Friends University Health Insurance and Immunization Policy

Health Insurance

To protect our International students and ensure that they will be able to receive necessary medical care, Friends University requires all F-1 visa holders to purchase health insurance.  Beginning in the fall of 2010 all F-1 students will be required to purchase the university sponsored health insurance through AG Administrators (1-800-634-8628).  This plan offers benefits that are unique to the needs of F-1 students that most insurance plans do not cover, including medical evacuation and repatriation.  F-1 students will be unable to register for classes until they are able to show proof of payment for enrollment into the university sponsored health insurance plan for the academic year.  The International Advisor may make exceptions to this requirement on a case by case basis.  An example of a possible exception would be if a current F-1 student’s SEVIS program end date is scheduled to occur in less than 1 year, the student may be allowed to purchase coverage for a semester rather than a year.  Students with more than 1 year left in their program will be required to purchase yearly premiums.

Claim forms can be obtained at the Friends University Health and Wellness website www.friends.edu/student-insurance, outside the Health and Wellness Office or the website www.agadministrators.com. This plan may be purchased online by visiting
www.imacorp.com/friends-student-insurance 

TB prevention and Immunization

Friends University and the State of Kansas have long required F-1 visa holders to be tested for tuberculosis (TB). In the past, the Health and Wellness Office used a skin test to identify students who may have been exposed to TB. Starting in the fall of 2010, the Health and Wellness Office will require those who are considered high-risk for tuberculosis, including all F-1 international students, to be tested with a blood test called Quantiferon (QFT). There are several advantages to using QFT:

• Requires fewer patient visits to complete the TB screening process
• Results are more accurate than the TB skin test
• BCG vaccination does not affect QFT results.

1. All new F-1 students will be required to have the QFT prior to beginning classes. Returning F-1 students may be required to have testing completed at the discretion of the Health and Wellness Coordinator.
2. F-1 students traveling outside of the United States for 90 days or more will be required to contact the Health and Wellness Office upon return to the United States to determine if additional testing will be necessary.

F-1 students may use their university sponsored health insurance for their QFT lab work. All applicable co-pays and deductibles will apply.  If the test is positive, a chest x-ray (CXR) will be required and again all applicable co-pays and deductibles will apply. The Health and Wellness Office will advise the student on further treatment requirements in the event that this occurs. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disenrollment and subsequent notification in SEVIS that you are not maintaining F-1 status.
Call the Health and Wellness Office at 316-295-5561 with any questions.
 Detailed information about screening and treatment for tuberculosis can be found here. Students should undergo TB screening if they have arrived from or spent significant time in any country other than the U.S. the U.S.


Meningitis vaccine

NOTE: This is only mandatory for students living in on-campus housing.
The Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has established guidelines for the meningitis vaccine aimed at all new students including college freshmen living in campus-owned student housing. The American College Health Association supports these guidelines. In response to these efforts, the state of Kansas has mandated that “all incoming students residing in university housing be vaccinated for meningitis or sign a waiver indicating that they refuse to take the vaccine” effective July 1, 2007.

If you plan to live in Friends University housing, you will be required to have a current meningitis vaccine typically received within the past 3-5 years. A meningitis vaccine given as a young child does not meet the “current” requirements. You will need to bring proof of the meningitis vaccine, as well as proof of all of your vaccines (from birth to date) when you come to your orientation meeting.

In an attempt to reduce the risk of this serious disease among the college population and in compliance with state policy, Friends University requires that each first-time resident of a University-owned residence complete and submit a Meningitis Vaccination and Disease Information Form within fifteen (15) days of occupancy of a University-owned residence. Immunizations help decrease the risk of contracting serious diseases. Visit the Centers for Disease Control site for further information on meningitis and meningitis vaccinations.

Immunization information

In the United States, proof of immunization against diphtheria, measles, poliomyelitis and rubella is now universally required for entry into school. In addition, the school entry requirements of most states include immunization against tetanus (usually combined with diphtheria vaccine as Td), pertussis and mumps (usually combined with measles and rubella vaccine as MMR). Hepatitis B immunization is also highly recommended*. (Information acquired from cdc.gov/travel)

Contact the University Health & Wellness Office for immunization information.