to name but a few. The exact workshops offered continuously change, so keep an eye out for e-mails from the Graduate School and check the Health4You website or sign up to their newsletter for updates.
A note on mental health…
Life gets messy sometimes and we all struggle on occasion. If you have a mental health concern, or just need someone to talk to about dealing with stress, your adjustment here, relationships (at work or in your private life), etc. PLEASE make use of the mental health services provided. In the US, there is much less of a stigma attached to seeking help for mental health issues and it is more openly talked about than in some other countries. You do not need to be in crisis in order to benefit from counselling. Note that all services are confidential.