HEALTH SERVICES
American health care is privatized, meaning the government does not provide free medical services. Patients are responsible to pay for all medical treatment. American medical services can be very costly so TAMU-Commerce requires all international students to maintain medical insurance to help defray costs for required care. Vision and dental costs are not covered by the basic student insurance but can be included at an additional cost.
The campus medical clinic offers students low cost care for minor illnesses and injuries. For more information, see the clinic website :
www7.tamu-commerce.edu/university/health_services.htm.
For more serious conditions, there are several doctor offices and a hospital in Commerce.
For medical emergencies, a phone call to "911" will cause an ambulance to be sent to your location to transport the patient to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Counseling
The campus Counseling Center provides free assistance to students in a number of areas, such as study skills, stress management, career planning, personal counseling, culture shock and crisis intervention. There is also a lawyer available by appointment.
For more information, see: www7.tamu-commerce.edu/counseling_center.
Physical Wellness
The Jerry D. Morris Recreational Center (MRC) provides free exercise and recreational facilities to students including a pool, weight room, climbing wall, basketball and volleyball courts. The center also coordinates opportunities to participate in a variety of club sports, wellness and exercise classes.
For more information, see: http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/reccenter/index.htm
How to Find a Doctor
In an emergency, call 911 for an ambulance or transport the patient to a hospital Emergency Room. The 911 system is active throughout the US.
There is one hospital in Commerce:
Presbyterian Hospital of Commerce
2900 Sterling Hart Dr.
(903) 886-3161
For minor illnesses and injuries, the lowest cost option for students is the campus Health Center. The center is open on weekdays while school is in session. You may want to verify that the clinic is open before going. Treatment is free but there are minor charges for some tests and supplies. You will be required to pay the full amount of any charges. The health center does not file insurance claims.
You may also use a local doctor or hospital. Hospital treatment is the most expensive, so unless you have an emergency, you should consider using a local clinic instead. For the least expensive alternative, contact your insurance company for a list of doctors who are in your insurance network. The insurance company will provide you with addresses and contact numbers. You can also use doctors outside the network, but charges will be higher. You can also try picking a doctor's name out of the phonebook and asking the receptionist if they accept your insurance. Most doctor offices require appointments.
How to File an Insurance Claim
When you visit a clinic or hospital you will be asked for proof of insurance. Present the card issued by the insurance company that states your policy number. It may also list your name, coverage dates and other information. If you purchased AIP insurance (referred to as A&M insurance), the card can be found on the front page of the policy brochure or can be printed from the online insurance website.
After treatment, the doctor's office or hospital may tell you that they will file a claim for you. That means that they will send a bill in your name to the insurance company. AIP requires that you also file a claims form, which can be found on their website. You must send in your claim form or AIP will not pay your claim. After paying their portion of the bill, AIP will send you a bill for any remaining balance. If you purchased insurance from a company other than AIP, you will need to refer to that company's procedures for claim payment.
