Students experiencing life-threatening emergencies (fainted, passed-out, etc): Call 9-1-1. 

If you have any concerns about your health or wellness, don't hesitate to get in touch with MICA's Wellness team.  You can find out more about them here.

Health Insurance

• Healthcare in the U.S. is privatized. The U.S. government does not provide health care for everyone.
• The cost of receiving health care without insurance is very high.
• Americans sign up for health insurance plans to help lessen the cost of receiving medical care.
• Insurance companies help pay for a portion of the cost for seeing a medical professional.
• Health insurance companies don't pay for everything. You must understand what your insurance company does and doesn't pay for.

Health Insurance Dictionary

• Claim: A written request by the insured individual (you) for payment by the insurance company of medical expenses that are covered under the insurance policy.
• Copay: The amount the insured person must pay after the insurance company has paid all other fees and costs. 
• Deductible: The initial portion of a covered healthcare expense that must be paid by the insured person before the insurance company pays the rest.
• Emergency: A serious illness or accident that requires immediate attention by emergency personnel.
• Emergency Room: The part of a hospital visited for non-routine medical crises that require immediate attention.
• Insurance Company: A company that helps to pay for some of the medical expenses for individuals who have signed up. 
• Insurance Policy: A written contract defining the insurance plan, its coverage, exclusions, eligibility requirements and all benefits that apply to individuals insured under the plan.
• Over-the-counter medication: Medication that is sold without special permission from a doctor.
• Pharmacy: The store where you obtain prescription medicine required by your doctor.
• Prescription: A doctor's request that you be supplied with a medication. The distribution of medication is highly regulated in the U.S., and a prescription slip (a sheet of paper from your doctor) allows you to obtain the necessary medicine from a pharmacy. The word ‘prescription’ may also refer to the medicine itself.
• Primary Care Physician: The doctor you visit for everyday, non-emergency medical concerns.
• Referral: An order from your primary care physician to visit a specialist. Some insurance plans require referrals before they cover visits to specialists.
• Routine Appointment: Non-emergency visits to doctors.
• Specialist: A doctor who has a specific area of expertise. This includes most doctors except for primary care physicians, general practitioners or family medicine doctors.