Health Services

The IDC also oversees a Health Risk Assessment Program that appraises students’ overall health upon entrance and provides training on the benefits of health maintenance. Specialized dental care is provided at the Naval Station Dental Clinic. Civilian students use the medical and dental coverage provided through their federal employment agency.

Medical treatment at NHCNE for Naval Command College and Naval Staff College officers is available following the same guidelines that apply to United States Officers. Dental services are limited and even routine care can be curtailed at times. Dental service for dependents is limited to strictly emergencies only, and the only treatment that can be provided is that required to deal with the emergency. All students should ensure that all routine dental care for themselves and their families is obtained in your country.

Authorized dependents are entitled to treatment at NHCNE on the same basis as U.S. military dependents. Dental services for family members of international students, just like U.S. dependents, are limited to emergencies only, and the only treatment that can be provided is that required to deal with the emergency (i.e., pain management). All routine and follow-up care (tooth extraction, cavity fillings, cleanings) must be obtained through a civilian dentist. All bills for dental service for family members will be paid in accordance with the ITO.

Dependents cannot be authorized on the Invitational Travel Order (ITO) without healthcare coverage. Private medical insurance can be very difficult to obtain in the United States. There are several companies known to offer health insurance policies to international travelers and students; however, these policies are usually expensive, and generally do not provide comprehensive coverage for many cases. Students must purchase international health care coverage for a twelve-month period before arriving in the United States. Be aware, for patients with no health or medical coverage, a simple visit to the hospital emergency room could leave you paying a bill upwards of $1,000 to $50,000 or more.

Premium

The premium is the monthly cost of the insurance and could be about $200-$500 per month per person.

Deductible

The deductible is the amount of medical expenses you must pay before the insurance company will begin to make payments. The lower the deductible amount, the higher the premium will be. A typical deductible amount would be $250 to $2500.

Copayments

After the deductible amount has been satisfied, often the insured is responsible for copayments. The insurance company will pay 80 percent, and you would pay 20 percent of the medical expenses up to a stated amount. Beyond that, the insurance company will pay 100 percent up to the limits of the policy.

Pregnancies

If you arrive in Newport with a pregnant spouse, or she becomes pregnant while you are here, it is important to immediately determine who bears the responsibility for payment of prenatal care and delivery. Having a baby in the United States is extremely expensive—costs can run as high as $15,000 to $25,000. In most cases, medical insurance will not cover the costs of delivering a baby unless you have had the insurance for more than one year. If your ITO does not specifically state that your country will pay for the delivery, you will be paying out of your own pocket.