HEALTH SERVICES
Medical
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.
