| Your Health Before Arriving
Before you leave your home country you should have a complete physical and dental examination. You should tell your doctor that you are going to study in the United States, possibly for several years. Ask your doctor what medical care or monitoring you might need while you are away from home for that long. Find out how you can get medication that you might need. Your home doctor or clinic might be able to help by referring you to a source for prescription drugs in the USA. Get
copies of your medical records translated into English if your doctor recommends it. Have your teeth checked thoroughly by your family dentist. Get all of your dental work completed before you come to Arizona. There are excellent dental care facilities in Arizona, but dental work can be very expensive and it is not covered by most health insurance plans. If you need dental care or orthodontic care while you are in Arizona, talk to
the International Students Center staff to help locate a suitable facility. Your Health After ArrivalThe desert climate of Phoenix makes it a healthy place to live, but it is wise to remember a few important things. Because the air here is very dry, newcomers don't always realize that they are losing water from their bodies. You won't sweat as much
here, even though it's hot, because the sweat evaporates directly from your skin. Therefore, it is very important to drink plenty of water every day to replace the water you are losing. You may also find it necessary to use a moisturizing cream on your face and hands if they get too dried out. To guard against sunburn or skin problems, try to stay out of the sun. If you are going to be in the sun participating in
outdoor activities, use a sunscreen product on your face, arms, legs, etc. Don't stay out in the sun for too long if you can avoid it. Medical InsuranceGlendale Community College has a mandatory health insurance policy for international students. This means that you are required to have health insurance
coverage while you are enrolled here as a student. All full-time international students must purchase the college insurance, which is offered by The Lewer Agency. The insurance premium (or cost) is currently $50 per month. The cost will be added to the student's tuition and fee charges every semester. Students will be given more details about health care and medical insurance during the orientation session. |
