Bellevue Community College (BCC) requires that all international students have medical insurance coverage. Affordable and comprehensive medical insurance from the Hygeia is available for purchase at BCC for eligible students and their families.

When a student registers, an insurance fee of $192 per quarter is automatically added into your fees, which are separate from your tuition. You must pay the fee in full and complete an enrollment card at the BCC Cashier's office. If you have children or a spouse whom you also want to be covered by insurance, please tell the Cashier, note each person's name and date of birth on the enrollment card, also, and pay the additional fees in full. You will be given a Hygeia health insurance identification card (I.D.). Always carry your international student health insurance plan I.D. Card with you in your wallet.

If you take a Summer vacation or a vacation quarter during the year, you are required to pay health insurance fee for your vacation quarter.

If you take Distance Education courses, the insurance fee may not automatically be added when you register. Please contact the ISP office to register for your health insurance fee.

Students may purchase their own health insurance; however, your plan is recommended to meet the benefits levels of the Hygeia plan. All F-1 and M-1 visa holders and their dependents named on BCC's I-20 must have repatriation and medical evacuation benefits.

You will then need to complete a Health Insurance Waiver form available at the International Student Programs office and provide a photocopy of your insurance card and/or policy. You need to get an insurance waiver from our office each quarter that you register, so that you are not required to pay the $192 fee. If your policy does not cover repatriation and medical evacuation, you may be required to purchase a policy to cover both repatriation and medical evacuation at a cost of $25 per year, (only one year at a time).

If you have your own medical insurance and you have already paid the $192, you must immediately come request a refund of the $192 fee. Our office will request a refund from the Cashier's office on your behalf.    Very important: The deadline to request for the insurance refund is the same day of the "last day to withdraw with 100% tuition refund day". After that day, we can no longer refund the $192, even if you have your own medical insurance.

There are many places to receive medical care in the Bellevue area. If you feel sick, it is best to make an appointment at a clinic. Emergency rooms are for people who are seriously injured or feel they are seriously ill and need immediate medical attention, (i.e., if you are losing a lot of blood, or you have broken a bone in your body). If you are not seriously injured, you could wait a long time to see a doctor in an emergency room. Emergency room visits are also more expensive than seeing a doctor at a regular clinic.

The Hygeia health insurance uses a network of doctors called Firebird International Insurance Group (FIIG). This network is an extensive and carefully selected list of preferred providers (doctors, hospitals and other medical professionals). You will pay a $15.00 co-pay fee if you go to a doctor on the FIIG list. If you go to a doctor who is not on the FIIG list, you will have a higher co-pay plus some extra doctors’ fees (possibly very expensive).

If you have questions about the network or about insurance coverage, call the Hygeia at 1-800-899-4233.

If the doctor prescribes medicine for you, go to a pharmacy and pay for the medicine. You must submit a Claim Form with the receipt to the insurance company to receive 50% reimbursement, (to get 50% of your money back). A Claim Form can be downloaded at www.fiig-insurance.com. Print the form and follow the instructions. Please keep copies of all insurance documents.

Instructions to find a doctor/clinic near your home or BCC:

1. Log on to the website: www.fiig-insurance.com to find a doctor in the network.
   
   
2. Go to "Student" and "Bellevue Community College" in the left hand corner of the screen and click on "Find a Doctor or Hospital." You will be taken to a new link.
   
   
3. You can choose to search for a Healthcare Facility (e.g. acute care hospital, children's hospital, urgent care center, etc.) or for a Healthcare Practitioner (e.g. chiropractic medicine, family practice, obstetrics/gynecology, etc.)
   
   
4. Type in your address or BCC's address (3000 Landerholm Circle SE - Bellevue, WA 98007) and the distance. Click "Search."
   
   
5. Choose a physician near you or BCC. Most have maps and directions.
   
   
6. Call the Clinic (doctor's office) to make an appointment. You will need to explain why you need to see a doctor. (If the wait is too long, then you may need to choose another doctor/clinic.)
   
   
7. Go to your appointment 15 minutes early if it is your first time to go to that doctor/clinic. You will need to fill out an information form.
   
   
8. Bring your Hygeia insurance card with you and $15 cash, check, or credit card. ($15 is your responsibility, and then the provider's office will bill your Hygeia insurance company for the remaining balance.)
   Co-pays: Physician - $15 per visit; Hospital Emergency/Urgent Room - $50 per visit

**** IF THE DOCTOR'S CLINIC DOES NOT KNOW YOUR INSURANCE, TELL THEM THAT YOUR INSURANCE IS HYGEIA. Show them your insurance card. ****