Family Health Insurance for International students

[Guest GSU]

I am going to Atlanta, GA and my wife will be going with me too. I am worried about the cost of health insurance there. I know, as a student my personal health insurance will be charged with the tuition. But what about my wife? Do I have to buy a new health insurance for her? What will be the cost of an average family health insurance? Can some one put light on this?

[Guest daphna]

Generally there is an option of adding family members to the insurance offered by the university for you. You will of course have to pay for it and it's not cheap (at Brown it's about 2000 or 2500 a year), but that's still cheaper than most decent insurance, and the coverage is quite good. Also, because it is what's called a "group" insurance, it also covers prexisting conditions.

If your wife will work in the U.S., her job may also include health insurance.

[Guest GSU]

Thanks daphana for the suggestion. My wife will be on F2 visa and so she will not be able to work or take any course at school. Like every woman, she is waiting when she can become a mother ... and I am delaying the process as I do not know how it will be in the US. I do not think my school allows insurance for spouse. If I need to buy an insurance for her, I am wondering how much it might cost an year.

[Guest Quantas]

I have to cough 3900 $ to put my family on the university's scheme. It's not cheap but it would be more expensive if an unplanned for illness occurred so I would advise you set aside a healthy amount for insurance...

[Marco]

You're right with that quantas. I'm in the same shoe. I can't risk my wife's health, especially now that she's pregnant, so I got her BCBS here in California. I had to work harder, though.

[coho]

Like every woman, she is waiting when she can become a mother

*wince*

[limeinthecoconut]

*wince*

*winces too*