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As the year draws to a close, we send our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. May this holiday season bring you peace, joy, and countless moments to cherish.
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| Understanding Your Options: International Student Health Plans and the ACA |
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| Understanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its relevance to international student plans in the U.S. is important. ACA-compliant plans are not always a fit for international students and, in most cases, international (inbound) students are exempt from ACA guidelines. ACA-compliant plans generally do not offer the specific coverage that international students must have to meet J1 visa requirements while studying in the U.S. For example, these plans often lack coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, which are essential for J1 visa compliance. |
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| Additionally, ACA-compliant plans rarely include family medical travel or any pre-departure programs to prepare students for accessing care abroad. While offering both emergency medical evacuation and repatriation as well as family medical travel, GeoBlue’s international student healthcare plans provide multiple language options and low to no out-of-pocket costs. GeoBlue's standalone ACA-exempt carve out plans have more advantages for your international students. |
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Check out this ACA flyer that outlines the differences between an integrated health plan and an international carve out health plan.
Supporting Student Access to Mental Wellness
As important as it is that students have access to mental health resources, it is equally as important that students know where and how they can access those resources. As the dialogue around mental health in our higher education system continues to expand, the number of college students reporting mental health challenges has increased nearly 50% over the past decade. According to an annual student survey conducted by Healthy Minds Network, NEA Today reports that more than 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem, with 44% reporting symptoms of depression, 37% reporting symptoms of anxiety, and an alarming 15% saying they have seriously considered suicide. |
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With these obstacles and statistics in mind, study-abroad students often face additional stress and anxiety while in unfamiliar settings and navigating new challenges. GeoBlue is here to help by providing easy access to mental and physical well-being resources at every stage of their journey. |
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Global Wellness Assist provides students with access to a variety of emotional, physical and practical resources during their travels, available any time, any day. Each student can take advantage of up to six sessions per topic for different situations that may arise while they’re abroad. The GeoBlue mobile app makes it easy to connect with medical professionals, ensuring support is just a tap away. For additional wellness resources, students can visit the wellness portal through the Member Hub.
In addition, we provide students and administrators with convenient access to a global network of doctors and facilities. We partner with Teladoc Health to bring our members Global TeleMD™, a smartphone app—at no additional cost—that provides access to international doctors via telephone or video call. Global TeleMD offers access to doctors at a time that fits the student’s schedule without worrying about holidays or personal commitments. And because the consultation notes are securely stored in the app, they can be shared with the student’s primary care doctor. |
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Helpful Resources
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GEOBLUE MOBILE APP GUIDE
Accessing resources, information and assistance while abroad can be a challenge, but students can easily manage these things through the GeoBlue mobile app. From finding country-specific medicine equivalents to arranging direct payment for future appointments, check out all the tools available for students in this flyer to learn more. |
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“The combination of a good product coupled with knowledgeable and friendly staff is a winning combination.”
– MEMBER |
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Catch the Headlines: Be among the first to hear about news and issues impacting the globally mobile |
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Grab a Seat: Register for upcoming events and webinars featuring relevant topics and industry experts |
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Get to Know Us: Catch snippets of who we are and how we’re simplifying the international healthcare experience |
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GeoBlue® is the trade name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC (Worldwide Services Insurance Agency, LLC in California and New York), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. GeoBlue is the administrator of coverage provided under insurance policies issued in the District of Columbia by 4 Ever Life International Limited, Bermuda, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Global Wellness Assist services are provided by WorkPlace Options, an independent company that is not affiliated with GeoBlue and does not provide Blue Cross® or Blue Shield® products or services. WorkPlace Options is solely responsible for referring participants for counseling, coaching and work-life services and health assessments by providers who are appropriately licensed by local authorities. The evaluation and efficacy of any service delivered by a provider lies solely with the employee, spouse, dependent or other authorized party who inquires on behalf of those or other participants. GeoBlue shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any aspect of the provider counseling, coaching, work-life services and health assessments or other similar services, or the counselor/participant relationship.
Telemedicine services are provided by Teladoc Health, directly to members. GeoBlue assumes no liability and accepts no responsibility for information provided by Teladoc Health and the performance of the services by Teladoc Health. Support and information provided through this service does not confirm that any related treatment or additional support is covered under a member’s health plan. This service is not intended to be used for emergency or urgent treatment medical questions
SCHL190650-ADM-BRK-12/24
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