HEALTH INSURANCE
All international students and scholars are required to have adequate health insurance for themselves and all accompanying dependent family members at all times.
GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
Graduate Assistants and Visiting Scholars with faculty or academic staff appointments may be eligible for coverage under the university's group health insurance plan. If you are eligible, be sure to list any members of your immediate family on the initial application, even if you expect them to join you at a later date; it may be difficult or impossible to add them when they arrive. Contact your departmental personnel secretary or staff benefits coordinator for more information about the different types of health insurance that are available to you. When you buy health insurance, in many cases, you become part of a "Health Maintenance Organization," or HMO. There are several different HMOs in the Madison area. For more information, look in the Yellow Pages under "Health Maintenance Organizations."
SHIP
Those without a university appointment that provides health insurance must purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) offered through the University Health Services, unless they can document comparable coverage. Be sure to read the brochures carefully, especially the sections on limitations and exclusions, deductible amount and maximum coverage. For more information contact: SHIP, 1552 University Avenue, 265-5232, SHIP@www.uhs.wisc.edu.
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR VISITING FAMILY
Medical services, including hospitalization and drugs, are extremely expensive compared to other countries, and there is no public health insurance. You can find information on health insurance policies for visiting family members from your insurance company, or look in the Yellow Pages under "insurance".