Health Care
Your physical, emotional, and social health play a big role in your experience as an international student, scholar, or employee. It is important that you consider how you will manage your personal health in the U.S. and understand the resources available to you.
Receive routine check-ups before you leave home Heading link
Health care in the U.S. may be more expensive that in your home country and establishing new doctors and specialized care providers in the U.S. may take a while. For these reasons, it is a good idea to undergo routine medical, dental, and vision check-ups as needed before you leave your home country. You may also want to renew and refill ongoing prescriptions and carry those with you to the U.S.
Medical records and vaccinations Heading link
Gather your recent medical records and evidence of vaccinations. If needed, have these documents translated into English. While you may not need them immediately, these documents can be helpful to have on-hand should the need arise while you are in the U.S.
Additionally, beginning spring 2022, admitted students must present documented proof of immunity against five diseases. Failure to submit the required documentation could impact your ability to register for future terms. For detailed information on the requirement and how to comply, visit the Office of the Registrar, student medical immunization records.
Your specific college or department may have additional immunization requirements based on your area of study and you should work directly with them to submit the necessary documentation. You do not need to submit medical records or evidence of vaccinations to OIS.
Evaluate your health insurance options Heading link
It is critical that you maintain adequate health insurance coverage for your entire stay in the U.S. Health care can be extremely expensive in the U.S. and an unexpected medical emergency can quickly turn into a financial crisis if you are not insured or are under insured. The U.S. Department of State actually requires J-1 Exchange Visitors to maintain certain levels of health insurance as part of maintaining status.
UIC requires all enrolled students to have health insurance. Therefore, eligible students are automatically enrolled in CampusCare, the student health benefit program. It is possible to waive out of CampusCare if you provide evidence of your own, private insurance coverage. For more information on CampusCare and the process for waiving out of the program, visit the CampusCare website.
Disability resources Heading link
UIC is committed to creating an accessible and equitable academic environment for all members of our community. The Disability Resource Center supports UIC students with disabilities and the Office of Access & Equity supports employees. The Disability Cultural Center engages the entire UIC community in an understanding of disability as a social justice issue and a site for identity, community, and culture. New and prospective members of the UIC international community are encouraged to reach out to these departments or to OIS directly with any questions about disability resources on-campus or in the local community.