For this academic year, to most of our fall class students of 2008, it is a new round to put our students under health insurance, which covers the hospital care and accident injury. But some of our students have not put enough importance to the insurance in their mind and don't want to pay for the insurance.

I hope this letter can explain the importance of insurance to all:

For most of our students, some kinds of disease are encountered. Such as appendicitis, needs minor operation, but the hospital care are very expensive. In just one year, two cases have already happened to our international students. If the students were not covered, it could be a very big burden to both the students and their families.

Finding affordable health insurance for students is a very important task. A single major injury can cause medical bills that can financially cripple a person for many years after the event has already passed. Students, particularly college students, are also one of the demographics of people who are most likely to go without health care coverage, in part because of cost, and in large part often because of that "young and invincible" feeling many youth possess.

What many individuals don't know is that health insurance for college students is often actually quite cheap since one of the largest determining factors in insurance rates is age. Everything else being equal, the older an individual is the more they will pay in monthly premiums. Because younger people tend to be at peak health, cost should not be a major factor in finding good health insurance.

In fact, even on tight budgets there are many health insurance companies that have taken advantage of a college student's likely good health by offering a wide array of low cost options for students to still carry health insurance for in case of emergencies.

Since temporary health insurance doesn't cover dental, glasses, physicals, or regular check ups the cost stays low since the chances of a large accident are small? But that is why the insurance is there, just in case you are one of the unfortunates who needs an emergency room visit, or has a sports injury, and needs to make a hospital visit. These cheaper insurance covering plans are often affordable for even the most budget conscious of students, and give the coverage necessary for peace of mind.

Health insurance is not one area that you can afford to skimp on. There are good health insurance plans for students, and cheaper ones that can cover all emergencies. This is one case where it is definitely better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

Michael Wang

Coordinator of International Students Office