GTFF Insurance Policy Provides Crucial Support for University of Oregon International Students
The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF) insurance policy at the University of Oregon (UO) offers vital coverage for international students facing unforeseen emergencies, including repatriation of remains up to $1 million per incident. This coverage is a key component of the overall insurance package for graduate employees and is mandatory for those on F1 or J1 visas.
Coverage Details and Visa Requirements
International students holding F1 visas, which permit full-time academic or language training and J1 visas, designed for perform-study exchanges like au pairs, researchers, and interns, are required to have this coverage. The repatriation benefit, facilitated through PacificSource and Assist America—a partner of Scholastic Emergency Services (SES)—ensures that remains can be returned to the student’s home country in the event of a death.
Services Provided by Assist America and SES
Assist America provides 24-hour emergency support for both medical and non-medical situations. SES offers a comprehensive suite of services, including translation assistance, medical evacuation, transport, critical care monitoring, support for family visits during emergencies, assistance with medical trauma, emergency message transmission, and the repatriation of remains. According to the Daily Emerald, these services are designed to provide comprehensive support during tricky times.
Insurance Costs and Options
Under the GTFF Collective Bargaining Agreement, the UO covers 95% of graduate employee health insurance premiums, with the employee responsible for the remaining 5%. International graduate students covered by the GTFF insurance may be eligible to waive the University of Oregon’s International Student Health Benefits plan. However, international students who are not graduate employees can also access repatriation and emergency evacuation services through the International Student Health Benefits Plan, which requires an out-of-pocket premium payment of $1268 per term.
Additional Resources
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