Bellevue College (BC) requires that all international students have medical insurance coverage. Affordable and comprehensive medical insurance provided by Firebird International Insurance Group, LLC, is available for purchase at BC 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 BC Cashier's office. If you have children or a spouse whom you want to be covered by insurance, please tell the Cashier, note each person's name and date of birth on the enrollment card, and pay the additional fees in full. You will be given a 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 Firebird plan. All F-1 and M-1 visa holders and their dependents named on BC's I-20 must have repatriation and medical evacuation benefits.

If you have other qualifying insurance from another company, 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 written in English. 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.

Firebird International Insurance Group, LLC, uses a network of doctors from the Aetna PPO Network. 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 Aetna PPO list. If you go to a doctor who is not on the Aetna PPO list, you will have the same co-pay plus some extra doctors’ fees of 10% or more.

If you have questions about the network or about insurance coverage, call Firebird International Insurance Group, LLC 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 Prescription Claim Form with the receipt and medication information to the insurance company to receive 50% reimbursement, (to get 50% of your money back). A Prescription 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 BC:

1. Go to www.fiig-insurance.com to find a doctor's clinic or other medical provider in the network and close to your area.
   
   
2. Click on "Student" then "Washington" then "Bellevue College" and then "Find a Doctor or Hospital" A page called "Terms of use" appear. Click on "I Accept"
   
   
3. Choose "Zip" or "City". If you choose Zip, then choose a distance that is close to either BC or your home. If you choose City, choose "Washington State"
   
   
4. Under "Provider Category", choose "Medical Providers". Under "Provider Type:", choose "All Medical Professionals."
   
   
5. Under "Plan:", choose either plan, it doesn’t matter.
   
   
6. Click "More Options" and then choose PCP Type: "General Practice" or "Family Practice." Both choices will give you a list of doctors that can help you with common illnesses or injuries.
   If you want a Specialist Type, choose a specialty related to your condition. If you are unsure, see an ISP Advisor.
   Also, in More Options under "Language," you can search for medical providers who speak your language.
   
   
7. Click "Start Search." The choices you will see sometimes have maps, etc. If you need assistance, please see an ISP Advisor. Or call 1-800-899-4233.
   
   
8. Call the clinic (doctor’s office) to make an appointment. Explain why you need to see a doctor. (If you must wait too many days for an appointment, then you may need to choose another doctor or clinic).
   
   
9. 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.
   
   
10. Bring your health insurance card with you and $15 cash, check, or credit card. ($15 is your responsibility, and then the provider's office will bill the 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, ASK THEM TO CONTACT FIREBIRD AT 1-800-899-4233. Show them your insurance card. ****